AB 1753: Protective orders: firearms and ammunition: notice and procedures.
<blockquote> AB 1753 amends laws related to protective orders in California. Key changes include: <ul><li>Clarifying the requirement for restrained individuals to relinquish firearms and ammunition.</li> <li>Allowing remote appearances at hearings for postsecondary educational institution or workplace violence restraining orders without cost.</li> <li>Prohibiting courts from requiring prior notice to respondents when filing temporary or ex parte protective orders if it would endanger applicants or others.</li> <li>Mandating peace officers follow specific procedures for serving restraining and protective orders.</li> <li>Expanding the duties of district attorneys and prosecuting city attorneys by requiring them to search the department of justice automated firearms system.</li> <li>Authorizing courts to conduct searches before hearings on various types of restraining orders, including ci…
| Sep. 26, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 458, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 26, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 5. Page 6709.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Enrolled September 01, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 26, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 27, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 17, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 16, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Stefani (Principal coauthor: Senator Blakespear) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonta, Caloza, Connolly, Ortega, Kalra, Papan, Pellerin, Quirk-Silva, Schiavo, and Zbur) |
February 09, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that requiring petitioners to provide prior notice of a petition for a temporary or ex parte protective or restraining order against an individual who has engaged in violent, abusive, or other dangerous conduct may result in all of the following:SEC. 2.
Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.
(a) A preliminary injunction may be granted at any time before judgment upon a verified complaint, or upon affidavits if the complaint in the one case, or the affidavits in the other, show satisfactorily that sufficient grounds exist therefor. A preliminary injunction shall not be granted without notice to the opposing party.SEC. 3.
Section 527.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.8.
(a) Any employer or collective bargaining representative of an employee who has suffered harassment, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence from any individual, that can reasonably be construed to be carried out or to have been carried out at the workplace, may seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the employee and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other employees at the workplace, and, if appropriate, other employees at other workplaces of the employer. For purposes of this section only, a person may bring a petition for a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of an employee as their collective bargaining representative only if the person serves as a collective bargaining representative for that employee in employment or labor matters at the employee’s workplace.SEC. 3.5.
Section 527.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.8.
(a) (1) Any employer or collective bargaining representative of an employee who has suffered harassment, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence from any individual, that can reasonably be construed to be carried out or to have been carried out at the workplace, may seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the employee and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other employees at the workplace, and, if appropriate, other employees at other workplaces of the employer. For purposes of this section only, a person may bring a petition for a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of an employee as their collective bargaining representative only if the person serves as a collective bargaining representative for that employee in employment or labor matters at the employee’s workplace.SEC. 4.
Section 527.85 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.85.
(a) A chief administrative officer of a postsecondary educational institution, or an officer or employee designated by the chief administrative officer to maintain order on the school campus or facility, a student of which has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence may, with the written consent of the student, seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the student and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other students at the campus or facility who are similarly situated.SEC. 4.1.
Section 527.85 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.85.
(a) A chief administrative officer of a postsecondary educational institution, or an officer or employee designated by the chief administrative officer to maintain order on the school campus or facility, a student of which has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence may, with the written consent of the student, seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the student and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other students at the campus or facility who are similarly situated.SEC. 4.2.
Section 527.85 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:527.85.
(a) (1) A chief administrative officer of a postsecondary educational institution, or an officer or employee designated by the chief administrative officer to maintain order on the school campus or facility, a student of which has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence may, with the written consent of the student, seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the student and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other students at the campus or facility who are similarly situated.SEC. 5.
Section 527.9 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.9.
(a) A person subject to a temporary restraining order or injunction issued pursuant to Section 527.6, 527.8, or 527.85 or subject to a restraining order issued pursuant to Section 136.2 of the Penal Code, or Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall relinquish the firearm and ammunition pursuant to this section.SEC. 6.
Section 527.11 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.11.
(a) When relevant information is presented to the court at any noticed hearing that a restrained person has a firearm or ammunition, the court shall consider that information to determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether the person subject to an order defined in Section 527.6, 527.8, 527.85, Section 136.2 of the Penal Code, or Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, has a firearm or ammunition in or subject to their immediate possession or control in violation of the order.SEC. 7.
Section 527.12 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:527.12.
(a) A peace officer shall, upon the request of a petitioner, serve any temporary restraining order, order after hearing, or protective order issued pursuant to Sections 527.6, 527.8, and 527.85, Section 136.2 of the Penal Code, or Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, on the respondent, whether or not the respondent has been taken into custody.SEC. 8.
Section 527.13 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, immediately following Section 527.12, to read:527.13.
(a) The purpose of this section is to clarify that a court adjudicating a protective order or restraining order described in subdivision (e) of this section may order a search to be conducted of the Department of Justice Automated Firearms System and other databases, as described in Section 6306 of the Family Code, if the court is not otherwise required to cause a search to be conducted pursuant to that section or Section 18110 of the Penal Code.SEC. 9.
Section 6380 of the Family Code is amended to read:6380.
(a) Each county, with the approval of the Department of Justice, shall, by July 1, 1996, develop a procedure, using existing systems, for the electronic transmission of data, as described in subdivision (b), to the Department of Justice. The data shall be electronically transmitted through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) of the Department of Justice by law enforcement personnel, or with the approval of the Department of Justice, court personnel, or another appropriate agency capable of maintaining and preserving the integrity of both the CLETS and the California Restraining and Protective Order System, as described in subdivision (e). Data entry is required to be entered only once under the requirements of this section, unless the order is served at a later time. A portion of all fees payable to the Department of Justice under subdivision (a) of Section 1203.097 of the Penal Code for the entry of the information required under this section, based upon the proportion of the costs incurred by the local agency and those incurred by the Department of Justice, shall be transferred to the local agency actually providing the data. All data with respect to criminal court protective orders issued, modified, extended, or terminated under Section 136.2, 273.5, 368, 422.85, 422.865, 422.88, 646.9, or 1203.097 of the Penal Code, and all data filed with the court on the required Judicial Council forms with respect to any protective or restraining orders described in subdivision (b), including their issuance, modification, extension, or termination, shall be transmitted by the court or its designee within one business day to law enforcement personnel by either one of the following methods, unless an alternative method is otherwise expressly authorized by statute:SEC. 10.
Section 6380.5 of the Family Code is amended to read:6380.5.
(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as Wyland’s Law.SEC. 11.
Section 6383 of the Family Code is amended to read:6383.
(a) A temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or an order issued after hearing pursuant to this part shall, on request of the petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the respondent has been taken into custody, either by a law enforcement officer, excluding those defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code, who is present at the scene of reported domestic violence involving the parties to the proceeding or who receives a request from the petitioner to provide service of the order.SEC. 11.1.
Section 6383 of the Family Code is amended to read:6383.
(a) A temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or an order issued after hearing pursuant to this part shall, on request of the petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the respondent has been taken into custody, either by a law enforcement officer, excluding those defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code, who is present at the scene of reported domestic violence involving the parties to the proceeding or who receives a request from the petitioner to provide service of the order.SEC. 11.2.
Section 6383 of the Family Code is amended to read:6383.
(a) A temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or an order issued after hearing pursuant to this part shall, on request of the petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the respondent has been taken into custody, either by a law enforcement officer, excluding those defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code, who is present at the scene of reported domestic violence involving the parties to the proceeding or who receives a request from the petitioner to provide service of the order.SEC. 11.3.
Section 6383 of the Family Code is amended to read:6383.
(a) A temporary restraining order, emergency protective order, or an order issued after hearing pursuant to this part shall, on request of the petitioner, be served on the respondent, whether or not the respondent has been taken into custody, either by a law enforcement officer, excluding those defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.5 of the Penal Code, who is present at the scene of reported domestic violence involving the parties to the proceeding or who receives a request from the petitioner to provide service of the order.SEC. 12.
Section 6401 of the Family Code is amended to read:6401.
In this part:SEC. 13.
Section 6402 of the Family Code is amended to read:6402.
(a) A person authorized by the law of this state to seek enforcement of a protection order may seek enforcement of a valid foreign protection order in a tribunal of this state. The tribunal shall enforce the terms of the order, including terms that provide relief that a tribunal of this state would lack power to provide but for this section. The tribunal shall enforce the order, whether the order was obtained by independent action or in another proceeding, if it is an order issued in response to a complaint, petition, or motion filed by or on behalf of an individual seeking protection. In a proceeding to enforce a foreign protection order, the tribunal shall follow the procedures of this state for the enforcement of protection orders.SEC. 14.
Section 6403.5 is added to the Family Code, to read:6403.5.
(a) A law enforcement agency or officer in this state may seek enforcement in a tribunal of this state of a valid extreme risk protection order issued by a tribunal under the laws of another state or jurisdiction.SEC. 15.
Section 26666.10 of the Government Code is amended to read:26666.10.
(a) On or before January 1, 2024, the Judicial Council shall create a statewide form or forms to be used by litigants in civil actions or proceedings to request service of process or notice by a marshal or sheriff, including their department or office.SEC. 16.
Section 26666.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:26666.10.
(a) On or before January 1, 2028, the Judicial Council shall create a statewide form or forms to be used by litigants in civil actions or proceedings to request service of process or notice by a marshal or sheriff, or by a peace officer required to serve a restraining or protective order under Section 527.12 of the Code of Civil Procedure or Section 6383 of the Family Code.SEC. 17.
Section 136.26 is added to the Penal Code, to read:136.26.
(a) If a court issues a criminal protective order to protect one or more individuals pursuant to Section 136.2, 273.5, 368, 646.9, 1203.097, or other applicable law, the prosecuting agency shall seek to ensure the protected person or protected people named in that order are promptly notified about the issuance, terms, and duration of the protective order. This section does not apply if the protected person or people were notified about the protective order through their presence in court when the order was issued.SEC. 18.
Section 273.75 of the Penal Code is amended to read:273.75.
(a) On any charge involving acts of domestic violence as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 13700 of the Penal Code or Sections 6203 and 6211 of the Family Code, the district attorney or prosecuting city attorney shall perform or cause to be performed, by accessing the electronic databases enumerated in subdivision (b), a thorough investigation of the defendant’s history, including, but not limited to, prior convictions for domestic violence, other forms of violence or weapons offenses and any current protective or restraining order issued by any civil or criminal court. This information and the information provided by the arresting agency pursuant to Section 273.76 shall be presented for consideration by the court (1) when setting bond or when releasing a defendant on their own recognizance at the arraignment, if the defendant is in custody, (2) upon consideration of any plea agreement, and (3) when issuing a protective order pursuant to subdivision (h) or (i) of Section 136.2, subdivision (j) of Section 273.5, subdivision (l) of Section 368, subdivision (k) of Section 646.9, or paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1203.097. In determining bail or release upon a plea agreement, the court shall consider the safety of the victim, the victim’s children, and any other person who may be in danger if the defendant is released.SEC. 19.
Section 422.85 of the Penal Code is amended to read:422.85.
(a) In the case of any person who is convicted of any offense against the person or property of another individual, private institution, or public agency, committed because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, nationality, country of origin, ancestry, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, offenses defined in Section 302, 423.2, 594.3, 11411, 11412, or 11413, or for any hate crime, the court, absent compelling circumstances stated on the record, shall make an order protecting the victim, or known immediate family or domestic partner of the victim, from further acts of violence, threats, stalking, or harassment by the defendant, including any stay-away conditions the court deems appropriate, and shall make obedience of that protective order, including the provisions described in subdivision (c), a condition of the defendant’s probation. In these cases, the court may also order that the defendant be required to do one or more of the following as a condition of probation:SEC. 20.
Section 422.865 of the Penal Code is amended to read:422.865.
(a) In the case of any person who is committed to a state hospital or other treatment facility under the provisions of Section 1026 for any offense against the person or property of another individual, private institution, or public agency because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, nationality, country of origin, ancestry, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, offenses defined in Section 302, 423.2, 594.3, 11411, 11412, or 11413, or for any hate crime, and then is either placed on outpatient status or conditional release from the state hospital or other treatment facility, the court or community program director may order that the defendant be required as a condition of outpatient status or conditional release to complete a class or program on racial or ethnic sensitivity, or other similar training in the area of civil rights, or a one-year counseling program intended to reduce the tendency toward violent and antisocial behavior if that class, program, or training is available and was developed or authorized by the court or local agencies in cooperation with organizations serving the affected community.SEC. 21.
Section 422.88 of the Penal Code is amended to read:422.88.
(a) The court in which a criminal proceeding stemming from a hate crime or alleged hate crime is filed shall take all actions reasonably required, including granting criminal protective or restraining orders, to safeguard the health, safety, or privacy of the alleged victim, or of a person who is a victim of, or at risk of becoming a victim of, a hate crime.SEC. 22.
Section 422.88 is added to the Penal Code, to read:422.88.
(a) The court in which a criminal proceeding stemming from a hate crime or alleged hate crime is filed shall take all actions reasonably required, including granting criminal protective or restraining orders, to safeguard the health, safety, or privacy of the alleged victim, or of a person who is a victim of, or at risk of becoming a victim of, a hate crime.SEC. 23.
Section 16520 of the Penal Code is amended to read:16520.
(a) As used in this part, “firearm” means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.SEC. 24.
Section 18120 of the Penal Code is amended to read:18120.
(a) A person subject to a gun violence restraining order issued pursuant to this division shall not have in the person’s custody or control, own, purchase, possess, or receive any firearms or ammunition while that order is in effect.SEC. 25.
Section 18120.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:18120.5.
(a) When relevant information is presented to the court at any noticed hearing that a restrained person has a firearm or ammunition, the court shall consider that information to determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether the person subject to an order defined in this division has a firearm or ammunition in or subject to their possession or control in violation of the order.SEC. 26.
Section 18205 of the Penal Code is amended to read:18205.
(a) Every person who owns or possesses a firearm or ammunition with knowledge that they are prohibited from doing so by a temporary emergency gun violence restraining order issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18125), an ex parte gun violence restraining order issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 18150), a gun violence restraining order issued after notice and a hearing issued pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18170), or by a valid order issued by an out-of-state jurisdiction that is similar or equivalent to a gun violence restraining order described in this division, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person convicted of a violation of this section before January 1, 2027, shall be prohibited from having custody or control of, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, a firearm or ammunition for a five-year period, to commence upon the expiration of the existing gun violence restraining order. A person convicted of a violation of this section on or after January 1, 2027, shall be prohibited from having custody or control of, owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, a firearm or ammunition, within 10 years of the conviction, pursuant to Section 29805.SEC. 27.
Section 29805 of the Penal Code is amended to read: