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    SB-265
    Justice & Public Safety

    Crimes: looting.

    Introduced
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    1
    0
    Track
    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
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    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
    Assemblymember
    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
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    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
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Marie Alvarado-GilR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    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-GilR
    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-GilR
    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
    Senate Floor
    Introduced
    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
    Assemblymember
    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
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Steven ChoiR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Phillip ChenR
    Assemblymember
    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
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Marie Alvarado-GilR
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Greg WallisR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Jesse ArreguinD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sasha Renee PerezD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Suzette ValladaresR
    Senator
    Bill Author