Assembly BillIntroducedPenal
AB 1966: Sentencing enhancements: crimes against undocumented individuals.
What AB 1966 does, verified March 19, 2026
This bill would add a new sentencing enhancement to the California penal code, requiring courts to impose an additional 2-year term of state imprisonment for individuals convicted of committing certain crimes against undocumented individuals. This new enhancement would apply to qualifying criminal activities, such as using a firearm or damaging property, committed against undocumented individuals. The bill would also specify that reimbursement is not required for local agencies and school districts due to a provision in the California Constitution.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. (2026-03-18)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions5 total · showing 5
| Mar. 18, 2026 | In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 09, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 02, 2026 | Referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Feb. 14, 2026 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 16. |
| Feb. 13, 2026 | Read first time. To print. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 13, 2026 · 488 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1966
| Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Valencia |
February 13, 2026 |
An act to add Section 12022.54 to the Penal Code, relating to crimes.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1966, as introduced, Ramos. Sentencing enhancements: crimes against undocumented individuals.
Existing law generally authorizes a court to, in the furtherance of justice, dismiss a sentencing enhancement, except if dismissal of that enhancement is prohibited by an initiative statute. Existing law provides for various sentencing enhancements, including, among others, enhancements for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony or attempted felony, or for the damaging of property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony.
This bill would require the court to impose an additional and consecutive 2-year term of state imprisonment for individuals convicted of committing a qualifying criminal activity, as specified, against a person who is an undocumented individual. By creating a new sentencing enhancement, this 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12022.54 is added to the Penal Code, to read:12022.54.
(a) A person convicted of committing a qualifying criminal activity against a person who is an undocumented individual shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for two years.(b) For the purposes of this section, “qualifying criminal activity” has the same meaning as qualifying criminal activity pursuant to Section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, which includes, but is not limited to, all of the following crimes:
(1) Rape.
(2) Torture.
(3) Human trafficking.
(4) Incest.
(5) Domestic violence.
(6) Sexual assault.
(7) Abusive sexual conduct.
(8) Prostitution.
(9) Sexual exploitation.
(10) Female genital mutilation.
(11) Being held hostage.
(12) Peonage.
(13) Perjury.
(14) Involuntary servitude.
(15) Slavery.
(16) Kidnapping.
(17) Abduction.
(18) Unlawful criminal restraint.
(19) False imprisonment.
(20) Blackmail.
(21) Extortion.
(22) Manslaughter.
(23) Murder.
(24) Felonious assault.
(25) Witness tampering.
(26) Obstruction of justice.
(27) Fraud in foreign labor contracting.
(28) Stalking.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of AB 1966 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions