California · 2025-2026 Regular Session

AB1994 Defending Immigrant Victims Act.

Direction

Immigration enforcement sanctuary policiesAI label

Restricts immigration enforcement model confidence 85%

Requires law enforcement to inform immigrant crime victims of immigration relief options and provide a card clarifying that local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws, so less immigration enforcement by local agencies.

(3) Improve public safety by rebuilding the relationship between local law enforcement and the public by clarifying to immigrant communities that local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws in California.

✓ Quote verified word for word in the bill text

Immigration enforcement state federal cooperationAI label

No change to immigration enforcement model confidence 70%

Mandates that law enforcement inform victims (including undocumented immigrants) of U visa, T visa, VAWA and other immigration relief options tied to cooperating with investigations, encouraging reporting and cooperation without limiting ICE access or detainers.

Ensure undocumented immigrant victims of serious crimes in California are informed of the U visa program established by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in addition to other potential immigration relief options.

✓ 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: 2026-09-29: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 746, Statutes of 2026.
Filed: 2026-02-17
Sponsor: David Alvarez D + 5 cosponsors (5 D)

Read official text (Chaptered)Legislature page LegiScan

Why the model tagged it this way: The bill adds requirements for law enforcement and prosecutors to inform crime victims (including minors and next of kin) about immigration relief options such as U visas and T visas at initial contact, and to provide a dedicated "Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources" card with details on eligibility, cooperation requirements, and legal services. It also includes legislative intent to clarify that local agencies do not enforce federal immigration law. This directly addresses sanctuary-related policies by reducing local involvement in immigration enforcement and encouraging victim cooperation

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
AB2495 Unlawful immigration-related practices.Restricts immigration enforcement Restricts immigration enforcement Law
SB1194 Immigration Legal Fellowship Project.Restricts immigration enforcement No change to immigration enforcement Vetoed

Hearings and calendar

2026-04-07 08:30 · Hearing · Assembly Public Safety Hearing State Capitol, Room 126
2026-04-29 09:00 · Hearing · Assembly Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 1100
2026-06-23 08:30 · Hearing · Senate Public Safety Hearing State Capitol, Room 112
2026-08-03 10:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200
2026-08-13 00:00 · Hearing · Senate Appropriations Hearing 1021 O Street, Room 2200

Votes

Date	Chamber	Motion	Yea-Nay
2026-04-07	A	Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar	9-0	Passed
2026-04-29	A	Do pass	14-0	Passed
2026-05-27	A	AB 1994 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading	77-0	Passed
2026-06-23	S	Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar	6-0	Passed
2026-08-03	S	Placed on suspense file	7-0	Passed
2026-08-13	S	Do pass as amended	7-0	Passed
2026-08-25	S	Assembly 3rd Reading AB1994 Alvarez et al. By Arreguín	40-0	Passed
2026-08-26	A	AB 1994 Alvarez Concurrence in Senate Amendments	78-0	Passed

Text versions

Introduced 2026-02-17
Amended 2026-04-09
Amended 2026-05-19
Amended 2026-06-25
Amended 2026-08-13
Enrolled 2026-08-30
Chaptered 2026-09-29

History (26 actions)

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-09-29		Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 746, Statutes of 2026.
2026-09-29		Approved by the Governor.
2026-09-03		Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2026-08-26	A	Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6575.).
2026-08-25	A	In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2026-08-25	S	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5764.).
2026-08-25	S	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
2026-08-17	S	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-08-13	S	Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2026-08-13	S	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
2026-08-03	S	In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-06-25	S	Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-06-24	S	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 23).
2026-06-10	S	Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-05-28	S	In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-27	A	Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5427.)
2026-05-19	A	Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5153.)
2026-04-30	A	Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-29	A	From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).
2026-04-29	A	Coauthors revised.
2026-04-13	A	Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09	A	Read second time and amended.
2026-04-08	A	From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 7).
2026-03-23	A	Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-18	A	From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.
2026-02-17	A	Read first time. To print.