Law Enforcement

Requires law enforcement to limit body camera recording during sensitive medical evaluations by July 2026. Establishes procedures for emergency personnel to request redaction of sensitive medical recordings. Mandates minimum 60-day retention for routine footage and 2 years for footage involving arrests or complaints. Requires permanent retention of all camera data access and deletion logs.

Exempts businesses from privacy laws when collecting customer data for legitimate commercial purposes. Increases penalties up to $10,000 for unauthorized recording of private communications. Allows consumers to opt out of having their personal information processed by businesses. Maintains existing privacy protections against non-commercial surveillance and recording.

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.

Prohibits law enforcement agencies from making agreements that conceal officer misconduct records. Requires agencies to publicly disclose records of serious police misconduct and use of force incidents. Mandates agencies to report officer misconduct investigations and employment changes within 10 days. Declares settlement agreements hiding misconduct void and unenforceable under state law.

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

Prohibits knowingly aiding or facilitating the unlawful manufacture of firearms, including through 3D printing or CNC machines. Requires firearm industry members to implement controls preventing sales to prohibited persons and verify buyer identity. Authorizes civil lawsuits with penalties up to $25,000 per violation for distributing digital firearm manufacturing code. Bans firearm possession for 10 years for those convicted of specified ghost gun manufacturing misdemeanors.

Requires courts to consider officer undercover status when deciding to release police personnel records. Mandates public disclosure of police misconduct records within 45 days of request. Expands transparency by requiring release of records on use of force, discrimination, and dishonesty. Allows agencies to redact records that could endanger officer safety or compromise undercover operations.

Requires security guard training to be completed within 6 months before applying for registration. Mandates that security guard training must be administered by a single authorized provider. Restricts private security companies to training only their own employees and job applicants. Requires 32 hours of security training, with 16 hours completed in the first 30 days of registration.

Requires California peace officers to earn a college degree or certificate within 36 months of basic training by 2031. Establishes a new statewide task force to identify and recruit law enforcement candidates. Creates a modern policing degree program focusing on psychology, communications, ethics, and criminal justice. Exempts officers with four years of out-of-state law enforcement or military experience from education requirements.

Authorizes local governments to designate mental health liaisons for supporting peace officers' mental wellness. Requires designated liaisons to be existing employees with counseling or mental health expertise. Addresses high rates of trauma and mental health challenges faced by law enforcement personnel.

Requires police officers to complete behavioral health training for interacting with mentally ill and disabled persons. Authorizes partnerships with health departments and community organizations to develop the training curriculum. Mandates a minimum three-hour course covering topics like de-escalation and mental health awareness. Sets an implementation deadline of August 1, 2026 for the training program.

Expands confidentiality protections for law enforcement personnel in group peer support services. Allows disclosure of confidential communications in juvenile delinquency proceedings. Protects communications between officers during group mental health and crisis support sessions. Requires peer support team members to report threats of death or substantial harm.

Removes the requirement for state commission approval of police officer education standards. Maintains the development of a modern policing degree program by California Community Colleges. Allows credit for military and law enforcement experience toward employment requirements. Recommends financial aid for students from historically underserved communities pursuing police careers.

Requires officers to identify themselves before interviewing families of those killed or injured by police. Mandates officers inform families of their right to have an attorney or support person present during questioning. Establishes clear protections for immediate family members during law enforcement investigations. Requires officers to disclose if the investigation may involve culpability of the deceased or injured person.

Requires law enforcement agencies to develop standardized policies for enforcing restraining orders by January 2027. Mandates officers to collect firearms from restrained individuals within 24 hours of serving protection orders. Establishes a tracking system to monitor firearm relinquishment compliance and restraining order service. Requires agencies to post public information about restraining order service and firearm surrender procedures.

Establishes new rules requiring police officers to get recorded consent before searching individuals or their property. Requires officers to explain that consent is voluntary and specify the exact scope of any search. Mandates immediate termination of searches if an individual withdraws their consent. Allows local jurisdictions to adopt stronger protections for individuals during consent searches.

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.

Expands privacy protections under public records law to include retired judges and court-appointed children's counsel. Prohibits disclosure of personal information like home addresses and phone numbers for protected officials. Makes unauthorized disclosure of protected officials' personal information a criminal offense.

Expands peace officer status to deputy sheriffs in Amador and Nevada counties. Grants these deputies statewide authority when performing custodial duties or during local emergencies. Aligns authority of Amador and Nevada deputies with existing counties' deputy sheriffs.

Requires all California schools with 50+ students to employ armed school resource officers during school hours. Implements a three-year rollout starting with high schools in 2026 and ending with elementary schools in 2028. Mandates state reimbursement to schools for all costs associated with hiring armed officers. Applies to both traditional public schools and charter schools with qualifying enrollment numbers.

Extends legal protections to tribal judges by making assaults against them a criminal offense. Allows tribal judges to keep their home addresses confidential in DMV and voter registration records. Makes unauthorized disclosure of a tribal judge's confidential information resulting in injury a felony.

Establishes a 3-year pilot program granting state peace officer authority to tribal police on Indian lands. Requires participating tribes to meet state training standards and waive sovereign immunity for police actions. Creates a state fund to help tribal police departments upgrade technology for required reporting. Authorizes tribal officers to pursue cases beyond reservation boundaries under specific circumstances.