California SB942: Civil detainees.

What the bill says

An act to add Section 53.9 to the Civil Code, and to add Section 12532.1 to the Government Code, relating to civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Civil detainees. Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of a person, when the person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled…

From the chaptered text, September 29, 2026:

An act to add Section 53.9 to the Civil Code, and to add Section 12532.1 to the Government Code, relating to civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Civil detainees. Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of a person, when the person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled. Existing law grants persons involuntarily detained in state hospitals as a result of developmental or mental health disabilities specified rights, including a right to dignity, privacy, and humane care, to be free from harm, to religious freedom and practice, and to physical exercise and recreational opportunities. This bill, the Civil Detainees’ Bill of Rights Act of 2026, would clarify that all persons housed or detained for purposes of civil immigration proceedings in California at any state, county, local, or private locked detention facility, including any county, local, or private locked detention facility in which an individual is housed or detained on behalf of, or pursuant to a contract with, the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement or the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have the legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed all other persons by the United States Constitution …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Anna Caballero (D, SD14) · primary sponsor
• Padilla, Stephen (D, SD18)
• Juan Carrillo (D, AD39)
• Bob Archuleta (D, SD30)
• Durazo, Maria Elena (D, SD26)
• Lena Gonzalez (D, SD33)
• Melissa Hurtado (D, SD16)
• Reyes, Eloise Gómez (D, SD29)
• Sade Elhawary (D, AD57)
• Robert Garcia (D, AD50)
• Liz Ortega (D, AD20)
• Celeste Rodriguez (D, AD43)

Latest actions

1. September 29, 2026: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 755, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 29, 2026: Approved by the Governor.
3. August 31, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
4. August 26, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 5. Page 5914.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 26, 2026: Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 5.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
6. August 26, 2026: Urgency clause adopted.
7. August 25, 2026: In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. August 25, 2026: Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 64. Noes 11. Page 6528.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. August 25, 2026: Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
10. August 20, 2026: Ordered to third reading.

Votes

• Unfinished Business SB942 Caballero et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence (August 26, 2026): 31 yea, 5 nay, passed
• SB 942 Caballero Third Reading Urgency By Ortega (August 25, 2026): 64 yea, 11 nay, passed
• Do pass. (August 13, 2026): 11 yea, 3 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 30, 2026): 9 yea, 3 nay, passed
• Senate 3rd Reading SB942 Caballero et al. (May 26, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass (May 14, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB942?

SB942 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Civil detainees.

What does SB942 do?

In its own words: An act to add Section 53.9 to the Civil Code, and to add Section 12532.1 to the Government Code, relating to civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. civil detainees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately Civil detainees. Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of a person, when the person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled…

What is the status of SB942?

Chaptered as of September 29, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 755, Statutes of 2026. (September 29, 2026).

Who sponsored SB942?

Anna Caballero (D, SD14), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB942?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB942