Bill Commons

CA AB 1994

enacted

Defending Immigrant Victims Act.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did CA AB 1994 pass?

Yes. CA AB 1994 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-29): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 746, Statutes of 2026.

What is CA AB 1994 about?

Existing law, as added by Proposition 9, the Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law (Marsy's Law) , at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate, provide or make available to the victim a "Marsy Rights" card that contains the constitutional rights of crime victims without charge or cost to the victim. Marsy's Law provides that its provisions shall not be amended by the Legislature except by a statute passed in each house by rollcall vote entered in the journal, 34 of the membership of each house concurring. Marsy's Law also provides that the Legislature may amend its provisions to expand the scope of its application, to recognize additional rights of victims of crime, or to further the rights of victims of crime by a statute passed by a majority vote of the membership of each house. Existing law requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, inform each victim of the rights they have under applicable law relating to the victimization and provide each victim without charge or cost a "Victim Protections and Resources" card. Existing law requires the Attorney General to design and make available in PDF or other imaging format this card with specified information on the card, including information about federal immigration relief available to certain victims of crime. Commencing no later than January 1, 2028, this bill, the Defending Immigrant Victims Act, would require a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, to inform each victim, the victim's next of kin if the victim is deceased, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor of the rights they may have under applicable law relating to immigration relief. The bill would require a law enforcement agency and a prosecuting agency to provide a victim an "Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources" card that would provide specified information pertaining to the victim's rights, including a statement explaining how to consult an immigration attorney to help determine eligibility for immigration relief. The bill would require the Attorney General, by January 1, 2028, to design the card and make it available in English, Spanish, and any other language in which the "Marsy Rights" card is currently translated, and in a PDF or other imaging format, to law enforcement agencies and agencies prosecuting crimes, as specified. Because this bill would result in additional duties on local law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in informing victims, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make a conforming change. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Who sponsors CA AB 1994?

Alvarez is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1994, joined by 5 cosponsors.

Description

Existing law, as added by Proposition 9, the Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law (Marsy's Law) , at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate, provide or make available to the victim a "Marsy Rights" card that contains the constitutional rights of crime victims without charge or cost to the victim. Marsy's Law provides that its provisions shall not be amended by the Legislature except by a statute passed in each house by rollcall vote entered in the journal, 34 of the membership of each house concurring. Marsy's Law also provides that the Legislature may amend its provisions to expand the scope of its application, to recognize additional rights of victims of crime, or to further the rights of victims of crime by a statute passed by a majority vote of the membership of each house. Existing law requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, inform each victim of the rights they have under applicable law relating to the victimization and provide each victim without charge or cost a "Victim Protections and Resources" card. Existing law requires the Attorney General to design and make available in PDF or other imaging format this card with specified information on the card, including information about federal immigration relief available to certain victims of crime. Commencing no later than January 1, 2028, this bill, the Defending Immigrant Victims Act, would require a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, to inform each victim, the victim's next of kin if the victim is deceased, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor of the rights they may have under applicable law relating to immigration relief. The bill would require a law enforcement agency and a prosecuting agency to provide a victim an "Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources" card that would provide specified information pertaining to the victim's rights, including a statement explaining how to consult an immigration attorney to help determine eligibility for immigration relief. The bill would require the Attorney General, by January 1, 2028, to design the card and make it available in English, Spanish, and any other language in which the "Marsy Rights" card is currently translated, and in a PDF or other imaging format, to law enforcement agencies and agencies prosecuting crimes, as specified. Because this bill would result in additional duties on local law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in informing victims, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make a conforming change. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Introduced
2026-04-08
Latest action
2026-09-29 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 746, Statutes of 2026.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Alvarezauthor
  • Bontacoauthor
  • Mark Gonzálezcoauthor
  • Quirk-Silvacoauthor
  • Arreguíncoauthor
  • Pérezcoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-09-29

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 746, Statutes of 2026.

    became-law

  2. 2026-09-29

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-09-03

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-08-26

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

  5. 2026-08-26

    Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6575.).

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

  6. 2026-08-25

    In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  7. 2026-08-25

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

  8. 2026-08-17

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  9. 2026-08-13

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

  10. 2026-08-13

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

  11. 2026-08-03

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  12. 2026-06-25

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  13. 2026-06-24

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 23).

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

  14. 2026-06-10

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    referral-committee

  15. 2026-05-28

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

    reading-1,referral-committee

  16. 2026-05-27

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  17. 2026-05-27

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5427.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  18. 2026-05-19

    Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5153.)

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3

  19. 2026-04-30

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  20. 2026-04-29

    Coauthors revised.

  21. 2026-04-29

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  22. 2026-04-13

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    referral-committee

  23. 2026-04-09

    Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  24. 2026-04-08

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 7).

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

  25. 2026-03-23

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    referral-committee

  26. 2026-02-18

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

  27. 2026-02-17

    Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

Versions

  • 02/17/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-17Compare
  • 04/09/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-04-09Compare
  • 05/19/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-05-19Compare
  • 06/25/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-06-25Compare
  • 08/13/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-08-13Compare
  • 08/30/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-30Compare
  • 09/29/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-29Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare
  • AB1994Compare

Documents

Votes

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

    2026-04-07 · pass · 9-0

    Member-level votes (9)
    • Schultz: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Lackey: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Mark González: yes
  • Do pass.

    2026-04-29 · pass · 14-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Muratsuchi: other
  • AB 1994 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading

    2026-05-27 · pass · 77-0

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

    2026-06-23 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (6)
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Cortese: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-02T16:30:09.560363Z

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