CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1522Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025 An act to add Section 6060.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1522, as introduced, Committee on Judiciary. State Bar Act: expedited licensure: federal attorneys.The State Bar Act requires a person who has been admitted to practice law in a sister state, in order to be certified to the Supreme Court for admission and a license to practice law in this state, to meet certain criteria, including having passed the general bar examination given by the examining committee.This bill would require the State Bar to transmit, on or before January 1, 2026, a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets certain criteria, including that the attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025. The bill would define expediting the licensure to mean a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 6060.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1522Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025 An act to add Section 6060.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 1522, as introduced, Committee on Judiciary. State Bar Act: expedited licensure: federal attorneys.The State Bar Act requires a person who has been admitted to practice law in a sister state, in order to be certified to the Supreme Court for admission and a license to practice law in this state, to meet certain criteria, including having passed the general bar examination given by the examining committee.This bill would require the State Bar to transmit, on or before January 1, 2026, a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets certain criteria, including that the attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025. The bill would define expediting the licensure to mean a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.Digest Key Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1522
Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, and Zbur)March 18, 2025
Introduced by Committee on Judiciary (Assembly Members Kalra (Chair), Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, and Zbur)
March 18, 2025
An act to add Section 6060.8 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to professions and vocations, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1522, as introduced, Committee on Judiciary. State Bar Act: expedited licensure: federal attorneys.
The State Bar Act requires a person who has been admitted to practice law in a sister state, in order to be certified to the Supreme Court for admission and a license to practice law in this state, to meet certain criteria, including having passed the general bar examination given by the examining committee.This bill would require the State Bar to transmit, on or before January 1, 2026, a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets certain criteria, including that the attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025. The bill would define expediting the licensure to mean a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The State Bar Act requires a person who has been admitted to practice law in a sister state, in order to be certified to the Supreme Court for admission and a license to practice law in this state, to meet certain criteria, including having passed the general bar examination given by the examining committee.
This bill would require the State Bar to transmit, on or before January 1, 2026, a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets certain criteria, including that the attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025. The bill would define expediting the licensure to mean a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 6060.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 6060.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.
SECTION 1. Section 6060.8 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.
6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.
6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.
6060.8. (a) As used in this section, expediting the licensure means a licensing process that does not require an attorney to take the State Bar examination.
(b) On or before January 1, 2026, the State Bar shall transmit to the Supreme Court a proposal outlining a process for expediting the licensure to practice law in this state of an attorney who meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The attorney was employed by an agency of the federal government on January 20, 2025.
(2) The attorney has been licensed to practice law by a sister state for a minimum of five years.
(3) The attorney does not have a record of discipline from the licensing authority of a sister state.
(4) The attorney can produce an attestation of professional competence by at least one member of the State Bar.
SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.
SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.
SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
### SEC. 2.
In order to fill vacancies in vital legal positions throughout the state, including in public defender offices, it is necessary to quickly provide licensure for recently laid off federal attorneys.