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AB-994 • 2026

County jails.

County jails.

Crime
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Hadwick
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 details on how the change will affect current practices or what happens if there is no space available at nearby state prisons.

Rules for Prisoners in County Jails

This law requires people who are already serving time in state prisons and get accused of a new crime to ask the court for permission to stay at a nearby state prison instead of going to a county jail while waiting for their trial, unless they qualify for pretrial release.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires individuals currently committed to a state prison who are alleged to have committed a new offense to petition the court after consulting with counsel to allow any pretrial confinement pending disposition of charges for the new offense to be served at the nearest state prison that can secure their confinement, subject to space availability.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are already serving time in state prisons and get accused of a new crime.
  • County sheriffs, judges, and prison officials.

Terms To Know

Pretrial confinement
The period when someone is held before their trial if they cannot be released on bail or other conditions.
Eligible for pretrial release
When a person can leave jail while waiting for their trial because the court believes they will show up and are not dangerous.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if there is no space available at nearby state prisons.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect current practices in county jails.

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. 2025-05-07 California Legislative Information

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

  5. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. 2025-04-29 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  7. 2025-04-28 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 22).

  8. 2025-03-25 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  9. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

  10. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  11. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  12. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 994, as amended, Hadwick.
County jails.
Existing law authorizes the sheriff to remove a prisoner to any California state prison for safekeeping when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the prisoner may be forcibly removed from a county jail, as specified. Existing law also authorizes a judge of the superior court to, on the request of the county sheriff and with the consent of the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, designate by written order the nearest state prison or correctional facility which would be able to secure confinement of a prisoner, subject to space available, when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the prisoner in a county jail is likely to be a threat to other persons in the facility or is likely to cause substantial damage to the facility.
This bill would
require, when
authorize
a person currently committed to a state prison
and who
is alleged to have committed a new offense,
to petition the court, after consultation with counsel, to allow
any pretrial confinement pending disposition of charges for the new offense that would otherwise be served in the county jail
to occur
to be served
at the
nearest state prison that would be able to secure confinement of the prisoner, subject to space available, or the
state prison at which the prisoner is currently
confined,
upon the request of the county sheriff and
unless the person is otherwise eligible for and obtains pretrial release.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF