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CaliforniaAB 4682025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Crimes: looting.

Sponsored By: Jesse Gabriel (Democratic), Jacqui Irwin (Democratic), Blanca Pacheco (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Tougher looting penalties in disasters

The law creates a looting crime for certain theft and burglary during a declared state or local emergency, or under an evacuation order, in the affected county. Inside an evacuation zone, burglary can be charged as first degree, with 2, 4, or 7 years in state prison. Other listed theft offenses can mean up to one year in county jail or terms under Penal Code 1170(h). Grand theft of a firearm is punished in state prison, and petty theft can carry six months in county jail. Evacuation zones include areas under evacuation or warning, damaged or destroyed homes for up to one year, and homes under rebuilding for up to three years. The law repeals the prior looting section and replaces it with updated definitions and rules. These rules become operative only if Senate Bill 571 is enacted and effective by January 1, 2026.

Homes count as inhabited after disasters

For burglary, a home is inhabited if it is used as a dwelling, even if no one is home. It still counts as inhabited if people left only because of a disaster. Damage from a disaster does not block a burglary conviction. These rules become operative only if Senate Bill 571 is enacted and effective by January 1, 2026.

Mandatory jail on looting probation

If a court gives probation for a looting offense, it must set minimum jail time. Most offenses require at least 180 days in county jail. The offense in subdivision (b)(4) requires at least 90 days, unless the judge reduces it on the record. The court may also order up to 240, 160, or 80 hours of community service, depending on the offense. These rules become operative only if Senate Bill 571 is enacted and effective by January 1, 2026.

Some store fraud not looting

Consensual entry into a commercial building to commit certain fraud crimes is not charged as looting. The excluded crimes include forgery, bad checks, and card fraud listed in Penal Code 470, 476, 476a, 484f, and 484g. These rules become operative only if Senate Bill 571 is enacted and effective by January 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Jesse Gabriel

    Democratic • House

  • Jacqui Irwin

    Democratic • House

  • Blanca Pacheco

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Benjamin Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Heath Flora

    Republican • House

  • Heather Hadwick

    Republican • House

  • John Harabedian

    Democratic • House

  • Michelle Michelle Rodriguez

    Democratic • House

  • David Tangipa

    Republican • House

  • Greg Wallis

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 224 • No: 0

House vote • 9/12/2025

Item 115 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 72 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/11/2025

Item 156 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 38 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/18/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/15/2025

Vote in CS72

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2025

Item 53 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 72 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 14 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/8/2025

Vote in CX18

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 533, Statutes of 2025.

    10/10/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/10/2025legislature

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

    9/24/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 3376.).

    9/12/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/12/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2925.).

    9/11/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/9/2025Senate

  8. Withdrawn from committee.

    9/8/2025Senate

  9. Ordered to second reading.

    9/8/2025Senate

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

    9/6/2025Senate

  11. Senate Rule 29.3(b) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 2491.)

    9/4/2025Senate

  12. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

    8/29/2025Senate

  13. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    8/18/2025Senate

  14. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/16/2025Senate

  15. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 15).

    7/15/2025Senate

  16. In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

    7/2/2025Senate

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

    6/26/2025Senate

  18. Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

    6/18/2025Senate

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

    6/4/2025Senate

  20. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 1989.)

    6/3/2025House

  21. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  22. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  23. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

    4/23/2025House

  24. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/21/2025House

  25. Read second time and amended.

    4/10/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/10/2025

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  • Enrolled

    9/16/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Senate

    9/6/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    7/16/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    6/26/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    4/10/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    4/2/2025

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  • Amended Assembly

    3/24/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/6/2025

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