Bill Sponsor
California Senate Bill 281
Session 20252026
Pleas: immigration advisement.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Oct 12, 2025
First Action
Feb 5, 2025
Latest Action
Oct 12, 2025
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
281
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Summary
Existing law requires the court, prior to the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, to advise the defendant that if they are not a citizen, conviction of the crime charged may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization. After January 1, 1978, if the court fails to advise the defendant, as required, and the defendant shows that conviction of the offense to which the defendant pleaded guilty or nolo contendere may have the consequences for the defendant of deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of naturalization pursuant to the laws of the United States, the court, on the defendant's motion, is required to vacate the judgment and permit the defendant to withdraw the plea of guilty or nolo contendere, and enter a plea of not guilty. This bill would require the court to give the above-described advisement verbatim and would clarify the advisement to state that if the defendant is not a citizen of the United States, conviction may result in the specified immigration consequences. The bill would state that for a plea accepted prior to January 1, 2026, it is not the intent of the Legislature that a court's failure to provide the advisement verbatim requires vacation of judgment and withdrawal of the plea or constitutes grounds for finding a prior conviction invalid, as specified.
Actions (19)
10/12/2025
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 666, Statutes of 2025.
10/12/2025
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
09/09/2025
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
09/03/2025
Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
08/28/2025
Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
08/28/2025
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 53. Noes 18. Page 2764.) Ordered to the Senate.
07/15/2025
Assembly
Ordered to third reading.
07/15/2025
Assembly
Read third time and amended.
06/18/2025
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
06/17/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 2.) (June 17).
06/05/2025
Assembly
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
05/28/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
05/28/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1291.) Ordered to the Assembly.
03/26/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
03/25/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 533.) (March 25).
03/07/2025
Senate
Set for hearing March 25.
02/14/2025
Senate
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
02/06/2025
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 8.
02/05/2025
Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 6, 2025 5:55:03 AM
Record Updated
Oct 14, 2025 8:44:18 AM