AB-1872 • 2026

False reporting.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Ta
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on the exact amount of property damage costs or which specific government entities are covered under existing law.

Making False Emergency Reports More Serious

The bill makes it more serious to make false emergency reports or prank calls to 911, and requires people who do this to pay for any property damage caused by the response.

What This Bill Does

Makes a second or later offense of making false emergency reports or prank calls to 911 punishable as either a misdemeanor or felony if the person was at least 18 years old when they did it before.
Adds property damage costs to what people must pay if their false report caused an emergency response.

Who It Names or Affects

People who make false reports or prank calls to emergency services
Public agencies and emergency responders

Terms To Know

Misdemeanor: A less serious crime that can lead to jail time for up to one year.
Felony: A more serious crime that can lead to prison time for a longer period.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of money people must pay if they cause damage with false reports.
It is unclear what specific government entities are included in existing law.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 65. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1872, as introduced, Ta.
False reporting.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to report an emergency to specified government entities knowing that report to be false. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to initiate communication with the 911 emergency system with the intent to annoy or harass another person.
This bill would make a 2nd or subsequent violation of these provisions punishable as a misdemeanor or felony for a person who was 18 years of age or older at the time the person committed the prior offense or offenses. By increasing the penalty for existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law makes an individual convicted of the crimes described above liable to a public agency for the reasonable costs of an emergency response by the public agency.
The bill would
extend those liability provisions to property damage incurred as a result of the emergency response.
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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF