AB 1966
Sentencing enhancements: crimes against undocumented individuals.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Public Safety
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill adds a sentencing enhancement to California law. If someone is convicted of a listed crime against an undocumented individual, they will receive an additional two-year prison sentence. The bill also specifies that local agencies will not be required to reimburse the state for any costs associated with this new enhancement.
Key provisions
- Adds Section 12022.54 to the Penal Code.
- Requires a 2-year consecutive state prison sentence for crimes against undocumented individuals.
- Defines ‘qualifying criminal activity’ as specified in Section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Lists specific crimes included as ‘qualifying criminal activity’ (rape, torture, human trafficking, etc.).
- States that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies due to the creation of a new crime.
- The bill creates a state-mandated local program.
- The bill addresses sentencing enhancements.
- The bill clarifies that the new crime is defined within the meaning of Government Code Section 17556.
Who is affected
- Undocumented individuals
- Criminal defendants
- California State Prison System
- Local law enforcement agencies
- State government
Notable changes
- Introduces a new sentencing enhancement specifically targeting crimes against undocumented individuals.
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
AB1966:v99#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1966
| Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Valencia |
| February 13, 2026 |
An act to add Section 12022.54 to the Penal Code, relating to crimes.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1966, as introduced, Ramos. Sentencing enhancements: crimes against undocumented individuals.
Existing law generally authorizes a court to, in the furtherance of justice, dismiss a sentencing enhancement, except if dismissal of that enhancement is prohibited by an initiative statute. Existing law provides for various sentencing enhancements, including, among others, enhancements for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony or attempted felony, or for the damaging of property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony.
This bill would require the court to impose an additional and consecutive 2-year term of state imprisonment for individuals convicted of committing a qualifying criminal activity, as specified, against a person who is an undocumented individual. By creating a new sentencing enhancement, 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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12022.54 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
12022.54.
(a) A person convicted of committing a qualifying criminal activity against a person who is an undocumented individual shall be punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for two years.
(b) For the purposes of this section, “qualifying criminal activity” has the same meaning as qualifying criminal activity pursuant to Section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, which includes, but is not limited to, all of the following crimes:
(1) Rape.
(2) Torture.
(3) Human trafficking.
(4) Incest.
(5) Domestic violence.
(6) Sexual assault.
(7) Abusive sexual conduct.
(8) Prostitution.
(9) Sexual exploitation.
(10) Female genital mutilation.
(11) Being held hostage.
(12) Peonage.
(13) Perjury.
(14) Involuntary servitude.
(15) Slavery.
(16) Kidnapping.
(17) Abduction.
(18) Unlawful criminal restraint.
(19) False imprisonment.
(20) Blackmail.
(21) Extortion.
(22) Manslaughter.
(23) Murder.
(24) Felonious assault.
(25) Witness tampering.
(26) Obstruction of justice.
(27) Fraud in foreign labor contracting.
(28) Stalking.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.