Issue · Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

Every criminal justice bill, vote, and legislator stance in California, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
8
2025-2026 Regular Session
Top supporter
Melissa Hurtado
100% support rate
Top opponent
Tom Lackey
0% support rate
Ranked legislators
10
5 support · 5 oppose
Key legislators

Who's moving drug policy in California

Legislators moving drug policy in California
Legislator Party Stance Support rate Decisive votes
Melissa Hurtado
Melissa Hurtado Senate · District 16
D
Strong +
100% 8
Celeste Rodriguez
Celeste Rodriguez House · District 43
D
Strong +
100% 5
Jasmeet Bains
Jasmeet Bains House · District 35
D
Strong +
100% 5
Jesse Gabriel
Jesse Gabriel House · District 46
D
Strong +
100% 5
Anna Caballero
Anna Caballero Senate · District 14
D
Strong +
92% 13
Tom Lackey
Tom Lackey House · District 34
R
Strong −
0% 5
Phillip Chen
Phillip Chen House · District 59
R
Strong −
0% 3
Kelly Seyarto
Kelly Seyarto Senate · District 32
R
Strong −
7% 15
Brian Jones
Brian Jones Senate · District 40
R
Strong −
12% 8
Tony Strickland
Tony Strickland Senate · District 36
R
Strong −
12% 8
Showing 8 of 8 bills

All criminal justice bills

failed · California · Assembly May 4, 2026

AB 2450: Sentencing: dismissal of enhancements.

Existing law generally authorizes a court to dismiss an action in the furtherance of justice. Existing law requires a court to dismiss an enhancement if it is in the furtherance of justice to do so, except if dismissal of that enhancement is prohibited by any initiative statute. This bill would make the above-described requirement to dismiss an enhancement inapplicable to specified enhancements related to drug possession and trafficking, and would instead authorize the court to dismiss those specified enhancements if it is in the furtherance of justice to do so, except if dismissal of that enhancement is prohibited by any initiative statute.
passed both · California · Assembly Aug 27, 2026

AB 2428: Criminal fees.

Existing law imposes various fees, contingent upon a criminal arrest, prosecution, or conviction, for the cost of administering the criminal justice system, including traffic violator school fees, costs for when a minor is adjudged a ward of the court, as specified, or costs incurred by a state or local agency for the disposal of various substances if the person is convicted of the sale, possession, or transportation of a controlled substance, as specified. This bill would repeal the authority to collect many of those fees, among others. The bill would make the unpaid balance of most court-imposed costs unenforceable and uncollectible and would require any portion of a judgment imposed by those costs to be vacated. The bill would relieve a person who is sentenced to state prison or confined in a county jail from being required to pay any trial court filing fees or costs related to the person's underlying criminal conviction. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would also make various conforming changes.
in committee · California · Assembly May 21, 2026

AB 1667: Serious felonies: furnishing fentanyl to a minor.

Existing law, as added by the Victims' Bill of Rights, approved as Proposition 8 at the June 8, 1982, statewide primary election, and as amended by the Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Act of 1998, approved as Proposition 21 at the March 7, 2000, statewide primary election, among other things, defines a serious felony. Existing law prohibits plea bargaining in a case in which a serious felony is charged and imposes a 5-year enhancement for conviction of a serious felony if the person has previously been convicted of a serious felony. This bill would include knowingly furnishing fentanyl and fentanyl analogs to a minor within the definition of a serious felony. By expanding the scope of an 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.
passed both · California · Senate Aug 27, 2026

SB 936: Nitrous oxide: sales.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to possess nitrous oxide with the intent of inhaling it for specified purposes, including to cause intoxication. Existing law also makes it a misdemeanor to sell nitrous oxide to any person under 18 years of age. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to dispense nitrous oxide to a person and knowing that the person will use it for specified prohibited purposes, if that person then causes death or great bodily injury to themselves or another person. Under existing law, the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers and enforces a statewide program to license manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers of cigarettes and tobacco products. Existing law specifically requires a retailer, distributor, or wholesaler, as defined, to hold a license from the CDTFA to engage in the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products. Existing law subjects these licenses to suspension or revocation for violations of existing law. Existing law imposes specified noticing and posting requirements for retailer licenses that are revoked. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would, except as specifically exempted, prohibit the sale and distribution of a nitrous oxide container that is capable of holding more than 8 grams of nitrous oxide or from which an individual may directly inhale nitrous oxide. The bill would also prohibit the sale and distribution of a nitrous oxide that has, or is marketed as having, the taste or smell of any food. The bill would prohibit knowingly selling or distributing a device that allows an individual to inhale nitrous oxide from the container or hold nitrous oxide for the purposes of inhalation. The bill would punish a violation of these provisions as an infraction, as specified. The bill would also authorize a court to suspend a business license if the business has a prior conviction for violating these prohibitions, and to revoke a license to sell tobacco products if the business has 2 prior convictions for violating these prohibitions. The bill would make any person, distributor, or business found to have violated these prohibitions liable for all reasonable costs incurred by a public agency in the investigation, inspection, seizure, storage, transportation, handling, venting, abatement, disposal, or destruction of nitrous oxide products, nitrous oxide containers, inhalation devices, or related materials involved in the violation, as specified. This bill would prohibit a person that is engaged in the business of selling cigarettes or tobacco products in this state from possessing, storing, owning, or selling nitrous oxide, in violation of the criminal provisions outlined above, at any site where cigarettes and tobacco products are stored or sold. The bill would authorize the CDTFA to seize nitrous oxide products, as prescribed. The bill would subject a violator to civil penalties in amounts depending on the aggregate retail value of the seized nitrous oxide and the number of violations within 5 years of the first violation. The bill would require the deposit of collected civil penalties in the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Compliance Fund. The bill would also subject a violator who commits a 2nd violation to license suspension and who commits a 3rd violation to license revocation, as prescribed. This bill would establish procedures for the CDTFA to follow for a court-ordered revocation. The bill would require the CDTFA to assess a $250 civil penalty for each revoked license and to deposit collected civil penalties into the fund, to be made available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of administering the bill. The bill would authorize a licensee to apply for a new license at the previously revoked location 6 months after the date of revocation and would authorize the CDTFA, at its discretion, to issue a new license. The bill would apply these noticing and posting requirements to a retailer subject to a court-ordered revocation pursuant to the bill. The California Constitution provides for the establishment of the State Board of Equalization, which, before July 1, 2017, had primary responsibility for most of the state's duties, powers, and responsibilities regarding the administration of taxes and fees. Existing law, on July 1, 2017, transferred to the CDTFA various duties, powers, and responsibilities of the State Board of Equalization, including administration of the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003, as specified. This bill would change references in the provisions of the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act of 2003 amended by this bill from the "State Board of Equalization" to the "California Department of Tax and Fee Administration" to reflect the transfer of the board's duties, powers, and responsibilities to the CDTFA. Because this bill would create new crimes, it 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.
Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy
signed · California · Assembly Oct 6, 2025

AB 383: Firearms: prohibition: minors.

Existing law prohibits a juvenile who is adjudged a ward of the juvenile court due to the commission of specified serious or violent offenses from subsequently owning, possessing, or having under their custody or control a firearm until they are 30 years of age. A violation of this prohibition is punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony. Existing law also prohibits certain other persons, including a person who is convicted of a felony offense, from owning, possessing, or having under their custody or control a firearm or ammunition. Existing law requires a person subject to those orders to relinquish any firearms or ammunition they own, possess, or have under their custody or control and specifies the procedures to be used to relinquish those firearms or ammunition. Those procedures, among other things, require the court to provide specific instructions to the defendant and to assign the matter to a probation officer to investigate whether the defendant owns, possesses, or has under their custody or control any firearms, require a law enforcement agency to update the Automated Firearms System to reflect any firearms that were relinquished to the agency pursuant to these procedures, and require a defendant to timely file a completed Prohibited Persons Relinquishment Form. Existing law makes it an infraction for a defendant to fail to timely file that form. This bill would make those procedures to relinquish firearms or ammunition applicable to a juvenile who is prohibited from owning, possessing, or having under their custody or control a firearm until they are 30 years of age. By expanding the scope of a crime and expanding the duties of local probation departments and law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law allows a search warrant to be issued upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, naming or describing the person to be searched or searched for, and particularly describing the property, thing, or things and the place to be searched. Existing law also specifies the grounds upon which a search warrant may be issued, including, among other grounds, that the property or things to be seized include a firearm that is owned by, or in the possession of, or in the custody or control of, a person prohibited from owning, possessing, or having the custody and control of a firearm pursuant to specified provisions of law, and the court has made a finding that the person has failed to relinquish the firearm as required by law. This bill would additionally allow a search warrant to be issued when the property or things to be seized include a firearm that is owned by, or in the possession of, or in the custody or control of, a juvenile who is subject to the prohibition on owning or possessing a firearm until they are 30 years of age when the court has made a finding that the person has failed to relinquish the firearm as required by law. This bill would declare that its provisions are severable. 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
failed · California · Assembly May 19, 2025

AB 897: Trespassing: removal of trespassers on residential property.

Existing law establishes a summary proceeding, known as a forcible entry, forcible detainer, or unlawful detainer action, as specified, that a person in lawful possession of real property must follow in order to remove a person who unlawfully occupies that property. This bill, the Remove Illegal Squatters from Private Property Act, would make a person guilty of unlawful squatting when they enter upon the land or premises of another and reside on that land or premises for any period of time, knowingly acting without the knowledge or consent of the owner, rightful occupant, or an authorized representative of the owner. The bill would require a law enforcement agency that receives a complaint of a violation of these provisions to issue a citation and would provide a means for the person to show lawful entry on the land or premises. If court determines that the documentation showing lawful entry is improper or fraudulent, the bill would make the violation punishable by removal, specified fines, and as a misdemeanor. By increasing duties of local law enforcement and creating a crime, 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, with regard to certain mandates, no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Sub-Topics Drug Policy
failed · California · Assembly Feb 2, 2026

AB 1218: Copper theft.

Under existing law it is grand theft to steal copper materials valued at more than $950. A violation of this provision is punishable either as a misdemeanor or a felony by imprisonment in county jail and specified fines. This bill would make it a crime to unlawfully possess copper materials, as specified. The bill would define what it means to "unlawfully possess" copper materials to include possessing without documentation proving lawful possession. The bill would prescribe the information that constitutes proof of lawful possession, as specified, including the identity of the seller and the date of the transaction. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also prohibit a person from falsifying any record intending to show proof of lawful possession. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law prohibits any collector or dealer of metals to purchase certain junk metals, as specified, without first ascertaining that the seller legally possesses the materials. Existing law also requires the dealer to obtain evidence of the identity of the seller, including, but not limited to, the seller's name and address. This bill would require any collector or dealer of metals to ascertain the location from which the purchased material was obtained. Existing law makes it a crime for a person who is engaged in the salvage, recycling, purchase, or sale of scrap metal to possess certain items that have been stolen or obtained by theft or extortion, as specified, and requires that the person knew or reasonably should have known that the property was stolen or failed to report possession of the items, as specified. This bill would additionally prohibit a person who is engaged in the salvage, recycling, purchase, or sale of scrap metal, as specified, from possessing certain items knowing that those items were possessed without proof of lawful possession. 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.
Sub-Topics Drug Policy
failed · California · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 649: Firearms: silencers.

Existing law generally regulates deadly weapons, including assault weapons. Existing law defines an assault weapon, including, among others, as a semiautomatic centrefire firearm, as specified, that has a threaded barrel capable of accepting a silencer. Existing law defines a silencer, among others, as any device or attachment intended to muffle the sound of a firearm. Existing law makes it a felony for any person, firm, or corporation to possess a silencer for a firearm. Existing law exempts specified actions from those provisions, including the manufacture, possession, transportation, or sale or other transfer of a silencer to specified law enforcement agencies and military or naval forces by dealers or manufacturers registered under federal law. Existing law authorizes a court to sentence an eligible person convicted of a felony to probation. Existing law prohibits granting probation in specified circumstances, including if the person possesses a silencer. Existing law requires any weapon, including a firearm and any attachments, that was carried unlawfully for specified crimes to be surrendered to specified law enforcement entities. Existing law requires weapons surrendered pursuant to these provisions to be destroyed by the law enforcement entity. This bill would replace the term "silencer" with the term "suppressor" in the above provisions.