Signal jammers.

The document was reformatted from an official chaptered legislative document (with 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' header) to a web page layout with navigation menus, search tools, and bill tracking features.

Website metadata was added including publication date (10/08/2025), vote information (MAJORITY), appropriation status (NO), fiscal committee flag (YES), and local program flag (YES).

A version history list was added showing prior versions: 09/12/25 Enrolled, 07/03/25 Amended Assembly, 04/09/25 Amended Senate, 03/24/25 Amended Senate, and 02/21/25 Introduced.

First offense under Section 636.6(a)(1) is now purely an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. The prior version included forfeiture in the penalty text and also offered a misdemeanor option with up to one year in county jail for a first offense.

Subsection (b) no longer criminalizes 'possessing' a signal jammer in conjunction with another crime; only 'operating' is covered. This narrows the scope of conduct that triggers the misdemeanor penalty for using a jammer alongside another offense.

Forfeiture of the signal jamming device was removed from individual penalty provisions and consolidated into a single standalone subsection (d) that applies to any conviction under the section, making it a uniform consequence rather than being repeated in each penalty clause.

Basic signal jammer offense (manufacturing, importing, selling, operating): first offense fine reduced from up to $5,000 to up to $500. A new repeat-offense provision makes a second or subsequent violation a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or county jail up to 1 year.

Using a signal jammer in conjunction with the commission of a crime: downgraded from a potential felony (state prison under Section 1170(h)) to a misdemeanor only, with the fine cap reduced from $5,000 to $1,000.

Willfully or maliciously blocking public safety communications: changed from a straight felony punishable by state prison for 2, 4, or 6 years to a crime punishable as either a misdemeanor (county jail up to 1 year) or a felony. Added a mens rea requirement that the person knows or should know the use is likely to result in death or great bodily injury, AND that death or great bodily injury is actually sustained.

The blocking-public-safety-communications offense now specifically covers 'state or local public safety communications' rather than just 'public safety communications,' narrowing the scope slightly.

The law enforcement exemption was narrowed from covering 'the use of signal jammers by local or state law enforcement' to only 'the authorized and lawful use of signal jammers by local or state law enforcement,' meaning unauthorized or unlawful use by law enforcement would no longer be exempt.

New standalone forfeiture provision: a conviction under any subsection of Section 636.6 requires forfeiture of the signal jamming device, making it an explicit and uniform requirement across all offenses.

The bill was signed into law by the Governor on October 7, 2025, and designated as Chapter 458. The header changed from the enrolled bill format (with Senate/Assembly passage dates) to the authenticated electronic legal material format with chapter number.

Subsection 636.6(a) changed 'a fine of up to five thousand dollars' to 'a fine of up to not to exceed five thousand dollars,' a redundant but common legislative drafting clarification.

Senator Niello was added as principal coauthor, indicating a second senator is now formally sponsoring the bill alongside Senator Wahab.