Civil appeals: stay of enforcement.

Assembly Member Ávila Farías proposes modifying California's civil appeals process to prevent automatic stays of court orders that address violations of state voting rights and redistricting laws. The legislation creates exceptions to existing rules that typically pause enforcement of court decisions during appeals.

Under the proposed changes, court orders finding violations of the California Voting Rights Act's provisions on at-large voting or the FAIR MAPS Act's redistricting requirements would remain enforceable during appeals unless specifically stayed by the trial court. The bill establishes a mechanism for the Attorney General and Secretary of State to jointly certify stays of enforcement when necessary to further voting rights protections or ensure orderly election administration. These provisions would apply only to court orders issued after July 1, 2025.

The bill responds to concerns outlined in its findings that vote dilution and gerrymandering cause lasting harm when discriminatory election systems remain in place during lengthy appeals. According to the legislative findings, hundreds of jurisdictions have adopted district-based elections since the California Voting Rights Act's enactment, while others continue operating under at-large systems that may diminish minority communities' electoral influence. The measure aims to expedite implementation of court-ordered remedies while preserving oversight through the certification process.