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Home/Bills/AB 1538California · 2025–2026 Regular Session
Assembly BillIntroducedPenal

AB 1538: Crimes: corruption.

California · Assembly · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified May 16, 2026

What AB 1538 does, verified May 16, 2026

This bill adds a new crime to the penal code that prohibits elected or appointed officials from retaliating against individuals for exercising their constitutionally protected rights. The crime is punishable by forfeiture of office, with certain exceptions for hiring or personnel decisions. The bill creates a new state-mandated local program. The bill also specifies that no reimbursement is required for the costs associated with implementing this new crime.

Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me
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Coauthors
Patrick AhrensBlanca RubioAlex LeeAlexandra MacedoSharon Quirk-SilvaLori Wilson
Recent actions12 total · showing 5
May. 14, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
Apr. 08, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Apr. 06, 2026Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Mar. 26, 2026Read second time and amended.
Mar. 25, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24).
Full action history, 7 earlier actionsConnect Plus
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