AB 484 (Dixon) - June 19, 2025 Version - Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Digest

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora

AB 484 (Dixon) requires California’s Committee of Bar Examiners to report to the State Bar Board, the Chief Justice, and the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees on whether adopting a uniform bar examination—specifically including the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Uniform Bar Examination—would be more efficient and reduce administration costs for the State Bar and examinees. The bill frames recent exam administration problems and requires submission by November 30, 2026, with repeal January 1, 2023.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Subject

Digest

Executive Summary

Proposed Changes to the Law

Existing law

This bill

Comments

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair 2025-2026 Regular Session AB 484 (Dixon) Version: June 19, 2025 Hearing Date: July 1, 2025 Fiscal: No Urgency: No AM SUBJECT California bar examination DIGEST This bill requires the Committee of Bar Examiners to provide a report on whether adopting a uniform bar examination, including, but not limited to, the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Uniform Bar Examination, would be more efficient toadminister and lower the cost of administration for the State Bar and examinees, as specified. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The State Bar of California (State Bar) is a public corporation and the largest state bar in the country. Every person seeking to be licensed to practice law in this state must pass the bar exam. The State Bar administers the bar exam twice a year—in February and July. The State Bar used a new exam format and platform for the first time in decades for the February 2025 exam that allowed for both in-person and remote test taking.1 The administration of the new exam was an unmitigated disaster. Testimonies from examinees to the State Bar Board and to the Senate Judiciary Committee detailed technical glitches and platform freezes, delayed start times and loss of time during the exam, rude proctors, factual errors in questions, cheating, approved testing accommodations not being met, and various distractions during the exam, including screams of frustration by examinees and proctors arguing with each other. Additionally, concerns were raised about the multiple-choice questions on the exam. These concerns have only been exacerbated by the State Bar’s recent revelation that artificial intelligence (AI) was used to design some of the questions on the exam. This bill will require the State Bar to provide a report on whether adopting a uniform bar examination would be more efficient to administer and lower the cost of administration 1 Olivia Hebert, SF Gate, California's new bar exam launch was a 'disaster. ' Now test takers are suing. (Feb. 28, 2025), available at [https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-](https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-)[ ](https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/california-bar-exam-march-retakes-)[20192958.php](20192958.php.)[.](20192958.php.) AB 484 (Dixon) Page 2 of 10 for the State Bar and examinees. This bill is author sponsored. The Committee received no timely support or opposition. PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW Existing law: 1) Requires all attorneys who practice law in California to be licensed by the State Bar and establishes the State Bar, within the judicial branch of state government, for the purpose of regulating the legal profession. (Cal. const., art. VI, § 9; Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6000 et seq.) a) The Legislature sets the annual fees. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6140, 6141.) b) The State Bar is governed by the Board of Trustees of the State Bar (Board) .(Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6010 et seq.; § 6016.) c) Establishes the State Bar Act as the statutory requirements regulating the practice of law in this state. (Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6000 et seq.) 2) Establishes that protection of the public, which includes support for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system, is the highest priority for the State Bar in exercising their licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public is to be paramount. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6001.1.) 3) Authorizes the Board to establish an examining committee (hereafter the Committee of Bar Examiners or CBE) having the power to: a) examine all applicants for admission to practice law; b) administer the requirements for admission to practice law; and c) certify to the Supreme Court for admission those applicants who fulfill the requirements provided in Chapter 4 of th

FAQs

What report does AB 484 require and who must receive it?

AB 484 requires a report to be provided to the State Bar Board, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary on whether adopting a uniform bar examination would be more efficient and lower administration costs.

Which uniform bar examination does AB 484 reference?

The bill references adopting a uniform bar examination including, but not limited to, the National Conference of Bar Examiners' Uniform Bar Examination.

When must the required report be submitted and when are the provisions repealed?

The report must be submitted no later than November 30, 2026. The provisions are repealed on January 1, 2023.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodora