Bill Commons

CA AB 1846

enacted

Dependency: placement of child with relative.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did CA AB 1846 pass?

Yes. CA AB 1846 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-18): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 276, Statutes of 2026.

What is CA AB 1846 about?

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law establishes the grounds for removal of a dependent child from the custody of their parents or guardian, and establishes procedures to determine placement of a child. Existing law requires, when a child has been adjudged a dependent of the court, the court to hold a dispositional hearing to determine the disposition to be made of the child. Under existing law, if the child is removed from the physical custody of their parents, preferential consideration to be given to a request by a relative of the child for placement of the child with the relative. Existing law prescribes factors for the county social worker and court to consider in determining placement, and requires the court to state on the record the reasons placement was denied if the court does not place the child with a relative who has been considered for placement. This bill would require, if the court does not initially place the child with a relative who has been considered for placement, the court to state for the record the reasons why the placement with that relative was denied or delayed. The bill would require, except as specified, after the court conducts the dispositional hearing, the social worker to assess any relative who requests placement and who has not been previously assessed or found to be unsuitable. The bill would require, if the court has terminated reunification services prior to the relative's request for placement, the county social worker and the court to consider certain additional factors to consider in determining whether placement with the relative is appropriate, including, among others, the child's relationship with the current caregiver. By increasing the duties of county social workers, this 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 1846?

Stefani is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1846.

Description

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law establishes the grounds for removal of a dependent child from the custody of their parents or guardian, and establishes procedures to determine placement of a child. Existing law requires, when a child has been adjudged a dependent of the court, the court to hold a dispositional hearing to determine the disposition to be made of the child. Under existing law, if the child is removed from the physical custody of their parents, preferential consideration to be given to a request by a relative of the child for placement of the child with the relative. Existing law prescribes factors for the county social worker and court to consider in determining placement, and requires the court to state on the record the reasons placement was denied if the court does not place the child with a relative who has been considered for placement. This bill would require, if the court does not initially place the child with a relative who has been considered for placement, the court to state for the record the reasons why the placement with that relative was denied or delayed. The bill would require, except as specified, after the court conducts the dispositional hearing, the social worker to assess any relative who requests placement and who has not been previously assessed or found to be unsuitable. The bill would require, if the court has terminated reunification services prior to the relative's request for placement, the county social worker and the court to consider certain additional factors to consider in determining whether placement with the relative is appropriate, including, among others, the child's relationship with the current caregiver. By increasing the duties of county social workers, this 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
2026-09-18 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 276, Statutes of 2026.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Stefaniauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-09-18

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 276, Statutes of 2026.

    became-law

  2. 2026-09-18

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-09-08

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-08-28

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  5. 2026-08-28

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6795.).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  6. 2026-08-27

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  7. 2026-08-27

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  8. 2026-08-25

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  9. 2026-08-17

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  10. 2026-08-13

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage

  11. 2026-08-13

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  12. 2026-08-03

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  13. 2026-06-29

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  14. 2026-06-10

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  15. 2026-05-06

    Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-04-16

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  17. 2026-04-16

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 0. Page 4682.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  18. 2026-04-09

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    reading-1,reading-2

  19. 2026-04-08

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 8).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  20. 2026-03-25

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  21. 2026-03-19

    Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.

    referral-committee

  22. 2026-03-18

    Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  23. 2026-03-17

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 17).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  24. 2026-03-02

    Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.

    referral-committee

  25. 2026-02-12

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  26. 2026-02-11

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

Versions

  • 02/11/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-11Compare
  • 03/18/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-03-18Compare
  • 08/13/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-13Compare
  • 09/02/26 - Enrolled — 2026-09-02Compare
  • AB1846Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2026-03-17 · pass · 12-0

    Member-level votes (12)
    • Bryan: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2026-03-24 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Castillo: yes
  • Do pass. To Consent Calendar.

    2026-04-08 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Calderon: other
  • AB 1846 Stefani Consent Calendar Second Day

    2026-04-16 · pass · 68-0

    Member-level votes (80)
    • Patel: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Castillo: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • DeMaio: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Ellis: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Gabriel: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Sanchez: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Flora: other
    • Berman: other
    • Hart: other
    • Papan: other
    • Arambula: other
    • Dixon: other
    • Bonta: other
    • Schiavo: other
    • Celeste Rodriguez: other
    • Irwin: other
    • Hoover: other
    • Harabedian: other
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2026-06-09 · pass · 12-0

    Member-level votes (13)
    • Wahab: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Niello: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Stern: other
  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

    2026-06-29 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (5)
    • Laird: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-09-21T02:53:48.612860Z

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