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Senate Committee advances bill to allow state suits against federal officers amid disputed legal risks
Summary
The California Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass SB 747 to Appropriations, creating a state statutory pathway to sue federal officers for constitutional violations. Supporters said the measure fills a gap; law‑enforcement groups warned it could raise litigation risk and complicate immunities.
Senators on the California Senate Judiciary Committee moved SB 747, dubbed the "No Kings Act," to the Senate Appropriations Committee after an hours‑long hearing that pitted civil‑rights advocates and victims of alleged federal enforcement abuses against law‑enforcement organizations and county attorneys.
The bill, introduced by Senator Wiener, would create a state cause of action modeled on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 so that individuals could sue federal, state or local officers for violations of constitutional rights. "If any governmental officer violates your clearly established constitutional rights, you should have a remedy," the author said during his…
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