SB-431 • 2026

Assault and battery: utility workers.

Crime Education Healthcare Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Arreguín
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or resource allocation for enforcing this law.

Protecting Utility Workers from Assault and Battery

The bill makes it illegal to assault or batter utility workers who are doing their jobs, with penalties similar to those for assaulting other protected professionals.

What This Bill Does

Defines a utility worker as someone employed by a public utility company or working on essential infrastructure.
Makes it a crime to assault or battery a utility worker while they are performing their duties.
Sets the punishment for such crimes at up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.

Who It Names or Affects

Utility workers
People who commit assaults or batteries against utility workers

Terms To Know

Essential infrastructure: Systems that are critical to the functioning of a community, such as electricity and water supply.
Public utility employee: A person who works for a company providing essential services like electricity or water.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which local agencies will be affected by the new state-mandated program.
It is unclear how this law will be enforced and what resources will be provided to enforce it.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
(Corrected July 8).
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-17 California Legislative Information
June 17 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-02 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1407.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1200.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-04 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 611.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-03-18 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 1.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 431, as amended, Arreguín.
Assault and battery:
public utility employees and essential infrastructure
utility
workers.
Existing law defines an assault as an unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury upon the person of another. Existing law defines a battery as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another. Under existing law, an assault or battery committed against specified professionals engaged in the performance of their duties, including peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
This bill would make an assault or battery committed against
an employee of a public utility or other worker engaged in essential infrastructure work,
a utility worker,
as defined,
who is engaged in the performance of their duties
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment. By expanding the scope of these crimes, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF