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AB-1066 • 2026

Immigration services: grants.

Immigration services: grants.

Budget Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Castillo
Last action
2025-06-02
Official status
From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for misuse of grants.

Grants for Immigration Services

This law requires the State Department of Social Services to provide grants to nonprofits that help with immigration services, and it adds restrictions on how these funds can be used.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State Department of Social Services to give grants to qualified nonprofit organizations through contracts for providing certain immigration-related legal services to individuals residing in or formerly residing in California.
  • These grants are aimed at obtaining immigration remedies and benefits, assisting with the naturalization process and appeals arising from it, or providing legal training and technical assistance.
  • The law prohibits these funds from being used to provide legal services to an individual who has been convicted of a violent felony or serious felony.
  • It also adds that the money cannot be used to obstruct or interfere with federal enforcement actions or legal proceedings against individuals convicted of a felony who are present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonprofit organizations that help with immigration services
  • People seeking immigration benefits or citizenship
  • Individuals convicted of violent or serious crimes

Terms To Know

Immigration remedies and benefits
Help from the government to fix problems related to being in the country legally, like getting a visa or becoming a citizen.
Naturalization process
The steps someone goes through to become an American citizen if they were born somewhere else.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact amount of money for these grants.
  • Does not explain what happens if nonprofits break the rules about using grant money.
  • Does not cover all types of legal services or help that can be provided with the grants.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).

  2. 2025-05-01 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage.

  3. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.

  4. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  5. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1066, as introduced, Castillo.
Immigration services: grants.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, subject to an appropriation, to provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations through contracts, in order to provide certain immigration-related legal services to persons residing in, or formerly residing in, the state. Under existing law, those grants are aimed at obtaining certain immigration remedies and benefits, assisting with the naturalization process and an appeal arising from the process, or providing legal training and technical assistance. Existing law prohibits these funds from being used to provide legal services to an individual who has been convicted of, or who is currently appealing a conviction for, a violent felony, as specified, or a serious felony, as specified.
This bill would additionally prohibit these funds from being used to obstruct or interfere with
federal enforcement actions or legal proceedings against individuals convicted of a felony who are present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. The bill would specify that this restriction includes, but is not limited to, expenditures on litigation, administrative actions, or any other measures intended to shield such individuals from federal apprehension or deportation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF