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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 734

Criminal procedure: discrimination.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law, the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, grants certain employment rights to public safety officers, as defined. The act prohibits, among other things, any punitive action against a public safety officer, denial of promotion on grounds other than merit, or threat of such treatment, because of the lawful exercise of the rights granted under the act, or the exercise of any rights under any existing administrative grievance procedure. Existing law, the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, prohibits the state from seeking a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin. Existing law authorizes a defendant to file a motion in the trial court or, if judgment has been imposed, to file a petition for writ of habeas corpus to allege a violation of this prohibition. Existing law authorizes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to revoke the certification of a peace officer if the officer has, while employed as a peace officer, engaged in serious misconduct including, among other things, demonstrating bias on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender identity or expression, housing status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, or other protected status in violation of law or department policy or inconsistent with a peace officer's obligation to carry out their duties in a fair and unbiased manner. This bill would prohibit a punitive action, denial of promotion on grounds other than merit, or a revocation of certification proceeding from being undertaken against any public safety officer on the basis of a court finding made in a challenge brought under the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, and would prohibit those court findings from being introduced for any purpose in any administrative appeal of a punitive action. The bill would require, if the defendant is represented by an attorney in a case brought under the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, in the prosecution of a writ of habeas corpus, or in the filing of a motion to vacate a conviction or sentence based on a violation of the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, and the motion or petition is based, in whole or in part, on the conduct of a law enforcement officer, the attorney to serve a copy of the motion on the law enforcement agency employing the officer. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 745, 1473, and 1473.7 of the Penal Code proposed by AB 1071 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1071 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Sep 9, 2025
Senate		Unfinished Business SB734 Caballero ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Sep 8, 2025
House		SB 734 Caballero Senate Third Reading By IrwinpassSet your home in California to see
Jul 2, 2025
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 17, 2025
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2025
Senate		3rd Reading SB734 Caballero ReconsiderpassSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2025
Senate		3rd ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 28, 2025
Senate		3rd ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
Apr 1, 2025
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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