Spring at the Capitol means one thing: the pace picks up — fast. Committee rooms fill, agendas stack up, and hundreds of bills move quickly through the process as lawmakers race toward key deadlines.

Over the next several weeks, policy committees will hear a high volume of legislation before bills advance to fiscal committees and, ultimately, the floor. These hearings play a critical role in determining which proposals move forward and which ones stall out before summer recess.

PORAC is currently tracking more than 250 bills and has taken positions on over 100. This includes sponsored and supported measures focused on public safety, officer wellbeing, retirement security, and strengthening workplace protections. It also includes opposition to proposals that could impact public safety, limit recruitment, restrict interagency coordination, or affect officers’ ability to do their jobs.

Many of these concerns are reflected in legislation tied to immigration policy and coordination with federal partners, areas that have direct implications for staffing, training, and day-to-day operations.

Several bills are drawing attention this session. AB 1896 (González) would restrict individuals from serving as peace officers based on prior work in immigration enforcement, raising concerns about further limiting an already strained hiring pool. AB 1537 (Bryan) would prohibit officers from engaging in certain federal roles, even off duty, which could unintentionally impact public safety functions. SB 1105 (Pérez) would place new limits on coordination with federal partners, potentially creating barriers to joint operations addressing crimes that cross jurisdictions.

As the session moves forward, PORAC will continue to actively engage on key legislation and advocate on behalf of its members. Member engagement is critical. We encourage members to connect with their local legislators, share real-world perspectives, and help ensure these policy decisions reflect the realities of the profession and the communities they serve.