AB-2553 • 2026

Real estate crimes: probation.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Petrie-Norris
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Read second time and amended.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text does not specify exact details about how much money will be reimbursed or what specific duties are increased on local officials.

Real Estate Crimes: Probation

This law allows courts to impose up to a five-year probationary term for certain real estate-related crimes, including both misdemeanors and felonies.

What This Bill Does

Allows the court to give a person up to five years of probation if they are convicted of certain real estate-related crimes.
Creates a process for extending probation terms by requiring local officials to file petitions and make findings that additional time is necessary.

Who It Names or Affects

People who commit real estate crimes
Courts that handle these cases
Local government officials

Terms To Know

Probation: A period of time after a criminal sentence where the person must follow certain rules set by the court instead of going to jail.
State-mandated local program: When the state requires local governments to do something, which can cost them money.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact length of probation depends on what the court decides.
It's not clear how much extra money local agencies will need to spend because of this law.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 21).
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2026-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2553, as amended, Petrie-Norris.
Real estate crimes: probation.
Existing law generally authorizes the court to suspend a criminal sentence and make and enforce terms of probation for a period not to exceed 2 years, and in misdemeanor cases, for a period not to exceed one year. Existing law imposes various penalties for theft- or fraud-related crimes, including, among others, the abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult, mortgage fraud, or identity theft.
This bill would
require
authorize
the court, upon a conviction of certain offenses related to, among other things, the purchase or sale of real property or the recording or attempted recording of a real estate instrument, if the court grants the defendant
probation, to impose up to a
5-year probationary term for misdemeanor and felony convictions.
one-year extension to the probationary term. The bill would create a process for the court to impose the one-year extension if the defendant is on formal probation by requiring the probation department to file a petition to the court to extend the probationary period and requiring the court to make a finding that additional time is necessary for programming.
By increasing the period of probation,
and increasing the duties on local officials,
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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF