AB 358 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Criminal procedure: privacy.

Summary
Existing law, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, prohibits a government entity from compelling the production of, or access to, electronic communication information or electronic device information, as defined, without a search warrant, wiretap order, order for electronic reader records, or subpoena issued pursuant to specified conditions. Existing law authorizes a government entity to access electronic device information by means of physical interaction or electronic communication with the device in certain circumstances, including, pursuant to the specific consent of the authorized possessor of the device or if the government entity, in good faith, believes that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to a person requires access to the information. Existing law requires a government entity that obtains electronic information pursuant to an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, within 3 court days after obtaining the electronic information, to file with the appropriate court an application for a warrant or order setting forth the facts giving rise to the emergency. Existing law requires the court to promptly rule on the application and to destroy all information obtained upon a finding that the facts did not give rise to an emergency or upon rejecting the application on any other ground. This bill would additionally authorize a government entity to access electronic device information with the specific consent of an individual who locates a tracking or surveillance device, as defined, and the device is reasonably believed to have been used to track or record the individual without their permission. The bill would require a government entity that obtains information through this method, within 3 court days after obtaining the electronic information, to follow the above process for applying for a warrant or order from a court by setting forth the facts that describe the circumstances and would require the court to promptly rule on the application and order the immediate destruction of all information obtained upon a finding that the facts were not as described. Existing law authorizes an individual whose information is targeted by a warrant, order, or other legal process, or other specified recipients of a warrant, that is inconsistent with the act or the California or United States Constitution, to petition the issuing court to void or modify the warrant, order, or process, or to order the destruction of any information obtained in violation of the act or the California or United States Constitution. This bill would recast the provisions described above to authorize an individual whose information is sought or obtained by a government entity in a manner that is inconsistent with the act or the California or United States Constitution, or other specified recipients of a warrant, order, legal process, request, or demand seeking the individual's information, to petition a court to void or modify the warrant, order, other legal process, request, or demand to order the destruction of the information.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Assembly Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Last action Aug 29, 2025
Floor votes · Assembly May 15, 2025

How they voted

621
Passed · 15 other
Total votes 78
May 15, 2025
D Democratic59
45 Yea 1 Nay 13
76% Yea
R Republican19
17 Yea 2
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
10
Amendments
5
Aug 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
In committee: Held under submission.
upper
Jul 7, 2025
Committee
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Jun 24, 2025
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 24).
upper
May 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 1. Page 1556.)
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read second time and amended.
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 11).
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and P. & C.P.
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 2.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors