AB 1994 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Defending Immigrant Victims Act.

Summary

Existing law, as added by Proposition 9, the Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law (Marsy's Law) , at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate, provide or make available to the victim a "Marsy Rights" card that contains the constitutional rights of crime victims without charge or cost to the victim. Marsy's Law provides that its provisions shall not be amended by the Legislature except by a statute passed in each house by rollcall vote entered in the journal, 34 of the membership of each house concurring. Marsy's Law also provides that the Legislature may amend its provisions to expand the scope of its application, to recognize additional rights of victims of crime, or to further the rights of victims of crime by a statute passed by a majority vote of the membership of each house. Existing law requires a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act to, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, inform each victim of the rights they have under applicable law relating to the victimization and provide each victim without charge or cost a "Victim Protections and Resources" card. Existing law requires the Attorney General to design and make available in PDF or other imaging format this card with specified information on the card, including information about federal immigration relief available to certain victims of crime. Commencing no later than January 1, 2028, this bill, the Defending Immigrant Victims Act, would require a law enforcement agency investigating a criminal act and an agency prosecuting a criminal act, at the time of initial contact with a crime victim, during followup investigation, or as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys, to inform each victim, the victim's next of kin if the victim is deceased, or the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor of the rights they may have under applicable law relating to immigration relief. The bill would require a law enforcement agency and a prosecuting agency to provide a victim an "Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources" card that would provide specified information pertaining to the victim's rights, including a statement explaining how to consult an immigration attorney to help determine eligibility for immigration relief. The bill would require the Attorney General, by January 1, 2028, to design the card and make it available in English, Spanish, and any other language in which the "Marsy Rights" card is currently translated, and in a PDF or other imaging format, to law enforcement agencies and agencies prosecuting crimes, as specified. Because this bill would result in additional duties on local law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in informing victims, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make a conforming change. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Aug 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

08/30/26 - Enrolled → AB1994 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes occurred between these two versions. The diff reflects a change in document format only: the 'from' version is the formal enrolled bill document with official page numbering and governor's approval block, while the 'to' version is the web page presentation of the same bill text, complete with website navigation elements (search bars, menu links, share buttons). All legislative content - the digest, findings, operative sections 1 through 5, and mandate reimbursement language - is identical in substance.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from an official enrolled bill layout (with page numbers, column headers, and a governor's signature block) to a web page layout that includes site navigation, a digest key showing vote/appropriation/fiscal/local program flags, and bill status history. No policy language was added, removed, or altered.

05/19/26 - Amended Assembly → 06/25/26 - Amended Senate · 7 edits · Jun 25, 2026

MODERATE

The Senate amendment to AB 1994 narrows the required content of the Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources card by removing specific Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights language, removing the requirement to list DOJ-accredited immigration legal service providers with contact details, and removing the statement about the right to speak to an attorney. It also extends the Attorney General's deadline to design the card from June 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028, and broadens the language requirement beyond English and Spanish to include any language in which the Marsy Rights card is currently translated.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement that the card include a statement about undocumented immigrants' Fourth Amendment rights (right to deny entry to homes without a signed judicial warrant, right to deny search of belongings without a signed judicial warrant) in the event of an encounter with immigration agents.

Removed the requirement that the card include a statement about undocumented immigrants' Fifth Amendment rights (right to remain silent and right to refuse signing documents) in the event of an encounter with immigration agents.

Removed the requirement that the card include a list of local organizations recognized by the US Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review under its Recognition and Accreditation program, along with their address, phone number, and email.

Removed the requirement that the card include notification that the listed organizations offer free or low-cost services.

Removed the requirement that the card include a statement about undocumented immigrants' rights to speak to an attorney.

Expanded the language requirement for the card from 'both English and Spanish' to 'English, Spanish, and any other language in which the Marsy Rights card is currently translated.'

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for the Attorney General to design and make available the Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources card from June 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028.

04/09/26 - Amended Assembly → 05/19/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · May 19, 2026

MODERATE

The May 19 amendment to AB 1994 significantly relaxes the bill's requirements by removing the 14-day deadline for notifying victims of immigration relief rights, eliminating all verbal notification obligations (relying solely on a written card), and narrowing the scope of who must be informed by dropping 'key witness minor' from the covered group. The deadline for the Attorney General to produce the card was extended from June 2027 to January 2028, and language requirements were expanded beyond English and Spanish.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed in two ways: (1) 'key witness minor' was removed from the group that must receive immigration rights information, and (2) the 14-day outer deadline for notification was eliminated, replacing it with an open-ended standard of 'as soon as deemed appropriate.' The verbal notification mandate was also dropped entirely, reducing the bill's operational burden on law enforcement.

TIMELINE

Removed the specific 14-day deadline for informing victims of immigration relief rights. The new version only requires notification 'as soon thereafter as deemed appropriate by investigating officers or prosecuting attorneys,' giving agencies much more discretion on timing.

Extended the deadline for the Attorney General to design and distribute the 'Immigrant Victims Rights and Resources' card from June 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028 - roughly a seven-month delay.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated all verbal notification requirements. The old version required officers to verbally inform victims about U visa, T visa, VAWA eligibility, consulting an immigration attorney, the cooperation requirement for U visas, and the availability of the rights card. All of this is now delivered only through the written card.

Expanded language requirements for the card from English and Spanish only to English, Spanish, and any other language in which the existing 'Marsy Rights' card is currently translated.

Added a new required element on the card: the internet website address of the list of immigration legal services providers maintained by the State Department of Social Services.

SCOPE

Narrowed the group that must be informed by removing 'any key witness minor' from the list. Only victims, next of kin (if victim is deceased), and parent or guardian (if victim is a minor) remain covered.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 25, 2026 · Assembly May 27, 2026

How they voted

40–0

Passed

Total votes 40

Aug 25, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

10 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.).

lower

Aug 25, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jun 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jun 24, 2026

Introduced

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).

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

upper

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)

lower

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 5153.)

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

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).

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors