California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 259
Elections: vote by mail ballots.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Wahab
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person having charge of a completed vote by mail ballot to interfere with a ballot's return to the local elections official.
This bill would additionally make it a misdemeanor for any person having charge of a vote by mail ballot to interfere, as defined, with a ballot's delivery to a voter. The bill would make it a felony for a person with authority to direct one or more persons subject to their supervision or authority to interfere with a ballot's return to the local elections official or delivery to a voter. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, 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.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Text versions
- 09/19/26 - Chaptered· Sep 19, 2026
- 08/30/26 - Enrolled· Aug 30, 2026
- 08/20/26 - Amended Assembly· Aug 20, 2026
- 09/09/25 - Amended Assembly· Sep 9, 2025
- 09/05/25 - Amended Assembly· Sep 5, 2025
- 07/10/25 - Amended Assembly· Jul 10, 2025
- 06/19/25 - Amended Assembly· Jun 19, 2025
- 06/13/25 - Amended Assembly· Jun 13, 2025
- 04/24/25 - Amended Senate· Apr 24, 2025
- 04/08/25 - Amended Senate· Apr 8, 2025
- 03/24/25 - Amended Senate· Mar 24, 2025
- 02/03/25 - Introduced· Feb 3, 2025
- SB259
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2026 Senate | Unfinished Business SB259 Wahab Urgency Clause Concurrence | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 28, 2026 House | SB 259 Wahab Third Reading Urgency By Pellerin | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 27, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 25, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 25, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Elections] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 15, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 24, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 28, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 22, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 19, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 331, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 19, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Aug 30, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m. - Aug 30, 2026 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Aug 30, 2026 · Senate
Urgency clause adopted. - Aug 28, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Aug 28, 2026 · House
Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 59. Noes 16. Page 6778.) Ordered to the Senate. - Aug 27, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 27, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (August 27). - Aug 25, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a) suspended. - Aug 25, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Aug 25, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ELECTIONS. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (August 25). Re-referred to Com. on ELECTIONS. - Aug 24, 2026 · House
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. - Aug 24, 2026 · House
Joint Rule 62(a) suspended. - Aug 24, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Coms. on PUB. S., ELECTIONS, and APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2. - Aug 20, 2026 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 20, 2026 · House
Read third time and amended. - Aug 19, 2026 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 19, 2026 · House
From inactive file. - Aug 18, 2026 · House
Notice of intention to remove from inactive file given by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry. - Sep 12, 2025 · House
Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry. - Sep 9, 2025 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Sep 9, 2025 · House
Read third time and amended. - Sep 9, 2025 · House
Joint Rule 61(a)(13) suspended. (Ayes 60. Noes 20. Page 3128.) - Sep 5, 2025 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Sep 5, 2025 · House
Read third time and amended. - Jul 17, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Jul 16, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 8. Noes 3.) (July 15). - Jul 10, 2025 · House
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Jul 2, 2025 · House
July 8 hearing postponed by committee. - Jun 25, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 4.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Jun 19, 2025 · House
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P. - Jun 13, 2025 · House
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P. - Jun 5, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD. - May 28, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - May 28, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 1295.) Ordered to the Assembly. - Apr 24, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading. - Apr 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1. Page 833.) (April 22). - Apr 8, 2025 · Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Apr 4, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 22. - Apr 2, 2025 · Senate
Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Mar 24, 2025 · Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. - Feb 14, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Com. on RLS. - Feb 4, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 6. - Feb 3, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.