AB-2261 • 2026

Protective orders.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Dixon
Last action: 2026-04-21
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not specify all possible crimes beyond those involving domestic violence, human trafficking, gang-related offenses, and registerable sex offenses. Therefore, any claims about other specific crimes are unsupported.

Expanding Protective Orders

The bill allows courts to issue protective orders not just for the victim but also for family members and others who might be harmed by someone convicted of certain serious crimes.

What This Bill Does

Allows judges to protect more people when a person is found guilty of specific serious crimes, including domestic violence, human trafficking, gang-related offenses, or registerable sex offenses.
Expands protection to include family members and household members of the victim, as well as any other individual who might be affected by these crimes if there is competent evidence supporting it.
Makes it illegal for the offender to contact protected individuals and punishes violations as crimes.

Who It Names or Affects

Victims of certain violent crimes
Family members and household members of victims
Other individuals who might be affected by these crimes

Terms To Know

Competent evidence: Evidence that is reliable and relevant for a court decision.
State-mandated local program: A program where the state requires local agencies to do something, often with extra funding or rules.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify which crimes exactly qualify for expanded protective orders beyond those involving domestic violence, human trafficking, gang-related offenses, and registerable sex offenses.
The bill does not provide details on how much it will cost or who will pay for enforcing these new protections.

Bill History

2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14).
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2261, as amended, Dixon.
Protective orders.
Existing law allows the court to issue a protective order restraining a defendant from any contact with the victim if the defendant has been convicted of specified crimes, including a crime involving domestic violence, human trafficking, a crime in furtherance of a criminal street gang, or a registerable sex offense.
This bill would additionally authorize the court to consider issuing an order restraining the defendant from contact with any person who is a member of the victim’s family or household
or any other person
if there is competent evidence that the individual is a victim of an offense described above that was committed by the defendant. By authorizing the issuance of protective orders in certain circumstances and the extension of certain protective
orders, a violation of which is punishable as a 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