### Press Release

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Contact: John Kabateck, California State Director, [email protected]
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, [email protected]

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### Urgent Update from Sacramento

**SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 14, 2025—** As we approach the pivotal deadline for policy committees to take action on proposed legislation by this Friday, it appears that one of the most influential lobby groups in the state has once again succeeded in halting even the most modest legal reforms. This initiative was aimed at addressing the rampant abuse of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which has been misused to extort small business owners across the state.

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### Current Legislative Status

In spite of the substantial bipartisan backing that Senate Bill 84 has garnered—achieving a notable vote of 34-2 in its house of origin and generating considerable interest at a well-attended news conference last Wednesday—the bill has become ensnared in the Assembly, stalled within its initial committee. Should the committee fail to schedule a hearing and an accompanying vote this week, SB 84 will effectively be rendered dead for the remainder of this legislative year.

**Key Provisions of SB 84**
Senate Bill 84 proposes to **prohibit construction-related accessibility claims** under the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act from being initiated until a small business defendant receives a demand letter that enumerates each alleged violation. Furthermore, businesses would be afforded **120 days** to correct any identified violations. A letter from a coalition of businesses in support of SB 84 articulates that this legislation represents “common sense that will provide meaningful protection for small businesses while simultaneously enhancing access for the disability community.”

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### A Growing National Concern

“Using the ADA as a weapon against small business owners to extract payment for frivolous lawsuits has become a national epidemic,” stated John Kabateck, NFIB’s state director in California. “What we are witnessing is an insidious industry that exploits the legal system for profit.”

To illustrate, in Arizona, when the issue reached epidemic proportions, former state Attorney General Mark Brnovich took decisive action. He intervened in over 1,000 lawsuits that had been initiated by an advocacy group, which targeted predominantly small businesses with duplicative disability access lawsuits. By stepping into the courtroom, the Attorney General’s office argued that the plaintiffs exceeded their legal boundaries and were not entitled to collect fees from these types of lawsuits. Ultimately, in December 2016, a motion to dismiss the lawsuits was successfully filed, culminating in a judge granting the motion in February 2017, thus dismissing over 1,000 cases.

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### Urgency and Leadership

Kabateck remarked, “That’s the kind of leadership one can only wish for in California. While I applaud the bipartisan support from senators who championed and passed SB 84, it is deeply disappointing to see the Assembly’s inaction preventing any progress.”

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### How AI legalese decoder Can Help

In light of these complex legal challenges surrounding the ADA and small businesses, navigating this intricate landscape is crucial. This is where tools such as the **AI legalese decoder** can prove invaluable. By simplifying legal documents and making them comprehensible, businesses can better understand their rights and obligations under the law. AI legalese decoder can assist small business owners in decoding legal jargon associated with bills like SB 84, allowing them to make informed decisions about compliance and necessary adjustments.

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### Additional Information

For further insights, Sacramento radio station KFBK 1530-AM conducted an interview with Senator Roger Niello, the primary author of SB 84, following last Wednesday’s news conference.

Stay updated on the latest developments affecting small businesses in California by visiting us at [www.nfib.com](http://www.nfib.com). You can also follow us on X at @NFIB_CA and on Facebook at @NFIB.CA.

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### About NFIB

**For over 80 years, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)** has been the unwavering advocate for America’s small and independent business owners. Operating at both the federal level in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals, NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member-driven association devoted entirely to the things that matter most to small businesses. Since our establishment in 1943, we have steadfastly remained committed to serving small and independent businesses. For comprehensive information, please visit [nfib.com](http://nfib.com).

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### Contact Information

**NFIB California**
915 L St. Ste C-411
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-448-9904
Website: [NFIB.com](http://nfib.com)
X: @NFIB_CA
Facebook: @NFIB.CA