SB-265
Justice & Public Safety

Crimes: looting.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Increases penalties for looting during emergencies and natural disasters from a misdemeanor to a felony.
  • Requires minimum 180-day jail sentence for grand theft looting cases when probation is granted.
  • Mandates up to 240 hours of community service for those convicted of looting during emergencies.

Summary

Senator Valladares's proposal to modify California's looting statute recategorizes second-degree burglary committed during declared emergencies as a mandatory felony offense. The legislation addresses criminal acts occurring during states of emergency, local emergencies, or under evacuation orders resulting from natural or human-caused disasters.

The bill establishes a three-tiered penalty structure based on offense severity. Second-degree burglary during emergencies would require state prison time. Grand theft, except of firearms, would remain punishable by either county jail or state prison, while grand theft of firearms would mandate state prison terms. Petty theft during emergencies would constitute a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in county jail.

For probation-eligible cases, the measure sets minimum jail terms - 180 days for burglary and grand theft, 90 days for petty theft - though courts may adjust these requirements if documented circumstances warrant modification. The bill also authorizes courts to mandate community service: up to 240 hours for burglary, 160 hours for grand theft, and 80 hours for petty theft. The legislation maintains existing definitions of emergency conditions while adding specific parameters for evacuation orders issued by state and local authorities.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
James GallagherR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 21 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 5
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
James GallagherR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Steven ChoiR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Juan AlanisR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Marie Alvarado-GilD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Suzette Valladares
Suzette ValladaresR
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member
Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
California State Senator
Kate Sanchez
Kate SanchezR
California State Assembly Member
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
California State Senator
Roger Niello
Roger NielloR
California State Senator
Brian Jones
Brian JonesR
California State Senator
Melissa Hurtado
Melissa HurtadoD
California State Senator
Shannon Grove
Shannon GroveR
California State Senator
James Gallagher
James GallagherR
California State Assembly Member
Laurie Davies
Laurie DaviesR
California State Assembly Member
Megan Dahle
Megan DahleR
California State Senator
Steven Choi
Steven ChoiR
California State Senator
Phillip Chen
Phillip ChenR
California State Assembly Member
Marie Alvarado-Gil
Marie Alvarado-GilD
California State Senator
Juan Alanis
Juan AlanisR
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Increases penalties for looting during emergencies and natural disasters from a misdemeanor to a felony.
  • Requires minimum 180-day jail sentence for grand theft looting cases when probation is granted.
  • Mandates up to 240 hours of community service for those convicted of looting during emergencies.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Suzette Valladares
Suzette ValladaresR
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Greg Wallis
Greg WallisR
California State Assembly Member
Kelly Seyarto
Kelly SeyartoR
California State Senator
Kate Sanchez
Kate SanchezR
California State Assembly Member
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
California State Senator
Roger Niello
Roger NielloR
California State Senator
Brian Jones
Brian JonesR
California State Senator
Melissa Hurtado
Melissa HurtadoD
California State Senator
Shannon Grove
Shannon GroveR
California State Senator
James Gallagher
James GallagherR
California State Assembly Member
Laurie Davies
Laurie DaviesR
California State Assembly Member
Megan Dahle
Megan DahleR
California State Senator
Steven Choi
Steven ChoiR
California State Senator
Phillip Chen
Phillip ChenR
California State Assembly Member
Marie Alvarado-Gil
Marie Alvarado-GilD
California State Senator
Juan Alanis
Juan AlanisR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator Valladares's proposal to modify California's looting statute recategorizes second-degree burglary committed during declared emergencies as a mandatory felony offense. The legislation addresses criminal acts occurring during states of emergency, local emergencies, or under evacuation orders resulting from natural or human-caused disasters.

The bill establishes a three-tiered penalty structure based on offense severity. Second-degree burglary during emergencies would require state prison time. Grand theft, except of firearms, would remain punishable by either county jail or state prison, while grand theft of firearms would mandate state prison terms. Petty theft during emergencies would constitute a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in county jail.

For probation-eligible cases, the measure sets minimum jail terms - 180 days for burglary and grand theft, 90 days for petty theft - though courts may adjust these requirements if documented circumstances warrant modification. The bill also authorizes courts to mandate community service: up to 240 hours for burglary, 160 hours for grand theft, and 80 hours for petty theft. The legislation maintains existing definitions of emergency conditions while adding specific parameters for evacuation orders issued by state and local authorities.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
James GallagherR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 21 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 5
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
James GallagherR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Steven ChoiR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Laurie DaviesR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Juan AlanisR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Marie Alvarado-GilD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Bill Author