What is the SB 478 lawsuit?
Asked by: Prof. Nolan Moore | Last update: December 4, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (38 votes)
What is the new law on hidden fees?
On July 1, 2024, California banned hidden fees and deceptive “drip pricing” practices. The law applies to businesses selling or leasing goods and services for personal use in California, as well as resellers of goods and services like event tickets and online platforms.
Does SB 478 apply to car dealerships?
The law applies to consumer-facing businesses (e.g. ticket resales, short-term rentals, hotels, and restaurants), and exempts most B2B businesses and certain industries with regulated pricing laws (e.g. car dealers, rental car companies, and food delivery platforms).
What is the California law for July 1 2024?
New California laws taking effect July 1, 2024 ban hidden fees, limit deposits to one month's rent and double the fines for illegal fireworks.
What is California Senate Bill 478?
Effective July 1, 2024, California Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) will ban hidden fees charged for goods and services. The law makes it illegal to advertise a low price for a product, only for that product to be subject to additional or mandatory fees later.
SB 478, Law To Prohibit Hidden Service Fees
Is there gratuity on the Senate Bill 478?
Key Highlights of SB 478:
Inclusive Pricing: Under the new law, restaurants cannot charge additional surcharges on top of the menu price. All mandatory fees must be included in the advertised price, including gratuity payments that are not voluntary.
Why are hidden fees legal?
The law requires honest pricing. It prohibits businesses from “[a]dvertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges” other than government- imposed taxes or fees or reasonable shipping costs.
What is the 7 year rule in California?
Section 2855(a) limits the term of personal service employment to seven years, i.e. a personal service employment contract may not be enforced for a period exceeding seven years. This is the reason the statute is famously known as the “Seven Year Rule.”
What is the new law passed in California in 2025?
New 2025 California laws: Artificial intelligence, octopuses, cannabis cafes and more. New California laws in 2025 allow new entertainment zones, cannabis cafes and offer more protection against deepfakes and artificial intelligence. SACRAMENTO, Calif.
What is the 5 year rule in California?
The “5-year rule” in California refers to summary dissolution, which is a simplified process for ending a marriage or domestic partnership without a formal court hearing. Its hope is to be a fast and less expensive option for couples who meet the specific criteria.
What is the Senate Bill 478 Chapter 400?
This bill would specify that a holder of a dealer's license is not in violation of unlawful advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service for excluding from the advertised, displayed, or offered price of a vehicle a tax, a vehicle registration fee, the California tire fee, an emission testing ...
Is it legal to charge credit card fees in California in 2024?
As of July 1, 2024, credit card surcharging is illegal in California. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 478 (Consumer Legal Remedies Act) to eliminate “junk fees” and false advertising.
What is an example of hidden fees?
Hidden charges and undisclosed fees can appear in a variety of different circumstances, including: Undisclosed fees from financial professionals and brokers. Inactivity fees charged by a credit card company. Charges to attend an entertainment or sports event.
Do retailers have to honor price mistakes in California?
No, the store is required by law to charge you the lowest of the advertised or posted price. When there is an overcharge, many stores have a policy to refund part of the price or give you the item free, but they are not required to do so under weights and measures laws.
What is a junk fee?
Junk fees — another name for what are often seen as unsuspecting surcharges — can appear on bills, loans, air travel, hotel rooms, bank transactions and event tickets, among other things. The term gets its name due to the notion that these charges often seem like an unnecessary add-on to your purchase.
What is considered a hidden cost?
Hidden costs involve obscuring or omitting additional fees, charges, or costs until the user is well into the purchasing or sign-up process. By that point, the user has already invested time and effort into the transaction and is more likely to proceed despite the unexpected costs.
What will happen to California by 2050?
how will Sea-Level Rise affect california? By 2050, almost $18 billion worth of residential and commercial buildings could be flooded due to sea level rise, which will increase significantly over historical rates of about 7” over the 20th Century along the Southern California coast.
What is the new end of life law in California?
The California End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) allows a terminally ill adult with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their life with an aid-in-dying drug. The terminally ill person must be a California resident and must request the drug from their physician.
What is the car law in California 2025?
🚊🚗 Safer roadways
Cracking down on sideshows: A package of new laws will strengthen law enforcement's ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers. The laws expand vehicle impoundment authority, impose stricter penalties, and target reckless driving activities on highways and parking lots.
What is the 72 hour rule in California?
In California, you must receive your final paycheck immediately if you get terminated or resign with at least 72 hours' notice. If you quit without notice, then your employer has 72 hours to give you your final paycheck.
What is the new retirement law in California?
In 2022, California passed legislation (SB-1126) to expand the CalSavers mandate to employers with at least one employee. Eligible employers with at least one employee in 2024 are required to register unless they meet one of the conditions for exemption: sponsors a qualified retirement plan, or. closed or was sold.
At what age can a child be left at home by themselves in California?
In California there is no legal minimum age a child can be left alone, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office. However, the maturity and emotional level of a child are “factors that should be taken into account,” the agency said.
What is the penalty for SB 478?
Consumers can bring claims against businesses that violate SB 478, which can potentially result in $1,000 per violation penalties and other damages, including attorneys' fees.
Is it illegal to charge a credit card fee in California?
California Senate Bill 478, part of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, bans all “junk fees” on purchases across California. This includes credit card surcharges in most situations. It's also worth noting that California's new laws extend beyond credit card surcharges.
Which of the following is an example of a hidden fee?
Example of a Hidden Fee
If you're looking for a deal, you may opt for cheaper accommodations at another hotel at a rate of $100 per night. But there may be a $10 resort fee at the time of booking or even at a later date. Such charges are not typically part of the price advertised.