SB 554: Law enforcement: immigration enforcement.

Official summary

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

Existing law, the California Values Act, generally prohibits California law enforcement agencies from investigating, interrogating, detaining, detecting, or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes, including providing information regarding a person’s release date or responding to requests for notification by providing release dates or other information, as specified. Existing law provides that responses are never required, but are permitted, provided that they do not violate any local law or policy. Existing law provides the above-described prohibition does not prevent a California law enforcement agency from performing certain limited exceptions to this prohibition that do not violate any policy of the law enforcement agency or any local law or policy of the jurisdiction in which the agency is operating. Existing law provides a law enforcement official with discretion to cooperate with immigration authorities only if doing so would not violate any federal, state, or local law, or local policy, and where permitted by the California Values Act.

This bill would instead provide that responses relating to a person’s release date, as described above, are required. The bill would instead require a California law enforcement agency to perform certain limited exceptions to the prohibition, as specified. The bill would instead require a law enforcement official to cooperate with immigration authorities only if doing so would not violate any federal or state law or policy, and where permitted by the California Values Act. By imposing new duties on local agencies, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 9

“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. February 2, 2026Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
2. April 30, 2025April 29 set for second hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 5. Page 945.)
3. April 21, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
4. April 17, 2025Set for hearing April 29.
5. April 16, 2025April 22 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
6. April 9, 2025Set for hearing April 22.
7. March 24, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
8. March 19, 2025Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and L. GOV.
9. February 21, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
10. February 20, 2025Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.