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SB-325 • 2026

Cellular telephones: communications interceptions.

Cellular telephones: communications interceptions.

Children Crime Privacy
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Niello
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about changes to interception rules or penalties.

Cellular Phone Privacy

The bill makes minor technical adjustments to laws concerning the interception and sale of devices used for eavesdropping on cellular phone communications.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes nonsubstantive, technical changes to existing provisions regarding the penalties for manufacturing, assembling, selling, offering for sale, advertising for sale, possessing, transporting, importing, or furnishing eavesdropping devices.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Manufacturers and sellers of eavesdropping devices

Terms To Know

Intercept
To secretly listen to or record a conversation.
Eavesdropping device
A tool designed for the purpose of secretly hearing or recording conversations without consent.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change the penalties for intercepting communications.
  • It only makes technical changes and does not add new rules about cell phone privacy.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

  3. 2025-02-12 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 14.

  4. 2025-02-11 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 325, as introduced, Niello.
Cellular telephones: communications interceptions.
Existing law makes a person who, among other things, intercepts, receives, or assists in intercepting or receiving, a communication transmitted between cellular radio telephones or between a cellular radio telephone and a landline telephone guilty of a crime, unless consented to by all parties to the communications. Under existing law, subject to specified exceptions, a person who manufactures, assembles, sells, or offers for sale, advertises for sale, possesses, transports, imports, or furnishes to another person a device that is primarily or exclusively designed or intended for eavesdropping upon the communication of another person, in violation of the prohibition described above is punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,500, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or in the state prison, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
This bill would make nonsubstantive, technical changes to that latter existing provision.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF