Plain English Breakdown
The official text confirms the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but its last action status is 'Died on inactive file,' meaning it did not become law as of February 2026.
AB-1279: Changes to Three Strikes Sentencing Rules
This bill changes California's Three Strikes Law so that crimes committed before age 18 cannot be used as a 'strike' to increase prison sentences.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits using juvenile court findings or adult convictions from before age 18 as prior strikes for sentence enhancement.
- Creates a process to remove (vacate) any existing strike enhancements based on crimes committed under age 18.
- Allows courts to resentence defendants who had their sentences increased by these removed strikes.
Who It Names or Affects
- People currently serving prison time with sentence enhancements based on crimes committed before age 18.
- District attorneys and public defenders required to participate in the resentencing process.
Terms To Know
- Three Strikes Law
- A law that adds extra prison years if a person commits a serious or violent felony and has prior similar convictions.
- Juvenile adjudication
- A court finding of guilt in juvenile court for someone under 18, which can sometimes count as an adult conviction.
- Sentence enhancement
- Extra time added to a prison sentence because the defendant has prior criminal history.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill text does not specify exactly which counts will be resentenced beyond stating it applies 'as specified' in the law.
- Reimbursement for local costs only happens if the Commission on State Mandates determines there are state-mandated costs.