California · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB1261 Immigration: immigrant youth: access to legal counsel.

Direction

Immigration enforcement sanctuary policiesAI label

Restricts immigration enforcement model confidence 80%

Expands state-funded legal representation for immigrant youth in immigration proceedings, including removal and asylum cases, which limits practical cooperation with federal enforcement by aiding defense against deportation.

Subject to the availability of state funding, the state shall provide legal counsel to every immigrant youth in the State of California.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Immigration enforcement otherAI label

Restricts immigration enforcement model confidence 70%

Requires the department to prioritize contracts to nonprofit organizations ineligible for federal funds or with unmet needs despite federal assistance, while expanding access to counsel and related social work services for undocumented minors and unaccompanied youth in immigration matters.

The department shall prioritize awards of contracts or grants to qualified nonprofit organizations as described in Section 13301 that ineligible for federal funds or that have unmet needs despite federal assistance.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Filed (completed)
Committee (completed)
Passed one chamber (completed)
Passed both (completed)
Governor (completed)
Law

Stage: Law · step 6 of 6

Last action: 2025-10-12: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 665, Statutes of 2025.
Filed: 2025-02-21
Sponsor: Mia Bonta D + 7 cosponsors (7 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill expands state-provided legal counsel and support services specifically for immigrant youth (including undocumented and unaccompanied minors) in federal immigration proceedings such as removal, asylum, and related appeals. This aids defense against deportation and prioritizes non-federal-fund-eligible providers, reducing the scope and effectiveness of state-local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

Related bills

AB1655 CalWORKs: temporary absence: immigration detention.Restricts immigration enforcement Law
AB1807 Immigration enforcement: use of state-owned property.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law
AB1994 Defending Immigrant Victims Act.Restricts immigration enforcement No change to immigration enforcement Law
SB1194 Immigration Legal Fellowship Project.Restricts immigration enforcement No change to immigration enforcement Vetoed

Hearings and calendar

2025-04-22 08:00 · Hearing · Assembly Judiciary Hearing State Capitol, Room 437
2025-05-07 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2025-05-23 00:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2025-07-01 13:30 · Hearing · Senate Judiciary Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2100
2025-07-07 15:00 · Hearing · Senate Human Services Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2025-08-18 10:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2025-08-29 00:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2025-04-22	A	Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	9-2	Passed
2025-05-23	A	Do pass	11-2	Passed
2025-06-03	A	AB 1261 Bonta Assembly Third Reading	63-8	Passed
2025-07-01	S	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]	12-1	Passed
2025-07-07	S	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]	4-0	Passed
2025-08-18	S	Placed on suspense file	7-0	Passed
2025-08-29	S	Do pass	5-2	Passed
2025-09-09	S	Assembly 3rd Reading AB1261 Bonta et al. By Arreguín	30-8	Passed
2025-09-10	A	AB 1261 Bonta Concurrence in Senate Amendments	63-10	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2025-02-21
Amended 2025-03-24
Amended 2025-04-23
Amended 2025-09-05
Enrolled 2025-09-12
Chaptered 2025-10-12

History (30 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2025-10-12		Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 665, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-12		Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-22		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-10	A	Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 3203.).
2025-09-09	A	In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09	S	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2738.).
2025-09-08	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05	S	Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-29	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29	S	From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-18	S	In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-08	S	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02	S	From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2025-06-18	S	Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.
2025-06-04	S	In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03	A	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 8. Page 1991.)
2025-05-27	A	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23	A	From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 23).
2025-05-23	A	Coauthors revised.
2025-05-07	A	In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-24	A	Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-23	A	Read second time and amended.
2025-04-22	A	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (April 22).
2025-04-01	A	In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-03-25	A	Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-24	A	From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24	A	Referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-02-24	A	Read first time.
2025-02-22	A	From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21	A	Introduced. To print.