AB-1544 • 2026

Court proceedings: media access.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Krell
Last action: 2026-05-20
Official status: Referred to Com. on JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about what constitutes 'civil penalties' or how they are enforced.

Media Access to Court Proceedings

This law prevents judges and police from stopping the press or public from entering open court proceedings.

What This Bill Does

It stops judicial officers, peace officers, and other law enforcement officers from prohibiting duly authorized representatives of news services, online news services, newspapers, radio or television stations, networks, news publishers, or court observers, as well as members of the press or public, from accessing open court proceedings.
It allows for civil penalties to be imposed on those who violate this rule.

Who It Names or Affects

Judicial officers
Peace officers
Law enforcement officers
Duly authorized representatives of news services
Online news services
Newspapers
Radio or television stations
Networks
News publishers
Court observers
Members of the press
The public

Terms To Know

Civil penalties: Money fines or other punishments for breaking a law.
Duly authorized representative: A person officially recognized to represent an organization, such as the media or news services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what civil penalties are.
It applies only to open court proceedings and not private ones.

Bill History

2026-05-20 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes . Page 4961.)
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 7).
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-02-17 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and JUD.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1544, as amended, Krell.
Court proceedings: media access.
The California Constitution vests the judicial power of the state in the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and superior courts. Existing law requires the sittings of every court to be public, except as authorized.
This bill would bar a judicial officer, peace officer, or other law enforcement officer from prohibiting
a duly authorized representative of a news service, online news service, newspaper, radio or television station, network, news publisher, or court observer
a member of the press or public
from accessing court proceedings that are open to the public. The bill would authorize a violation of that provision to be subject to civil penalties, as
specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF