CA AB 1538
in committeeCrimes: corruption.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 1538 pass?
Not yet. CA AB 1538 is in committee and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2026-05-14): In committee: Held under submission.
What is CA AB 1538 about?
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten another person in the free exercise or enjoyment of a right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States, in whole or in part, because of one or more of specified actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including disability, gender, religion, race, or sexual orientation. This bill would make it a crime for an elected or appointed official, under color of authority, to retaliate or exert political retribution, as defined, against a person for exercising a constitutionally protected right. The bill would make a violation of this crime punishable by forfeiture of office. The bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to the hiring or personnel decisions of elected or appointed officials that are relative to an employee or prospective employee of that elected or appointed official. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors CA AB 1538?
Krell is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1538, joined by 6 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten another person in the free exercise or enjoyment of a right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States, in whole or in part, because of one or more of specified actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including disability, gender, religion, race, or sexual orientation. This bill would make it a crime for an elected or appointed official, under color of authority, to retaliate or exert political retribution, as defined, against a person for exercising a constitutionally protected right. The bill would make a violation of this crime punishable by forfeiture of office. The bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to the hiring or personnel decisions of elected or appointed officials that are relative to an employee or prospective employee of that elected or appointed official. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Introduced
- 2026-03-17
- Latest action
- 2026-05-14 — In committee: Held under submission.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Krellauthor
- Ahrenscoauthor
- Leecoauthor
- Macedocoauthor
- Quirk-Silvacoauthor
- Blanca Rubiocoauthor
- Wilsoncoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-05-14
In committee: Held under submission.
2026-04-08
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-04-06
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
referral-committee
2026-03-26
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-03-25
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-03-18
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
referral-committee
2026-03-17
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-17
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-03-10
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-02-02
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
referral-committee
2026-01-06
From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.
2026-01-05
Read first time. To print.
reading-1
Versions
Documents
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- text/html
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
Votes
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-03-24 · pass · 8-0
Member-level votes (9)
- Harabedian: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Haney: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z
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