Source: losbanosenterprise.com 6/30/26
AB 2753 would have prohibited anyone ever required to register as a sex offender from running for local or state office in California.
Sacramento, CA (June 30, 2026) — A bill by Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria that sought to prevent registered sex offenders from running for local or state public office in California failed to advance Tuesday in the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, according to Soria’s office.
AB 2753 would have amended California Elections Code Section 20 to prohibit a person from being a candidate for, or being elected to, any state or local elective office if the person has ever been required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code Section 290. Existing law already bars candidates convicted of certain felony public-corruption crimes, including bribery, embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, or conspiracy to commit those crimes.
Soria, D-Merced, said she was disappointed by the committee’s decision and said she was unwilling to accept additional amendments that she believed would weaken the bill.
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A Senate committee analysis of the bill stated that current California law has no restriction on registered sex offenders running for or holding elected office.
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The Senate analysis also outlined concerns raised about the bill’s broad language, including that it would permanently disqualify anyone who had ever been required to register, even if the person was later removed from the registry or if the underlying law changed. The analysis noted that…
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This legislative committee today made a wise decision by stopping AB 2753. If passed, that bill would have denied voters the opportunity to vote for individuals who are law abiding citizens and do not pose a danger to society. The right to appear on a ballot affects not only candidates who want to run but voters who want to vote for them. As I stated in a TV interview earlier today, ACSOL would have challenged this bill if it became law.