KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to California

AB-2153 • 2026

Voter registration: residency confirmation.

Voter registration: residency confirmation.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Berman
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact nature of the 'obsolete' requirements that will be repealed is not detailed in the provided official source material.

Voter Registration: Residency Confirmation

AB-2153 removes outdated rules about how county elections officials update voter registration records and change voter status to inactive.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes old rules that tell county elections officials when to update a voter's address in California if the voter has moved within the state.
  • Gets rid of old rules that say when county elections officials should mark a voter’s record as inactive because mail is returned or other information shows the person might have moved out of state.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County elections officials who manage voter registration records.
  • Voters whose addresses might be updated or marked inactive based on old rules.

Terms To Know

Residency
The place where someone lives and considers their home.
Inactive status
When a voter’s registration is marked as inactive because they might have moved or are not receiving mail at the registered address.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify new rules for residency confirmation, only removes outdated ones.
  • It's unclear what specific old requirements will be removed until the final version is passed and signed into law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  2. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0.)

  3. 2026-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  4. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 25).

  5. 2026-03-02 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  6. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  7. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2153, as introduced, Berman.
Voter registration: residency confirmation.
Existing law requires county elections officials to update a voter’s registration record if change-of-address information indicates the voter has moved to a new residence address in California. Existing law requires county elections officials to change a voter’s registration status to inactive if mailings have been returned as undeliverable or if other sources of information indicate that the voter has moved out of state.
This bill would repeal an obsolete version of these requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF