Alston & Bird partner Greg Berlin discussed California’s newly enacted AB 2577 in a Chemical Watch News & Insight article, “California law requires Prop 65 settlements to have ‘public benefit’“ (subscription required). He described the law as a targeted procedural amendment that allows courts to separately review disputed attorney fee awards while approving Proposition 65 settlements.
Greg noted that the change gives courts greater ability to reduce fee awards challenged by the California attorney general. The law could affect settlement negotiations and encourage stronger support for fee requests, but it is unlikely to fundamentally alter the Proposition 65 enforcement landscape.