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CaliforniaAB 21792025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Workplace violence: restraining orders.

Sponsored By: Darshana R. Patel (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More workplace protection for workers

Beginning January 1, 2025, employers and workplace union representatives can seek restraining orders for workers facing harassment, violence, or credible threats. The conduct must reasonably be understood as happening or likely to happen at work. Employers can seek protection for a workplace or worker group without naming one employee. Courts can also protect employees at the employer’s other workplaces. Before filing, petitioners must offer affected employees a chance to decline being named; protection for others can still proceed.

Lower fees for workplace protection orders

Beginning January 1, 2025, workplace petitions have no filing fee when they allege violence, threats, stalking, or reasonable fear of violence. They must seek protection from stalking or future violence or threats; related subpoenas and responses also have no filing fee. From that date, sheriffs and marshals cannot charge to serve temporary or longer workplace orders based on stalking, unlawful violence, or credible threats. Orders covered by this service-fee exemption also have no advance fee deposit. Sheriffs and marshals can bill superior courts for specified service, canceled-service, and unsuccessful-service costs, following Judicial Council rules and legal fee caps. That billing authority applies regardless of whether a party has court permission to proceed without paying court costs.

Online access to workplace protection cases

Beginning January 1, 2028, courts must accept workplace restraining-order petitions and related papers electronically, using their receipt time for processing. Courts must send specified case papers electronically unless the online filer chooses physical pickup when filing. Parties and witnesses can also attend these hearings remotely starting January 1, 2028. Superior courts cannot charge parties a remote-appearance fee. Each county superior court must post local rules and instructions for remote appearances.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Darshana R. Patel

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Catherine Blakespear

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ash Kalra

    Democratic • House

  • Blanca Pacheco

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Chavez Zbur

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 226 • No: 0

House vote • 8/30/2026

AB 2179 Patel Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Yes: 79 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/28/2026

Assembly 3rd Reading AB2179 Patel et al. By Blakespear

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/9/2026

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 5/7/2026

AB 2179 Patel Assembly Third Reading

Yes: 70 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2026

Do pass.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 3/24/2026

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 839, Statutes of 2026.

    9/30/2026Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    9/30/2026legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/10/2026legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6869.).

    8/30/2026House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    8/28/2026House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).

    8/28/2026Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    8/24/2026Senate

  8. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    8/21/2026Senate

  9. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    8/12/2026Senate

  10. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    8/11/2026Senate

  11. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    6/16/2026Senate

  12. From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

    6/15/2026Senate

  13. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    6/10/2026Senate

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

    6/1/2026Senate

  15. Referred to Com. on JUD.

    5/20/2026Senate

  16. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    5/7/2026Senate

  17. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 70. Noes 0. Page 4959.)

    5/7/2026House

  18. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    4/16/2026House

  19. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).

    4/15/2026House

  20. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    3/24/2026House

  21. Coauthors revised.

    3/24/2026House

  22. Referred to Com. on JUD.

    3/9/2026House

  23. From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

    2/20/2026House

  24. Read first time. To print.

    2/19/2026House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    9/30/2026

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/3/2026

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    8/21/2026

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    8/11/2026

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    6/1/2026

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/19/2026

    HTML

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