Justice & Public Safety

Expands security options for firearms dealers and manufacturers by allowing doors with panic hardware and multipoint locks. Requires latch guards and metal window coverings on new security door installations. Maintains existing penalties including license revocation for facilities that fail to meet security standards.

Undeveloped "intent bill" that expands access to juvenile case files for attorneys in civil actions against agencies. Requires attorneys to keep files confidential and destroy them after case completion.

Extends the Inspector General's record retention period from three to five years for prison oversight documents. Maintains existing public record access rules while protecting confidential documents from disclosure. Requires the Inspector General to store all audit materials at officially designated offices.

Expands California law enforcement authority to investigate sex trafficking cases involving immigration status. Requires law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports on joint task force activities to the state. Maintains core restrictions on police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Expands the ability of defendants to recover legal costs when opposing parties file cases without good faith. Allows courts to award defense costs when granting demurrer motions that dismiss baseless claims. Requires courts to determine if plaintiffs filed their cases with reasonable cause before awarding costs. Covers attorney fees, expert witness costs, and consulting expenses in defense cost awards.

Makes permanent the requirement for parties in civil lawsuits to provide detailed initial disclosures about witnesses, documents, and insurance policies within 60 days of a demand. Requires parties to share contact information for potential witnesses and copies of relevant documents even before formal discovery requests. Allows parties to request updated information through supplemental demands twice before trial and once after trial date is set. Exempts small claims cases, unlawful detainer actions, family law matters, and parties without legal representation from these disclosure requirements.

Extends the waiting period from 90 to 100 days before firefighting equipment can be sold outside California. Prioritizes sales of firefighting equipment to rural local agencies over other buyers. Caps interest rates on equipment payment plans at 1% below the Pooled Money Investment rate. Authorizes the Office of Emergency Services to insure loans for local agencies buying fire equipment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Requires prisons to notify county probation departments 165 days before releasing inmates under supervision. Mandates coordination between prisons and probation to verify and transport inmates to their correct county. Requires sharing of healthcare manager information to integrate medical services with reentry programs. Establishes reimbursement for counties to implement these new supervision requirements.

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

Extends a young adult diversion program in three California counties through January 2029. Allows eligible defendants aged 18-20 to serve sentences in juvenile facilities instead of county jail. Requires counties to provide housing and employment services to help participants reenter society. Mandates program evaluation reports from participating counties by December 2027.

Prohibits courts from using juvenile offenses to enhance adult criminal sentences under the Three Strikes Law. Establishes a process for people to petition courts to remove juvenile-based sentence enhancements. Requires prosecutors to prove beyond reasonable doubt why someone is ineligible for resentencing. Mandates that resentenced individuals receive credit for time served and may face up to 3 years of parole.

Limits juvenile probation periods to 6 months with possible extensions only after court review and evidence of benefit. Requires probation conditions to be individually tailored and developmentally appropriate for each youth. Eliminates courts' authority to impose fines or mandate unpaid work programs for juvenile offenders. Mandates regular court hearings every 6 months to review any extended probation periods.

Eliminates the statute of limitations for hit-and-run accidents causing death or serious injury after January 2026. Allows prosecutors to file charges at any time after a suspect is identified in fatal hit-and-run cases. Replaces the current 6-year limit for prosecuting hit-and-run cases with permanent prosecution authority.

Authorizes Sacramento to join six other California cities in operating automated speed cameras through 2032. Requires cities to install warning signs and issue warnings instead of tickets for the first 60 days of enforcement. Mandates removal of speed cameras after 18 months unless they reduce speeding by at least 20 percent. Restricts camera placement to school zones, high-crash areas, and streets with frequent illegal street racing.

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.

Establishes a new pretrial diversion program for eligible non-violent felony offenses in California courts. Requires courts to dismiss criminal charges upon successful completion of a 24-month diversion program. Excludes serious crimes including violent felonies, firearm offenses, and domestic violence from eligibility. Mandates quarterly progress reports from treatment agencies and requires full restitution from participants.

Prohibits peace officers from carrying firearms when their blood alcohol level is above 0.00%, whether on or off duty. Requires all law enforcement agencies to implement a zero-tolerance alcohol policy for armed officers. Exempts officers from the alcohol restriction while conducting undercover operations. Mandates state reimbursement to local agencies for costs of implementing these new requirements.