SB 871 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Domestic Violence Prevention Act.

Summary

Existing law establishes the Domestic Violence Prevention Act for the purpose of preventing acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse and providing for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence for a period sufficient to enable those persons to seek a resolution of the causes of the violence. This bill would establish a continuous electronic monitoring system, as defined, and would require the court to administer the system pursuant to written contracts with public or private agencies or entities, as specified. The bill would also require that each county or municipality enter into a written agreement with qualified contract service providers and designate an agency to respond to monitoring violations, as specified. By imposing additional duties on counties and municipalities, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the court to order continuous electronic monitoring, as specified, for a person who is alleged to have committed various acts of domestic violence, including, among others, domestic violence involving strangulation or suffocation. The bill would also require the court to charge the person accused of domestic violence for the costs of any form of supervision that utilizes continuous electronic monitoring, except as specified. The bill would require the entity that operates the continuous electronic monitoring system to notify the appropriate law enforcement employee and emergency communications dispatch center if an offender violates a condition of a court order. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations related to the prevention of domestic violence. 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.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Apr 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/16/26 - Amended Senate → SB871 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text is substantively the same as the prior amended version, but a separate Section 1 was added containing two new legislative policy declarations (findings 6 and 7) stating it is state policy to promote survivor safety and empower survivors. The intent language was also restructured from specific operational goals into a broader statement of intent to enact GPS monitoring legislation. The remaining changes are website formatting and navigation elements.

SCOPE

Two new legislative findings were added as items (6) and (7) in a standalone Section 1, declaring that it is state policy to promote the health and safety of domestic violence survivors by preventing homicides, and to empower survivors to reclaim freedom from abusers.

DEFINITION

The legislative intent language was restructured. The prior version stated specific goals (promote safety, empower survivors) in Section 6328(b). The new version frames the intent as enacting legislation to establish a GPS monitoring program that provides real-time alerts and a chance for victims to get to safety.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from a traditional legislative bill layout into a web page presentation, adding navigation elements (search, subscriptions, favorites, share options) and reorganizing the display of the bill text.

01/05/26 - Introduced → 03/16/26 - Amended Senate · 8 edits · Mar 16, 2026

MODERATE

SB 871 was transformed from a non-operative resolution expressing legislative intent to enact GPS monitoring for domestic violence offenders into actual operative legislation that would add a new Article 1.5 (Sections 6328-6331) to the Family Code. The amended bill now mandates continuous electronic monitoring for specific categories of domestic violence offenders, requires counties and municipalities to contract with service providers, and imposes cost obligations on offenders. This is a significant escalation from a statement of intent to binding legal requirements with local government mandates.

SCOPE

The bill changed from a resolution expressing legislative intent to operative statutory law adding Article 1.5 (Sections 6328-6331) to the Family Code, creating actual legal obligations rather than merely stating future intent.

Each county or municipality must enter into a written agreement with a qualified contract service provider and designate a responsible agency to respond to monitoring violations, creating a state-mandated local program (fiscal committee and state mandate designations changed from 'no' to 'yes').

Coauthors Assembly Members Alanis and Stefani were added, indicating broader legislative support for the amended version.

DEFINITION

Section 6329 defines 'continuous electronic monitoring system' as a wearable device that emits trackable signals, functions 24 hours per day, and is resistant to intentional or unintentional damage.

REQUIREMENT

Section 6330 requires courts to order continuous electronic monitoring when issuing protective orders if the alleged offender committed domestic violence involving strangulation or suffocation, use or threat of a deadly weapon, serious bodily injury, violation of a prior protective order, or has a prior DV conviction within five years.

FISCAL

The alleged offender is required to pay costs of the monitoring system and, if the victim consents, the cost of the victim's notification device or app. Inability to pay does not preclude monitoring but costs may be waived upon a finding of inability to pay.

ENFORCEMENT

Section 6331 requires the operating entity to notify law enforcement and the emergency communications dispatch center whenever an offender violates a condition of a court order.

TIMELINE

Monitoring remains in effect until disposition of the case or further order of the court.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Coms. on JUD. and PUB. S.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on RLS.

upper

Jan 5, 2026

Introduced

Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors