(a) A party may amend its pleading once without leave of the court at any time before the answer, demurrer, or motion to strike is filed, or after a demurrer or motion to strike is filed but before the demurrer or motion to strike is heard if the amended pleading is filed and served no later than the date for filing an opposition to the demurrer or motion to strike. A party may amend the pleading after the date for filing an opposition to the demurrer or motion to strike, upon stipulation by the parties. The time for responding to an amended pleading shall be computed from the date of service of the amended pleading.
(b) This section shall not apply to a special motion brought pursuant to Section 425.16.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends that date.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 418, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2017, Ch. 273, Sec. 3. (AB 644) Effective January 1, 2018. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 418.)