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-535 • 2026

Threatening a witness: assisting a prosecution.

Threatening a witness: assisting a prosecution.

Crime Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Schiavo
Last action
2025-10-06
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 373, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how local agencies will be affected by this bill.

Making it Illegal to Scare Witnesses

AB-535 clarifies and expands the existing laws that make it illegal to prevent or dissuade witnesses or victims from participating in legal proceedings.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies that preventing or dissuading a witness or victim from causing a complaint, indictment, information, or probation or parole violation to be sought and prosecuted is against the law.
  • Expands the scope of existing laws to include actions that prevent or dissuade witnesses or victims from assisting in legal proceedings.
  • Makes technical changes to improve clarity.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who might try to scare witnesses or victims into not participating in legal cases.
  • Witnesses and victims involved in legal cases.
  • Local agencies that need to understand the new rules.

Terms To Know

witness
A person who sees something happen, like a crime, and can tell others what they saw.
victim
Someone who is hurt or harmed by a criminal act.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how local agencies will be affected.
  • Local agencies do not need to pay extra money because of this new law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 373, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-15 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2613.).

  6. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  8. 2025-07-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  9. 2025-06-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  11. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

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

  12. 2025-06-02 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1835.)

  13. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  14. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

  15. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

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

  16. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  17. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  18. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  19. 2025-02-12 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  20. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 535, Schiavo.
Threatening a witness: assisting a prosecution.
Existing law makes it a crime to knowingly and maliciously prevent or dissuade, or attempt to prevent or dissuade, a witness or victim from causing a complaint, indictment, information, or probation or parole violation to be sought and prosecuted, and assisting in the prosecution thereof.
This bill would clarify that it is a violation of the offense described above to prevent or dissuade, or attempt to prevent or dissuade, a witness or victim from either causing a complaint, indictment, information, or probation or parole violation to be sought and prosecuted, or assisting in the prosecution thereof. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would also make other technical, nonsubstantive changes.
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