AB-400
Justice & Public Safety

Law enforcement: police canines.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires all California police departments with K-9 units to adopt standardized policies by January 2027.
  • Mandates that K-9 unit policies must follow guidelines set by the state's police training commission.
  • Provides reimbursement to local agencies for costs of implementing new K-9 policies.

Summary

Assembly Member Pacheco's police canine legislation would require California law enforcement agencies with canine units to adopt policies aligned with Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) guidelines by January 2027.

The measure defines law enforcement agencies as any state or local government department, special district, or political subdivision employing peace officers. These agencies must maintain written policies governing canine operations that meet or exceed the most recent POST standards. While the bill establishes this baseline requirement, it leaves the specific content of those standards to POST's existing authority and expertise.

To address fiscal impacts on local agencies, the bill includes provisions for state reimbursement of mandated costs. The Commission on State Mandates would evaluate whether the new requirements create reimbursable expenses for local jurisdictions and school districts. Any approved costs would be repaid through established statutory procedures under the Government Code.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 400 Pacheco Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
James RamosD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 12 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
James RamosD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Juan AlanisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Patrick AhrensD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-3241
Law enforcement: police canines.
February 2024
Failed
AB-2042
Police canines: guidelines.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Blanca Pacheco
Blanca PachecoD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
James Ramos
James RamosD
California State Assembly Member
Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle RodriguezD
California State Assembly Member
Juan Alanis
Juan AlanisR
California State Assembly Member
Patrick Ahrens
Patrick AhrensD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 1, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5016PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires all California police departments with K-9 units to adopt standardized policies by January 2027.
  • Mandates that K-9 unit policies must follow guidelines set by the state's police training commission.
  • Provides reimbursement to local agencies for costs of implementing new K-9 policies.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Blanca Pacheco
Blanca PachecoD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
James Ramos
James RamosD
California State Assembly Member
Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle RodriguezD
California State Assembly Member
Juan Alanis
Juan AlanisR
California State Assembly Member
Patrick Ahrens
Patrick AhrensD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Pacheco's police canine legislation would require California law enforcement agencies with canine units to adopt policies aligned with Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) guidelines by January 2027.

The measure defines law enforcement agencies as any state or local government department, special district, or political subdivision employing peace officers. These agencies must maintain written policies governing canine operations that meet or exceed the most recent POST standards. While the bill establishes this baseline requirement, it leaves the specific content of those standards to POST's existing authority and expertise.

To address fiscal impacts on local agencies, the bill includes provisions for state reimbursement of mandated costs. The Commission on State Mandates would evaluate whether the new requirements create reimbursable expenses for local jurisdictions and school districts. Any approved costs would be repaid through established statutory procedures under the Government Code.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 400 Pacheco Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Public Safety Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 1, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Public Safety Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5016PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
James RamosD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 12 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
James RamosD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Juan AlanisR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Patrick AhrensD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Michelle RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-3241
Law enforcement: police canines.
February 2024
Failed
AB-2042
Police canines: guidelines.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 items
Page 1 of 1