Senate Public Safety Committee advances broad package of public-safety bills, including measures on cold‑case reviews, swatting and ignition interlocks

The Senate Committee on Public Safety met July 15, 2025, in Sacramento and voted to advance a broad set of public‑safety bills. Committee members forwarded measures to appropriations or the floor on a range of topics, including: a process for families to request reviews of cold homicide cases (AB 15); tougher penalties for repeat swatting that triggers unnecessary emergency responses (AB 327); expansion of ignition‑interlock device requirements for some DUI convictions (AB 366); new crimes and penalties related to looting and impersonation during disasters (AB 468); and several other bills on election certification, rental‑car theft, reentry housing and police accountability.

The committee chair and authors said the package balances public safety, victim protections and operational concerns raised by law enforcement and other stakeholders. Supporters — including family members of homicide victims, public safety associations, sheriff and police groups, firefighters, and survivor‑advocates — urged the panel to approve the bills. Opponents — including public‑defender groups, the California Public Defenders Association, the California State Sheriffs Association for limited items and advocacy organizations — raised concerns about scope, costs, due process and potential unintended consequences.

Votes at a glance - AB 15 (Gibson), “California Homicide Families Rights Act”: advanced as amended to appropriations. The bill would create a statewide process for designated family members to request that law enforcement review unsolved homicide files. Supporters included victims’ advocates and Moms Demand Action; the California State Sheriffs Association testified in opposition citing resource and flexibility concerns. The committee recorded the motion as carried (kept on call, then passed to appropriations).

- AB 327 (Ritoff): advanced as amended to appropriations. The bill makes repeat swatting that causes an unnecessary emergency response a wobbler (misdemeanor or felony depending on circumstances) and allows restitution for property damage. Supporters included California Civil Liberties Advocacy,…