AB 2341: Local government: emergency response services: use of languages other than English.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires, in the event of an emergency within the jurisdiction of a local agency that provides emergency response services and that serves a population within which 5% or more of the people speak English less than “very well,” according to American Community Survey data, and jointly speak a language other than English, that the local agency provide information related to the emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by the 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well,” as specified.

This bill would revise these provisions to instead require the local agency to provide information related to an emergency within a local agency’s jurisdiction in English and translated in each language spoken by 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well.” The bill, to determine whether a language meets the criteria for translation, would require a local agency to calculate the total population of those within its jurisdiction that speaks English less than “very well,” and, for each language included in the American Community Survey data, or data from an equally reliable source, determine whether speakers of any language who speak English less than “very well” comprise at least 5% of the total population of that jurisdiction that speaks English less than “very well.” The bill would make organizational and clarifying changes to the above-described provisions, as specified.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 31, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 170, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 31, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 20, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 13, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6139.).
5. August 11, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 10, 2026Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5320.).
7. August 3, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. July 2, 2026From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1).
9. June 23, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
10. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
11. June 4, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
12. May 27, 2026Referred to Coms. on E.M. and L. GOV.