Legislative Update (2/27/26)

Introduced Bills

AB 1535 – Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Act

  • Adds political affiliation as a protected characteristic under hate crime statutes
  • Sponsor: Author
  • Status: Assembly Public Safety

AB 1569 – E-Bike Safe Handling at Schools

  • Requires schools to implement e-bike safety training requirements for students who park e-bikes on campus
  • Sponsor: TBD
  • Status: Assembly Education

AB 1596 – Car Seat Tax Holiday

  • Establishes a five-year sales tax holiday on car seats
  • Sponsor: Author
  • Status: Assembly Revenue and Taxation

AB 1616 – Non-Narcotic PTSD Treatment Study

  • Requires CalVet, upon appropriation, to create a program funding a study on non-narcotic PTSD treatment
  • Includes research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Therapy, where patients receive oxygen concentrations above normal air levels
  • Existing studies show potential for reconnecting neural pathways and lowering PTSD symptoms, but further research is needed
  • Sponsor: TBD
  • Status: Committee Assignment Pending

AB 1623 – RHNA Student Housing

  • Allows cities to receive housing credits for student housing developments
  • Sponsor: Author
  • Status: Assembly Housing and Community Development

AB 1634 – Kids Specialty License Plate Cost Update

  • Updates fees for the Kids DMV specialty license plate, which have not been adjusted since 1992
  • Sponsor: CCCSH
  • Status: Assembly Human Services

AB 1639 – Drowning Prevention and Rescue Act of 2026

  • Develops and reports key data to support a stronger statewide lifeguard workforce plan
  • Requires 911 call center operators to receive CPR training, including ventilations and chest compressions
  • Improves public education and awareness of CPR
  • Sponsor: CCCSH
  • Status: Assembly Health

AB 1656 – Human Trafficking Case Continuance

  • Allows human trafficking cases to receive a trial continuance if the prosecuting attorney is unavailable on the original court date
  • Sponsor: San Diego County District Attorney
  • Status: Assembly Public Safety

AB 1707 – Electrician Certificate Modernization

  • Allows electricians to renew licenses and apply for examinations online instead of by mail
  • Sponsor: TBD
  • Status: Introduced

AB 1746 – Childcare Application Reform

  • Allows CalWORKs families to apply for childcare during renewal or initial eligibility
  • Sponsor: Coalition for Welfare Rights
  • Status: Introduced

AB 1779 – Alcohol and Drug Programs Patient Inducements

  • Limits patient brokering into California
  • Prevents facilities from offering incentives to attract patients
  • Requires data collection for facilities transporting patients into the state
  • Requires separate contracts for housing and treatment services
  • Sponsor: CCAPP
  • Status: Introduced

AB 1816 – Probation Reform

  • Extends probation for serious sexual offenses
  • Sponsor: California Probation Officers Association
  • Status: Introduced

AB 1892 – HOA Omnibus Fix

  • Updates and clarifies various HOA regulatory codes and documents
  • Sponsor: Community Association Institute
  • Status: Introduced

AB 1909 – Utility Task Vehicles (UTV) for First Responders

  • Allows first responder agencies to operate UTVs on public roadways (law enforcement already permitted)
  • Sponsor: City of Carlsbad
  • Status: Introduced

AB 2242 – Sextortion Prevention

  • Creates a required sextortion resource poster for middle and high schools
  • Sponsor: Author
  • Status: Introduced

AB 2690 – Government Lawsuit Standing

  • Clarifies that taxpayers have legal standing to sue the government
  • Sponsor: ACLU
  • Status: Introduced

Two-Year Bill

AB 683 – Escrow Modernization

  • Standardizes information exchanged between LLCs during land title transfers or property sales
  • Sponsor: Escrow Institute of California
  • Status: Senate Floor