AB-1261 • 2026

Immigration: immigrant youth: access to legal counsel.

Children Labor Parental Rights

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Bonta
Last action: 2025-10-12
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 665, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify exact terms or definitions for 'immigrant youth', only that it is defined by the bill.

Helping Immigrant Youth Get Legal Help

This law helps young immigrants in California get free lawyers when they need help with legal problems.

What This Bill Does

Defines who is an 'immigrant youth' for the purposes of getting legal help.
Requires the State Department of Social Services to give money to nonprofits that can provide legal services to immigrant youth.
Allows the department to also fund social workers to support these young immigrants.
Ensures that when deciding how much funding to give, the department considers if there is any federal money available for this purpose.

Who It Names or Affects

Immigrant youth in California who need legal help.
Nonprofit organizations and public defenders' offices that provide legal services to these young immigrants.
The State Department of Social Services which allocates funding for these services.

Terms To Know

Unaccompanied undocumented minors: Young people under the age of 18 who have come into the United States without a parent or guardian and do not have legal permission to be in the country.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to immigrant youth who are present in California or residing with a family member or sponsor within the state.
Funding for these legal services is dependent on available money from both federal and state sources.

Bill History

2025-10-12 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 665, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-12 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-22 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-10 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 3203.).
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2738.).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 8. Page 1991.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 23).
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (April 22).
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1261, Bonta.
Immigration: immigrant youth: access to legal counsel.
Existing law, subject to available funding, requires the State Department of Social Services to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to provide legal services to unaccompanied undocumented minors who are transferred to the care and custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and who are present in this state or are residing with a family member or other sponsor. Existing law requires contracts awarded pursuant to the above-described provision to be executed with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations that meet certain requirements, including having experience representing individuals in removal proceedings and asylum applications.
This bill would, subject to available funding, provide legal counsel to immigrant youth in the State of California. The bill would define immigrant youth. The bill would require the department to allocate funding for these purposes, and would
require the department to consider whether federal funding has been made available and dispersed to organizations or relevant projects in the state in determining the amount and allocation of contracts awarded. The bill would require the department to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations that meet the above-described requirements or an office of the public defender that meets certain requirements. The bill would also authorize the department to fund social work services contracted by qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to assist immigrant youth.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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