AB-2341 • 2026

Local government: emergency response services: use of languages other than English.

Housing

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Fong
Last action: 2026-06-04
Official status: From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the immediate effectiveness of the bill, only that it is declared to be an urgency statute.

Emergency Response Services in Multiple Languages

The bill requires local agencies to provide emergency information in English and any other language spoken by at least 5% of the population that speaks English less than 'very well'.

What This Bill Does

Requires local agencies to give out emergency information in multiple languages if needed.
Changes how local agencies decide which languages are used for emergency information based on survey data.
Makes sure local agencies use reliable sources when deciding which languages to include.
Clarifies and organizes the rules about providing emergency information in different languages.

Who It Names or Affects

Local government agencies that provide emergency services
Communities where at least 5% of people speak a language other than English

Terms To Know

Emergency response services: Services provided by local governments to help during emergencies, like fires or floods.
American Community Survey (ACS): A survey that collects information about the U.S. population and housing every year.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a local agency cannot find reliable data.
It is unclear how quickly local agencies must start using multiple languages for emergency information after this law passes.

Bill History

2026-06-04 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-05-27 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E.M. and L. GOV.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.).
2026-05-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Ordered to second reading.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from committee.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E.M.
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 2341, as amended, Fong.
Local government: emergency response services: use of languages other than English.
Existing law requires, in the event of an emergency within the jurisdiction of a local agency that provides emergency response services and that serves a population within which 5% or more of the people speak English less than “very well,” according to American Community Survey data, and jointly speak a language other than English, that the local agency provide information related to the emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by the 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well,” as specified.
This bill would revise these provisions to instead require the local agency to provide information related to an emergency within a local agency’s jurisdiction in English and translated in each language spoken by 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well.” The bill, to determine
whether a language meets the criteria for translation, would require a local agency to calculate the total population of those within its jurisdiction that speaks English less than “very well,” and, for each language included in the American Community Survey data,
or data from an equally reliable source,
determine whether speakers of any language who speak English less than “very well” comprise at least 5% of the total population of that jurisdiction that speaks English less than “very well.” The bill would make organizational and clarifying changes to the above-described provisions, as specified.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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