Bipartisan Bill Aims to Curb 'Shakedown' ADA Lawsuits in California

SB 84 would give businesses a 120-day 'right to cure' minor violations before facing statutory damages and attorney fees.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:03pm

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A vibrant, fragmented painting depicting the facade of a small business with a wheelchair symbol on the door, rendered in overlapping geometric shapes and bold colors, conveying a sense of movement and change.A bipartisan bill aims to encourage small businesses to prioritize accessibility over costly lawsuits.Today in Sacramento

A bipartisan coalition of California state legislators, including Republicans and Democrats representing the 'Acorn Country' region, are pushing for the passage of SB 84, a bill that would address the issue of 'predatory' lawsuits over alleged minor, technical violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bill proposes a 120-day 'right to cure' period, allowing businesses to fix problems without facing the typical statutory damages and attorney fees that can devastate small companies.

Why it matters

The current system of ADA lawsuits is seen by many as benefiting litigious law firms more than actually improving accessibility for the disabled community. SB 84 aims to shift the focus towards incentivizing businesses to make the necessary fixes, rather than simply paying settlements to avoid trials.

The details

SB 84 has already passed the California Senate with a 39-0 vote and is now headed for a critical Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing. The bill is co-authored by a bipartisan group of legislators, including Republican State Sen. Roger Niello and Democratic Senators Monique Limón and Henry Stern, who represent significant parts of Ventura County. Outgoing Ventura County Democrat Jacqui Irwin has also lent her support as a co-author on the Assembly version.

  • SB 84 has already cleared the California Senate with a 39-0 vote.
  • The bill is headed for a critical Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing later this month.

The players

Roger Niello

Republican State Senator from Fair Oaks, California, and the author of SB 84.

Monique Limón

Democratic State Senator representing a significant portion of Ventura County, and a co-author of SB 84.

Henry Stern

Democratic State Senator representing a significant portion of Ventura County, and a co-author of SB 84.

Jacqui Irwin

Outgoing Ventura County Democratic Assemblymember, and a co-author of the Assembly version of SB 84.

Disability Rights California

A disability advocacy organization that argues the 'right to cure' provision in SB 84 effectively turns the ADA into a 'right to ignore' the law.

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What’s next

The bill is headed for a critical Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing later this month, where it will need to pass in order to move forward to the full Assembly for a vote.

The takeaway

This bipartisan effort to reform the ADA lawsuit system in California represents a pragmatic approach to improving accessibility for the disabled community while also providing relief for small businesses struggling with the current 'shakedown' lawsuits. The broad coalition of support suggests this issue transcends partisan lines and speaks to the shared concerns of legislators across the state.