June 12, 2026: District Attorney Hochman Calls on California Legislature to Pass LADA-Sponsored Public Safety Bills

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June 12, 2026

SACRAMENTO - Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today urged the California legislature to pass and Governor Newsom to sign six bipartisan bills sponsored by the Office to strengthen accountability for human labor traffickers, corporate polluters, drunk drivers, animal abusers and peace officers and strengthen prosecutorial agencies' investigations into wrongful conviction claims. All six bipartisan bills unanimously passed their house of origin.

"My office is sponsoring significant reforms to strengthen California's criminal laws and ensure offenders are appropriately punished while deterring future crimes," said District Attorney Hochman. "We are gratified that the legislation we sponsored has unanimously passed its house of origin in the California legislature, reflecting the urgent need for criminal justice reform to enhance accountability, protect communities and save lives. I thank our legislative partners for their commitment to public safety and urge the full legislature to pass and Governor Newsom to sign these bills to show California that protecting crime victims is a priority for this state.

"I also want to recognize the Office's legislative advocates, Deputy District Attorneys Daniel Felizzatto and Tamar Tokat, for their tireless dedication to reforming public safety laws and advancing justice."

The six LADA-sponsored bills currently before the California legislature:

DUI Reform and Braun's Law: SB 907

Increases penalties for repeat DUI offenders and vehicular manslaughter.

Author: Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Los Angeles)

Co-Sponsors: CA Safe Roads Coalition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Orange County District Attorney's Office

The LADA-sponsored bill includes "Braun's Law" in honor of Braun Levi, an 18-year-old Loyola High School student who was killed by a recidivist drunk driver, Jenia Belt, in Manhattan Beach last year. Braun's Law would make sure that drivers whose DUI charges are dismissed or pled down to a lesser or different charge are advised with a Watson Warning that they could be charged with second-degree murder if they drive intoxicated again and kill someone.

"California's DUI laws are among the weakest in the nation, and our prosecutors see the tragic impact of these failed laws in the courtroom every day, like in the heartbreaking death of Braun Levi," said District Attorney Hochman. "Chronic DUI offenders cause catastrophic crashes and loss of life, devastating the victims' loved ones and entire communities. These laws needed to change decades ago and every day we wait puts more lives at risk."

SB 907 targets repeat offenders by creating sentencing enhancements for prior felony DUI and DUI-related convictions upon a new felony conviction for DUI or related offenses such as gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. It also increases sentencing for committing a hit and run (causing injury and/or property damage) if the driver has a prior conviction for DUI, wet reckless, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, or gross vehicular manslaughter within the prior 10 years.

The California State Senate unanimously approved SB 907 in a 36-0 vote on May 26, 2026. The bill will now be heard by the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Labor Trafficking and Wage Theft: AB 1583

Protects vulnerable communities by holding labor traffickers and employers who commit wage theft across multiple jurisdictions accountable.

Author: Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa)

Co-Sponsor: Sonoma County District Attorney's Office

"Under current law, district attorneys are severely limited in our ability to hold human labor traffickers and criminals who commit wage theft accountable when the conduct crosses county lines," said District Attorney Hochman. "Employers engaging in these insidious crimes often threaten deportation to exploit immigrant workers and withhold wages, particularly in the agriculture, service, construction and garment manufacturing industries. Fixing the law would allow us to fully prosecute labor exploiters who prey on California's hardworking communities."

AB 1583 would create a specific jurisdictional statute for labor trafficking and wage theft, expressly allowing these prosecutions to occur in the county where the victim resided at the time of the theft or trafficking, the county where the victim was present at the time the employment contract was entered into, the county where any portion of the work was performed, or the county where the offending business or any of its locations were situated at the time of the wage theft or labor trafficking.

The California State Assembly unanimously approved AB 1583 in a 71-0 vote on March 12, 2026. The California State Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously approved the bill on June 9, 2026. The bill now heads to the California State Senate floor.

Environmental Justice/Illegal Dumping: AB 2310

Ends impunity for corporate polluters who illegally dump toxic materials, including wildfire debris.

Authors: Assemblymembers Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) and Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks)

AB 2310 combats widespread illegal dumping by holding accountable offenders, especially corporate offenders who cause enormous damage with relative impunity under existing laws.

"The time for illegal dumping in California neighborhoods is over," said District Attorney Hochman. "Illegal dumping is a severe, escalating environmental crisis that has been amplified by the wildfires as unscrupulous companies dumped toxic fire debris in primarily low-income and minority communities. AB 2310 would let law enforcement stop violators while the toxic waste is in transit, before it is illegally dumped on unsuspecting communities. The bill also explicitly includes construction debris and unambiguously gives prosecutors the power to appropriately charge and sentence large-scale corporate polluters who are profiting from destroying our soil, water and air."

AB 2310 would make it a crime to transport waste matter, rocks, concrete, asphalt, dirt, or construction debris for the purpose of illegal dumping. Large-scale dumping would carry enhanced misdemeanor and felony sentences. Property owners would be clearly prohibited from dumping or allowing others to dump certain waste on their property. Prosecutors could seek court orders compelling property owners to clean up toxic sites. More government agencies would have the authority to declare dumped material a public health hazard, nuisance, or fire hazard.

The California State Assembly unanimously approved AB 2310 in a 75-0 vote on May 26, 2026. The bill will now be heard by the California State Senate Public Safety Committee.

Justice for Seized Animals Act: AB 2344

Protects animals in criminal cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

Author: Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco)

Co-Sponsor: Social Compassion in Legislation

"Dogs, cats and other pets are languishing in shelters because a defendant in an animal cruelty case has willfully failed to appear or has had criminal proceedings suspended because of mental health diversion," said District Attorney Hochman. "This bill will protect animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect and help reduce overcrowding at shelters by allowing the abused animals to be adopted into loving homes before the final case disposition. Crucially, the bill also allows courts, at the request of prosecutors, to ban animal abusers who are granted mental health diversion from keeping animals, preventing further harm."

AB 2344 would authorize an animal control agency in possession of an animal seized or impounded in animal cruelty or neglect cases to petition the Court to issue an order to forfeit the animal to the city, county or seizing agency.

Under AB 2344, if a defendant charged with a violation of animal cruelty laws is granted mental health diversion, the prosecution may request an order from the Court that the defendant be prohibited from owning, possessing, caring for, or residing with animals of any kind. The Court could then require the defendant to immediately deliver all animals in their possession to a designated entity for adoption or provide proof to the Court that the person no longer has possession, care or control of any animals.

The California State Assembly unanimously approved AB 2344 in a 78-0 vote on May 26, 2026. It will now be heard by the California State Senate Public Safety Committee.

Wrongful Conviction Investigations: SB 1211

Gives prosecutorial agencies investigating post-conviction factual innocence claims the same access to case files the agency has before a conviction.

Author: Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)

"Current law unintentionally hinders our Justice Conviction Review Unit (JCRU) in post-conviction factual innocence investigations," said District Attorney Hochman. "JCRU's important work is critical to the obligation of every prosecutor to seek justice for victims and ensure that the right person is held accountable. Since JCRU was formed in 2015, our office has exonerated 16 individuals who were wrongfully convicted. SB 1211 would make sure prosecutors have access to the information we need to fully investigate the claims of individuals who are behind bars for crimes they did not commit."

JCRU is currently reviewing 76 cases and receives new claims every week. Watch this video to learn more.

The California State Senate unanimously approved SB 1211 in a 39-0 vote on May 28, 2026. It will now be heard by the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Peace Officer Misconduct: AB 2337

Revokes the license of peace officers who commit theft under color of authority.

Author: Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale)

"Theft under color of authority, while rare, is a significant betrayal of the public's trust and causes a loss of confidence in the criminal justice system," said District Attorney Hochman. "A law enforcement officer who commits the serious crime of theft cannot be trusted to protect and serve our communities. AB 2337 would hold officers accountable for their choice to steal."

Existing law authorizes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to suspend or revoke the certification of a peace officer who engaged in any serious misconduct. AB 2337 adds "theft committed by a peace officer under color of authority" to the definition of serious misconduct for purposes of revocation of their peace officer certification.

The California State Assembly unanimously approved AB 2337 in a 77-0 vote on May 28, 2026, and will now be heard by the California State Senate Public Safety Committee.

In addition to sponsoring bills, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office supports dozens of public safety bills, including AB 46 (Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove) to reform California's broken mental health diversion laws.