Bill Commons

CA SB 965

enacted

Public libraries: library cards.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper

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Quick answers

Did CA SB 965 pass?

Yes. CA SB 965 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-28): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 737, Statutes of 2026.

What is CA SB 965 about?

Existing law declares that it is in the interest of the people and of the state to ensure that all people have free and convenient access to all library resources and services that might enrich their lives regardless of where they live or of the tax base of their local government. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2028, prohibit a public library from requiring the presence of a parent or guardian for the issuance of a library card to a California resident who is 16 or 17 years of age. The bill would authorize a public library to require a parent's or guardian's consent or signature for the issuance of a library card to a California resident who is 16 or 17 years of age unless the minor is emancipated. To the extent this bill would add to the duties of public libraries, 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 965?

Blakespear is the primary sponsor of CA SB 965, joined by 2 cosponsors.

Description

Existing law declares that it is in the interest of the people and of the state to ensure that all people have free and convenient access to all library resources and services that might enrich their lives regardless of where they live or of the tax base of their local government. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2028, prohibit a public library from requiring the presence of a parent or guardian for the issuance of a library card to a California resident who is 16 or 17 years of age. The bill would authorize a public library to require a parent's or guardian's consent or signature for the issuance of a library card to a California resident who is 16 or 17 years of age unless the minor is emancipated. To the extent this bill would add to the duties of public libraries, 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
2026-02-03
Latest action
2026-09-28 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 737, Statutes of 2026.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Blakespearauthor
  • Cabaldoncoauthor
  • Rubiocoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-09-28

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 737, Statutes of 2026.

    became-law

  2. 2026-09-28

    Approved by the Governor.

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-09-02

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

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-08-27

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2026-08-25

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  6. 2026-08-13

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  7. 2026-08-13

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  8. 2026-08-13

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 68. Noes 2. Page 6150.) Ordered to the Senate.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  9. 2026-08-06

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  10. 2026-08-05

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  11. 2026-08-05

    Coauthors revised.

  12. 2026-06-22

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

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

  13. 2026-06-18

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 17).

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

  14. 2026-05-26

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.

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

  15. 2026-05-18

    Referred to Com. on ED.

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-05-07

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    reading-1

  17. 2026-05-07

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 4163.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  18. 2026-05-05

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  19. 2026-05-04

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

    committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  20. 2026-04-24

    Set for hearing May 4.

  21. 2026-04-22

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

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

  22. 2026-04-21

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 3898.) (April 15).

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

  23. 2026-04-09

    Set for hearing April 15.

  24. 2026-04-08

    Re-referred to Com. on ED.

    referral-committee

  25. 2026-03-25

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

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

  26. 2026-02-11

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

    referral-committee

  27. 2026-02-04

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 6.

  28. 2026-02-03

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    introduction,reading-1,referral-committee

Versions

  • 02/03/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-03Compare
  • 03/25/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-03-25Compare
  • 04/22/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-04-22Compare
  • 05/26/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-05-26Compare
  • 06/22/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-06-22Compare
  • 08/30/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-30Compare
  • 09/28/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-28Compare
  • SB965Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2026-04-15 · pass · 7-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Pérez: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Gonzalez: yes

  • 3rd Reading

    2026-05-07 · pass · 35-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Strickland: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Menjivar: yes
    • Hurtado: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Reyes: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Niello: other
    • Valladares: other
    • Grove: other
    • Gonzalez: other
    • Alvarado-Gil: other

  • Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2026-06-17 · pass · 8-0

    Member-level votes (9)
    • Castillo: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Zbur: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB965

Attribution

Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-01T06:33:43.706082Z

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