Justice & Public Safety

Modernizes court filing rules by clarifying that electronic service does not extend notice periods for motions. Requires courts to electronically serve documents starting July 1, 2025 when parties are eligible. Streamlines legal procedures by maintaining standard notice periods for electronically served documents.

Expands peace officer status to deputy sheriffs in Amador and Nevada counties who work in custodial facilities. Limits these officers' statewide authority to custodial duties and local emergency situations. Aligns authority of custodial deputy sheriffs across California counties for consistent enforcement.

Expands disaster assistance funding to cover immediate community recovery needs beyond infrastructure repairs. Requires the Office of Emergency Services to create guidelines for disaster recovery programs. Enables private nonprofits to receive state emergency funds if they provide secular assistance. Mandates a model recovery process to coordinate government and nonprofit disaster response.

Increases the maximum amount for court-ordered mediation from $50,000 to $75,000 in civil cases. Requires courts to provide free mediators when parties cannot agree on selecting one within 15 days. Mandates completion of mediation at least 120 days before trial without delaying the trial date. Allows remote mediation when all parties agree and requires at least one party to express interest.

Expands courts' authority to reclassify felonies as misdemeanors at any time during legal proceedings. Maintains sex offender registration requirements even when offenses are reduced to misdemeanors. Prevents unpaid restitution from blocking requests to reduce offense classifications.

Prohibits probation officers from serving on juries in criminal cases to ensure impartial jury selection. Maintains existing restrictions that prevent certain peace officers from serving on both civil and criminal juries. Requires jury commissioners to exclude probation officers during the random selection of potential jurors.

Repeals outdated regulations for remote caller bingo and card-minding device oversight in California. Requires charitable bingo games to maintain separate accounts for proceeds used only for charitable purposes. Limits total prizes to $500 per game and requires all players to be physically present. Authorizes cities and counties to charge up to $50 for annual bingo licenses.

Increases the quorum requirement for the Board of State and Community Corrections from seven to eight members. Expands the Board to 15 members by adding healthcare and mental health providers. Requires removal of Board members who miss three meetings in a calendar year. Mandates three-year terms for Board members with eligibility for reappointment.

Updates jury selection process by requiring prospective jurors to explicitly acknowledge under penalty of perjury that they will answer qualification questions truthfully. Requires selected trial jurors to formally agree they will consider only court evidence and instructions when reaching a verdict. Establishes criminal prosecution as a potential consequence for jurors who provide false information during selection.

Expands juvenile court supervision rules to cover youth released from secure treatment facilities. Allows youth on probation to live in different counties with local probation officer supervision. Requires youth to follow probation officer instructions or return to their home county for court review.

Modifies jury selection rules to allow dismissal of jurors who distrust law enforcement when officers are involved in the case. Requires courts to evaluate peremptory challenges for both conscious and unconscious bias in jury selection. Establishes detailed criteria for courts to assess the legitimacy of removing potential jurors. Expires on January 1, 2026 unless extended by further legislation.

Requires development of fire safety measures for utility-grade lithium-ion battery storage facilities. Establishes safety protocols to protect emergency personnel responding to battery facility fires. Mandates battery facility operators to share incident information with emergency managers.

Expands self-defense rights by allowing preemptive action against reasonably perceived threats of bodily harm. Protects individuals from civil lawsuits when using proportional force in self-defense situations. Prohibits courts from considering a person's fighting skills or training when evaluating self-defense actions. Requires defensive actions to stop immediately when the threat is no longer present.

Requires law enforcement agencies to ban officers from carrying agency-issued firearms with any alcohol in their system. Applies the zero-alcohol requirement to officers both on and off duty when carrying their service weapon. Mandates state reimbursement to local agencies for costs of implementing the new firearm policy.

Establishes a new electronic database for the public to report and search for missing children, including immigrants. Provides anonymous reporting features to protect individuals from immigration enforcement concerns. Requires free DNA testing for parents when reuniting with found children to confirm parentage. Mandates firewall protections to prevent unauthorized sharing of sensitive database information.

Makes technical changes to vehicle accident reporting requirements without substantive modifications.

Restricts prison housing preferences for transgender inmates who committed specific crimes against opposite-gender victims. Requires housing assignments based on anatomy for inmates convicted of violent crimes like murder, rape, or trafficking. Mandates written justification from prison officials when denying an inmate's housing preference. Requires regular safety assessments and documentation of inmates' objections to housing decisions.

Mandates a 15-year prison sentence for drivers who flee accidents resulting in death or permanent serious injury. Increases penalties from the current 2-4 year sentence range for hit-and-run accidents with severe outcomes. Defines permanent serious injury as the loss or permanent impairment of function of a bodily member or organ.

Requires county and city jails to notify designated contacts within 24 hours when inmates are hospitalized or die. Mandates jails to facilitate phone calls between hospitalized inmates and their approved contacts. Applies to cases where inmates need terminal care, life-sustaining treatment, or hospital admission.

Requires courts to review all warrantless arrests within 48 hours to determine if probable cause exists. Mandates immediate release of adults and juveniles if no probable cause is found within the 48-hour window. Removes exemptions that previously allowed longer detention periods for juveniles on holidays. Requires probation officer review for all juvenile detentions lasting more than 24 hours.

Expands asset forfeiture laws to cover all human trafficking cases involving commercial sex acts, not just those with minors. Authorizes courts to seize vehicles, property, and assets used in or gained from human trafficking activities. Requires notification to all parties with property interests before asset seizure can proceed. Protects family homes and innocent co-owners from property forfeiture in trafficking cases.

Requires state and local agencies to develop disaster recovery frameworks for catastrophic events by January 2027. Mandates incorporation of six key recovery areas including housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery. Provides technical assistance and federal grant funding to offset framework development costs. Takes immediate effect to enhance California's preparedness for wildfires, earthquakes, and floods.

Makes technical changes to private security guard training requirements without substantive modifications.

Extends the advance notice period for victim notification of inmate release from 15 to 20 days. Requires victims to maintain current contact information to receive notifications about offender release. Allows victims to choose their preferred method of notification including phone, mail, or certified mail. Mandates notification for releases due to time served, parole, probation, or escape from facilities.

Establishes a new Firefighting Mutual Aid Program to coordinate emergency response between fire agencies. Creates a reimbursement system for fire agencies that provide mutual aid during emergencies. Supports the sharing of fire engines and equipment between local departments during emergencies. Funds additional firefighting resources including mobile water systems and protective equipment.