California legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB2297: Restitution: diversion.
Status: Chaptered, September 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend Section 1202.4 of the Penal Code, relating to restitution. restitution Restitution: diversion. Existing law requires a court to, in every case where a person is convicted of a crime, order restitution to the victim or victims, as specified. Existing law creates and authorizes a number of diversion and deferred entry of judgment programs, which either defer entry of a plea of guilty by the defendant or postpone the proceedings of the case as long as the defendant participates in the program…
From the chaptered text, September 30, 2026:
An act to amend Section 1202.4 of the Penal Code, relating to restitution. restitution Restitution: diversion. Existing law requires a court to, in every case where a person is convicted of a crime, order restitution to the victim or victims, as specified. Existing law creates and authorizes a number of diversion and deferred entry of judgment programs, which either defer entry of a plea of guilty by the defendant or postpone the proceedings of the case as long as the defendant participates in the program. Existing law requires the court to dismiss the plea or charges if the defendant has performed satisfactorily during the program. This bill would require the court to order restitution to the victims or victims when a defendant participates in a diversion program, provided that the defendant is informed of their right to have a judicial determination of the amount of restitution and is provided with a hearing, waives a hearing, or stipulates to the amount of restitution ordered. If the court finds restitution is owed pursuant to this provision, the bill would require the court to order payment of restitution during the period of diversion. The bill would prohibit a defendant’s inability to pay restitution due to indigence or mental disorder from being grounds for denial of diversion or a finding that the defendant failed …
Sponsors
- Catherine Stefani (D, AD19) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 841, Statutes of 2026.
- : Approved by the Governor.
- : Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
- : In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
- : Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 1.).
- : Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- : From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 9).
- : Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
- : In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
- : Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 0. Page 4723.)
Votes
- Assembly 3rd Reading AB2297 Stefani By Blakespear (August 25, 2026): 39 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do pass (June 9, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AB 2297 Stefani Assembly Third Reading (April 20, 2026): 66 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do pass. (April 7, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is AB2297?
- AB2297 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Restitution: diversion.
- What does AB2297 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Section 1202.4 of the Penal Code, relating to restitution. restitution Restitution: diversion. Existing law requires a court to, in every case where a person is convicted of a crime, order restitution to the victim or victims, as specified. Existing law creates and authorizes a number of diversion and deferred entry of judgment programs, which either defer entry of a plea of guilty by the defendant or postpone the proceedings of the case as long as the defendant participates in the program…
- What is the status of AB2297?
- Chaptered as of September 30, 2026. Latest action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 841, Statutes of 2026. (September 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored AB2297?
- Catherine Stefani (D, AD19).
- Where is the official record for AB2297?
- On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2297
Source: official California record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.