Civil actions: protective orders: workplace violence.

Removed amendment history headers (dates of prior amendments) and line numbers throughout the bill text to produce a clean enrolled version.

Added passage dates: 'Passed the Assembly August 26, 2026' and 'Passed the Senate August 25, 2026,' along with the Governor's receipt line.

Updated the legislative counsel's digest to remove the phrase 'as amended' from the bill reference, reflecting final enrollment rather than a pending amendment.

New paragraph (a)(4) exempts contracts entered into or amended, and changes to existing IT systems made pursuant to the workplace-wide protective order provision (paragraph 2), from the State Contracting Code (Gov. Code Sec. 14825 et seq.), the Information Technology Act (Gov. Code Sec. 19130 et seq.), the Public Contract Code (Sec. 12100 et seq.), the Statewide Information Management Manual, and the State Administrative Manual. It also exempts these from review or approval by any division of the Department of General Services or the Department of Technology.

The digest now states that AB 1961 incorporates additional changes to Section 527.8 proposed by AB 2179, operative only if both bills are enacted and AB 1961 is enacted last.

The digest now states that AB 1961 incorporates additional changes to Section 527.8 proposed by AB 1753, operative only if (1) both AB 1961 and AB 1753 are enacted, (2) AB 2179 is not enacted or as enacted does not amend Section 527.8, and (3) AB 1961 is enacted last.

Removed the separate pathway (former subdivision e(2)) that would have allowed an employer to seek a restraining order on behalf of a 'reasonably identifiable group of employees' beginning July 1, 2027, when a credible threat was directed at the workplace or at employees generally. This eliminated a broader, delayed mechanism for group protection.

Removed the expanded definition of 'employee' in subdivision (b)(3)(B) that would have included 'a group of employees identified by their workplace or location where their primary job duties are performed' when a credible threat is directed at the workplace.

Added new subdivision (a)(3) requiring the Judicial Council to adopt or modify forms, as needed, to implement the group protection provisions on or before January 1, 2028.

Removed the July 1, 2027 effective date and the separate July 1, 2027 Judicial Council forms deadline that were tied to the now-eliminated group protection pathway.

New subdivision (a)(2) allows an employer to seek a restraining order on behalf of all employees at a workplace or location where a group performs primary job duties when harassment, violence, or threats are directed at the workplace generally rather than at any specific employee, without naming any individual in the petition.

In subdivision (e)(2), the phrase 'reasonably identifiable group or class of employees' was changed to 'reasonably identifiable group of employees,' removing the word 'class.'

New subparagraph (b)(7)(B) creates a distinct type of protective order for workplace-wide petitions: an order enjoining a party from telephoning, contacting, or coming within a specified distance of the workplace or location itself, separate from individual employee protections.

The Judicial Council must adopt or modify forms for the new workplace-wide orders by January 1, 2028.

The definition of 'employee' in (b)(3)(B) was simplified: removed the conditional 'if a credible threat is directed at' framing and the phrase 'reasonably identifiable group or class,' now simply stating that if a credible threat is directed at the workplace or a location where a group performs primary job duties, 'employee' includes a group identified by their workplace or location.

The fiscal committee determination changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries a state fiscal impact.

The ability of an employer to seek a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of a group or class of employees is now delayed until July 1, 2027. Previously the provision had no specific start date beyond the section's general operative date of January 1, 2025.

The definition of 'employee' for group protection purposes was narrowed. The original allowed a 'reasonably identifiable group or class of employees.' The amendment limits this to 'a group of employees identified by their workplace or location where their primary job duties are performed,' making the scope more specific and potentially narrower.

A new provision requires the Judicial Council to update its forms related to group/class workplace violence restraining order actions by July 1, 2027, ensuring courts have appropriate paperwork ready when the provision takes effect.

The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now carries a recognized state fiscal impact, likely related to the Judicial Council form development and court system changes needed for group orders.