California AB282: Elections: seizure of election materials.

What the bill says

An act to add Section 18579 to the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Elections: seizure of election materials. Under existing law, a county elections official is required to prepare a certified statement of the results of an election and submit it to the county board of supervisors within 30 days of the election…

From the chaptered text, September 19, 2026:

An act to add Section 18579 to the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Elections: seizure of election materials. Under existing law, a county elections official is required to prepare a certified statement of the results of an election and submit it to the county board of supervisors within 30 days of the election. This bill would make it a felony, punishable by imprisonment for 16 months or 2 or 3 years, to seize or cause or assist in the seizure of ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before election results are certified by the elections official. The bill would also make it a felony punishable by imprisonment for 2, 3, or 4 years for any person with authority to direct another person subject to their supervision or authority to seize ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before election results are certified. By creating new crimes, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Gail Pellerin (D, AD28) · primary sponsor
• John Laird (D, SD17)
• Matt Haney (D, AD17)
• Alex Lee (D, AD24)
• Sharon Quirk-Silva (D, AD67)

Latest actions

1. September 19, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 330, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 19, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026: Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 18. Page 6899.).
5. August 30, 2026: Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 6844.)
6. August 30, 2026: Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6844.)
7. August 30, 2026: Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 18.).
8. August 30, 2026: From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 2.) (August 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. August 30, 2026: Urgency clause adopted. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
10. August 30, 2026: From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (August 30).

Votes

• With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in. (August 30, 2026): 9 yea, 1 nay, passed
• With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on [Appropriations] (August 30, 2026): 6 yea, 2 nay, passed
• AB 282 Pellerin Concurrence - Urgency Added (August 30, 2026): 59 yea, 18 nay, passed
• With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in, but first be re-referred to Com. on [Public Safety] (August 28, 2026): 6 yea, 2 nay, passed
• Assembly 3rd Reading AB282 Pellerin By Wahab Urgency Clause (August 28, 2026): 29 yea, 10 nay, passed
• Do pass (August 27, 2026): 4 yea, 2 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB282?

AB282 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Elections: seizure of election materials.

What does AB282 do?

In its own words: An act to add Section 18579 to the Elections Code, relating to elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. elections, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Elections: seizure of election materials. Under existing law, a county elections official is required to prepare a certified statement of the results of an election and submit it to the county board of supervisors within 30 days of the election…

What is the status of AB282?

Chaptered as of September 19, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 330, Statutes of 2026. (September 19, 2026).

Who sponsored AB282?

Gail Pellerin (D, AD28), with 4 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for AB282?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB282