CA SB 277
deadCriminal procedure: search of persons.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 277 pass?
No. CA SB 277 did not pass — it was defeated or died in the legislative process. Latest recorded action (2026-02-02): Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
What is CA SB 277 about?
Existing provisions of the United States and California Constitutions ensure the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against warrantless seizures and searches. Case law establishes exceptions to this right, including allowing a peace officer to conduct a limited search of a person for firearms or weapons if the peace officer reasonably concludes that the person detained may be armed and presently dangerous to the peace officer or others, or if the person consents to a search. This bill would authorize a peace officer to request consent to search an individual, their property, or their effects only if the officer is investigating a crime and has reasonable suspicion that the individual to be searched has an item in their possession that is evidence of criminal activity. The bill would require the officer to follow a specified procedure in a specified order, including advising the individual that their consent is voluntary, explaining to the individual the scope of the search, and recording the individual's consent. The bill would prohibit an officer from exceeding the scope of the search explained to the individual and would require the officer to discontinue the search if the individual withdraws their consent. The bill would authorize searches based on unsolicited consent if the officer follows specified procedures. The bill would require an officer to record the required actions they performed before and during a consensual search consistent with the policies of their employing agency. Because the bill would impose requirements on local law enforcement, 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, 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 SB 277?
Weber Pierson is the primary sponsor of CA SB 277.
Description
Existing provisions of the United States and California Constitutions ensure the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against warrantless seizures and searches. Case law establishes exceptions to this right, including allowing a peace officer to conduct a limited search of a person for firearms or weapons if the peace officer reasonably concludes that the person detained may be armed and presently dangerous to the peace officer or others, or if the person consents to a search. This bill would authorize a peace officer to request consent to search an individual, their property, or their effects only if the officer is investigating a crime and has reasonable suspicion that the individual to be searched has an item in their possession that is evidence of criminal activity. The bill would require the officer to follow a specified procedure in a specified order, including advising the individual that their consent is voluntary, explaining to the individual the scope of the search, and recording the individual's consent. The bill would prohibit an officer from exceeding the scope of the search explained to the individual and would require the officer to discontinue the search if the individual withdraws their consent. The bill would authorize searches based on unsolicited consent if the officer follows specified procedures. The bill would require an officer to record the required actions they performed before and during a consensual search consistent with the policies of their employing agency. Because the bill would impose requirements on local law enforcement, 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, 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
- 2025-02-04
- Latest action
- 2026-02-02 — Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Weber Piersonauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-02-02
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
failure
2026-01-22
January 22 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2026-01-16
Set for hearing January 22.
2025-05-23
May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-21
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-10
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-08
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 708.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-03-27
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-03-26
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-03-18
Set for hearing April 1.
2025-03-18
April 1 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-02-14
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
referral-committee
2025-02-05
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 7.
2025-02-04
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
Documents
- application/pdf
- application/pdf
- text/html
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
- application/pdf(no extracted text yet)
Votes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-08 · pass · 4-1
Member-level votes (6)
- Pérez: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Seyarto: no
- Caballero: other
Placed on suspense file
2025-04-21 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Dahle: 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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