CA AB 2600
in committeeImmigration: access to legal counsel.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did CA AB 2600 pass?
Not yet. CA AB 2600 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 2600 about?
Existing law, subject to available funding, provides legal counsel to immigrant youth in the State of California. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to allocate funding for these purposes, and requires the department to consider whether federal funding has been made available and dispersed to organizations or relevant projects in the state in determining the amount and allocation of contracts awarded. Existing law requires the department to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations, or public defender offices, that meet certain requirements to provide legal counsel to immigrant youth. This bill would, subject to the availability of funding, similarly provide legal counsel to every covered individual subject to certain immigration proceedings if that individual is not otherwise being provided counsel, as specified. The bill would define a covered individual to include an individual who is not represented by counsel and who satisfies the indigency requirements established by the administrator and one or more of certain specified criteria relating to the connection of them or their immigration case to the State California. The bill would require the department to establish the office of the administrator within the department to oversee implementation of these provisions. The bill would require the provisions to be implemented by the administrator, or their designee, by January 1, 2027, and would specify the duties and authorities of the administrator, or their designee, with regard to implementation, including, among others, the authority to develop and implement a phase-in plan. The bill would require the administrator, or their designee, to contract to provide legal counsel for covered individuals with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations or public defender officers that meet the requirements referred to above, or with private firms or private attorneys who meet the criteria for participation in a private attorney panel. The bill would require the administrator to annually submit a report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions.
Who sponsors CA AB 2600?
Bonta is the primary sponsor of CA AB 2600, joined by 4 cosponsors.
Description
Existing law, subject to available funding, provides legal counsel to immigrant youth in the State of California. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to allocate funding for these purposes, and requires the department to consider whether federal funding has been made available and dispersed to organizations or relevant projects in the state in determining the amount and allocation of contracts awarded. Existing law requires the department to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations, or public defender offices, that meet certain requirements to provide legal counsel to immigrant youth. This bill would, subject to the availability of funding, similarly provide legal counsel to every covered individual subject to certain immigration proceedings if that individual is not otherwise being provided counsel, as specified. The bill would define a covered individual to include an individual who is not represented by counsel and who satisfies the indigency requirements established by the administrator and one or more of certain specified criteria relating to the connection of them or their immigration case to the State California. The bill would require the department to establish the office of the administrator within the department to oversee implementation of these provisions. The bill would require the provisions to be implemented by the administrator, or their designee, by January 1, 2027, and would specify the duties and authorities of the administrator, or their designee, with regard to implementation, including, among others, the authority to develop and implement a phase-in plan. The bill would require the administrator, or their designee, to contract to provide legal counsel for covered individuals with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations or public defender officers that meet the requirements referred to above, or with private firms or private attorneys who meet the criteria for participation in a private attorney panel. The bill would require the administrator to annually submit a report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions.
- Introduced
- 2026-03-23
- Latest action
- 2026-05-14 — In committee: Held under submission.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Bontaauthor
- Ahrenscoauthor
- Elhawarycoauthor
- Kalracoauthor
- Ortegacoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-05-14
In committee: Held under submission.
2026-05-14
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
2026-05-13
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2026-04-15
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-04-13
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
referral-committee
2026-04-09
Read second time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-04-08
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 7).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-03-24
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
referral-committee
2026-03-23
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.
referral-committee
2026-03-23
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-02-21
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20
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 [Human Services]
2026-04-07 · pass · 9-3
Member-level votes (12)
- Papan: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Lee: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Macedo: no
- Sanchez: no
- Dixon: no
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-14 · pass · 4-1
Member-level votes (7)
- Elhawary: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Lee: yes
- Tangipa: no
- Castillo: other
- Solache: 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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