CaliforniaCalifornia colleges may seek court orders against campus threats
Starting July 1, 2029, postsecondary school leaders may ask courts for orders protecting their institution and owned campus property from violence or credible threats.
What it does
When school leaders learn of violence or a credible threat directed at campus, they may ask a court for an order protecting the institution and its owned property.
Repeated calls or messages to a school or its employees, or messages to its chief administrator, may count as conduct that supports seeking a restraining order.
The Judicial Council must adopt or revise forms for schools seeking orders to protect the institution and its owned campus property.
Argument forSchools could ask a court to protect the institution and its property when violence or a credible threat is directed at campus.
Argument againstA person accused of threatening a campus could face a court order limiting contact with or access to school property if the court finds the legal standard is met.
More detail
School leaders or their designated staff may ask a court for an order on behalf of the institution. The order may protect the institution and, at the court’s discretion, property at the campus or facility that the institution owns. The school must become aware of unlawful violence or a credible threat directed toward a campus. The court decides whether to issue an order. This authority is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2029.
The law adds school-directed calls and messages to examples of conduct that may support a restraining order. The added examples cover calls or messages to the campus or its employees, and messages to the chief administrative officer. The acts must form a pattern over time showing a continuing purpose. Courts may not prohibit constitutionally protected speech or activity. These changes are scheduled to take effect July 1, 2029.
The Judicial Council must adopt or revise forms for the added school petition process. The forms apply to petitions seeking orders on behalf of a postsecondary institution and, at the court’s discretion, its owned campus property. The forms are due by January 1, 2028; the added petition authority is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2029.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 705, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 6028.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1374 Niello et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1374 Niello Senate Third Reading By Sharp-Collins. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6609.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 16Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Major
- Jun 15From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9).Major
- Jun 9
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Higher Education] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HIGHER ED.Minor
- May 26In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB1374 Niello et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4453.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 5Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 4From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4008.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 13From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.Major
- Apr 10Set for hearing April 22.
- Mar 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3659.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Education] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Set for hearing March 24.
- Mar 4Referred to Coms. on JUD. and ED.Minor
- Feb 23Read first time.Minor
- Feb 23From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
- Feb 20Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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