CaliforniaCourts could issue protection orders before forced marriages happen
The signed bill would let people facing forced marriage seek domestic violence protection orders, even when no marriage has happened or it would not be valid.
What it does
People forced to enter or stay in a marriage without consent, or facing an attempt to force one, could seek a domestic violence protection order. A judge could act before any marriage occurs.
Someone seeking protection could name, in one case, people who arranged, paid for, or otherwise helped carry out a forced marriage or an attempt to force one.
Actions meant to force or prepare a marriage without consent would count as disturbing someone's peace. Interfering with a party's or witness's court participation could count as part of a pattern of controlling behavior.
Argument forA judge could stop an unwanted ceremony or travel meant to force a marriage before the person is married or taken away.
Argument againstIf a judge wrongly finds a credible risk of forced marriage, an order to surrender travel papers needed to prevent the protected person's removal could disrupt travel.
More detail
The signed bill would add forced marriage to domestic violence protections and let courts issue protection orders in those cases. This covers people forced to enter or remain in a marriage, or facing an attempt to force one, even if the marriage would not be legally valid. Forced marriage involves lack of consent and compulsion through force, fraud, or other coercion. A court may grant relief before a marriage has occurred.
A person seeking protection could name multiple people in one court case. Those named must have helped arrange, pay for, or otherwise carry out a forced marriage or an attempt to force one. The person must be seeking an order to protect against forced marriage.
The signed bill would treat steps toward forced marriage as disturbing someone's peace and list interference with court participation as possible controlling behavior. The marriage rule covers efforts to force, prepare for, or help carry out a forced marriage. The court rule covers a party or witness. Interference with court participation is coercive control when it forms part of a pattern that unreasonably limits a person's freedom.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 950, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6487.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2534 Kalra Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2534 Kalra et al. By Wahab. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded [08-13-2026] set for [First] hearing: Reconsideration of favorable vote granted. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13In committee: Reconsideration of a favorable vote granted.
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 11From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- May 20Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 7In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2534 Kalra Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 4962.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Coauthors revised.
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
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