Domestic violence: protective orders.

The document was reformatted from an official enrolled bill layout (with chapter number, page numbers, clerk signatures, and governor approval block) to a web page presentation that includes navigation menus, bill tracking metadata, version history, and share buttons. The underlying statutory text is unchanged.

In subdivision (a)(6), the phrase 'the like contumacious and unlawful refusal to answer a material question' was changed to 'the contumacious and unlawful refusal to answer a material question,' removing the word 'like.' This is a minor drafting cleanup with no practical effect on meaning.

Fiscal committee vote information ('Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.') was removed, which is standard when a bill reaches enrolled status.

Header formatting changed from amendment tracking (dates of assembly and senate amendments, coauthors list) to enrolled bill format showing 'Passed the Assembly August 24, 2026' and 'Passed the Senate August 20, 2026,' with a signature block for the Governor.

The felony enhancement in Penal Code Section 166(c)(1)(B) now applies only to 'criminal protective orders' rather than all protective orders, narrowing which orders trigger the enhanced penalty.

A first willful violation of a criminal protective order where the underlying conduct was a felony is now punishable as either a misdemeanor (up to one year in county jail and/or $1,000 fine) or a felony under Section 1170(h), rather than being automatically a felony. This makes it a wobbler offense giving the court discretion.

In Penal Code Section 273.6(e), a subsequent conviction for violating a protective order within one year of a prior conviction that results in physical injury is now punishable only by imprisonment pursuant to Section 1170(h) (state prison), removing the previous option of county jail sentencing with a six-month minimum and the court's ability to reduce or eliminate that minimum.

In Sections 166(c)(4) and 273.6(d), the penalty language for subsequent convictions was simplified from specifying 'imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or in the state prison for 16 months or two or three years' to simply 'imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170,' which is functionally equivalent but cleaner drafting.

All amendments to Penal Code Section 273.6 were deleted. The bill no longer changes penalties for violations of civil protective orders under Section 273.6, including its provisions on minimum jail time for injury-causing violations, felony enhancement for repeat offenders within one year, and probation conditions.

Two additional coauthors (Assembly Members Alanis and Petrie-Norris) were added to the bill, reflecting broader legislative sponsorship in the Senate amendment.

The felony enhancement for violating a criminal protective order now applies only if the protected person was 'charged with or convicted of' a felony for the underlying conduct. The Assembly version also covered cases where the person was merely 'arrested for' a felony, which is no longer sufficient.

A new exception was added: a protective order violation cannot be punished as a felony if the underlying felony charge was dismissed. The prior version only provided an exception when the matter was reduced to a misdemeanor.