CaliforniaEmployers could seek group orders when credible threats of violence target worksites
Employers would be able to ask courts for orders covering all workers when harassment, illegal violence, or credible threats of violence target a work site rather than one worker.
What it does
When harassment, illegal violence, or credible threats of violence target a workplace or a group's main work site rather than a worker, employers could seek orders covering all workers without naming them. Courts could not ban protected speech or labor activity.
California's Judicial Council would have to create or update forms by January 1, 2028, as needed for requests covering all workers when harassment, illegal violence, or credible threats of violence target their workplace or main work site.
Argument forWhen harassment, illegal violence, or credible threats of violence target a work site, this could spare individual workers from being named in an employer's court request.
Argument againstWhen harassment, illegal violence, or credible threats of violence target a site, an order could limit someone's access to the whole place. Protected speech and labor activity would remain allowed.
More detail
An employer would be able to ask a court for a temporary order or an order after a hearing covering all workers at the site. This option would apply when harassment, illegal violence, or a credible threat of violence targets an employer's workplace or a place where a group of workers does its main work, rather than a specific worker. The employer would not have to name any worker. A court could bar calls to or contact with the site, or order someone to stay away. It could not ban protected speech or labor activity.
California's Judicial Council would have to create or update forms as needed for these group requests. The forms would support requests covering all workers when harassment, illegal violence, or a credible threat of violence targets a workplace or a group's main work site rather than a specific worker. The Judicial Council must create or update the forms on or before January 1, 2028.
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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 910, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6574.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1961 Ahrens Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1961 Ahrens By Umberg. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Jun 29In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 18Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 17From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16).Major
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 21In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1961 Ahrens Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 5210.)Passed Assembly
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 20Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 16Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 8
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.Minor
- Mar 27From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced
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