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AB-2097 • 2026

Crimes: strangulation.

Crimes: strangulation.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Boerner
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide specifics on enforcement mechanisms or who enforces these new laws.

Making Strangulation a Crime

AB-2097 makes it illegal to stop someone's breathing or blood flow through strangulation, with penalties similar to those for causing physical injury.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it a crime to knowingly impede the normal breathing or blood flow of certain people by applying pressure on their throat, neck, chest, nose, or mouth.
  • Sets punishment for this new crime as imprisonment in state prison for 2 to 4 years, county jail for up to one year, or a fine of up to $6,000.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit acts of strangulation against certain individuals.
  • Victims of strangulation, including spouses or former spouses and others protected by existing laws.

Terms To Know

Traumatic condition
A physical injury that causes harm to the body.
State-mandated local program
A program where the state requires local agencies or schools to do something, but does not provide funding for it.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify who will enforce these new laws.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced in practice.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. 2026-03-18 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  3. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  4. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  5. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2097, as introduced, Boerner.
Crimes: strangulation.
Under existing law, a person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon specified persons, including, among others, the offender’s spouse or former spouse, is guilty of a crime, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of up to $6,000.
This bill would additionally make it a crime for a person to knowingly impede the normal breathing or bloodflow of one of those persons by applying pressure on the throat, neck, or chest of the person, or by obstructing the nose or mouth of the person. The bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of up to $6,000. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated
local program.
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