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AB-32 • 2026

Tribal judges.

Tribal judges.

Crime Education Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Soria
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on why protecting tribal judges is important, only that it expands an existing crime and requires confidentiality for personal information.

Protection for Tribal Judges

AB-32 makes it illegal to harm tribal judges or former tribal judges in retaliation for doing their job and allows them to request that personal information be kept confidential.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it a crime to assault a judge or former judge of a tribal court in California, including those from federally recognized tribes, if the assault is in retaliation for performing official duties.
  • Clarifies that tribal judges can ask county elections officials and the Department of Motor Vehicles to keep their home address, phone number, and email confidential.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tribal judges and former tribal judges in California
  • County elections officials and the Department of Motor Vehicles

Terms To Know

Confidential
Kept secret and not shared with others.
State-mandated local program
A program that the state requires local governments to follow.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much it will cost or who will pay for enforcing these new rules.
  • It is unclear if this law will change how people can access information about tribal judges' meetings and records beyond what is already protected by existing laws.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  5. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  6. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. 2025-03-04 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 4). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  8. 2025-02-03 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.

  9. 2024-12-03 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.

  10. 2024-12-02 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 32, as introduced, Soria.
Tribal judges.
Existing law makes it a crime for a person to assault, among other people, a judge of any local, state, or federal court of record in retaliation for or to prevent the performance of their official duties, as specified. Existing law requires a county elections official to, upon application by a public safety officer, make confidential that officer’s residence address, telephone number, and email address appearing on the affidavit of voter registration, as specified. Existing law requires, upon request of specified persons, including an active or retired judge, that the person’s home address that appears in a record of the Department of Motor Vehicles be made confidential.
This bill would additionally make it a crime for a person to assault a judge or former judge of a tribal court in retaliation for or to prevent the performance of their official
duties, as specified. The bill would clarify that a tribal judge of a federally recognized California Indian tribe can request to make their records confidential pursuant to the above-described provisions. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
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 
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