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CA AB2534

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/20/2026

Primary Sponsor

Ash Kalra

Click for details

Origin

State Assembly

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Defines "forced marriage" as a spousal relationship where one or both parties cannot consent and are compelled through force, fraud, coercion, duress, abuse of power, or coercive control to enter or maintain a marriage, regardless of legal validity
  • Adds parties to forced marriages or attempted forced marriages to the list of persons protected under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act
  • Authorizes courts to issue protective orders based on prior instances of forced marriage or credible risk of forced marriage occurring, including orders prohibiting marriage arrangements, requiring surrender of passports and identity documents, and preventing removal from school
  • Expands the definition of "coercive control" to include interfering with or threatening court proceedings, and specifies that conduct to compel or facilitate forced marriage (threats, document confiscation, isolation, arranging ceremonies) constitutes "disturbing the peace"
  • Requires the act to be liberally construed to prevent forced marriage, with relief not denied based on claims that conduct is customary, religious, cultural, or lawful in another jurisdiction

Legislative Description

Domestic Violence Prevention Act: forced marriage.

Last Action

Referred to Com. on JUD.

3/9/2026

Committee Referrals

Judiciary3/9/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available