California 20252026 Regular Session Status: Introduced 1 D cosponsors

SB 970 — Military or overseas voters.

Last action — Assembly Rule 63 suspended.

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Stalled 28% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

This bill enhances ballot return procedures for military and overseas voters.

The bill requires the Secretary of State to create regulations for securely returning ballots from military and overseas voters. It aims to improve the voting process for these individuals.

What this means for you
  • Families: If you have family members serving in the military or living abroad, this bill aims to make it easier for them to return their votes securely.

Summary

Existing law regulates the voting procedures for military or overseas voters to register to vote, to apply for voting ballots, and to vote. Existing law requires, among other things, unvoted voting materials to be electronically transmitted to a military or overseas voter. This bill would require the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations to facilitate the secure return of ballots from military or overseas voters delivered through secure methods.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  2. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).

  3. Assembly Rule 63 suspended.

  4. August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.

  5. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  6. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.

  7. Coauthors revised.

  8. Referred to Coms. on ELECTIONS and M. & V.A.

  9. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  10. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 1. Page 4504.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  11. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  12. Ordered to second reading.

  13. Read third time and amended.

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  15. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 4259.) (May 14).

  16. Set for hearing May 14.

  17. April 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  18. Set for hearing April 20.

  19. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 3755.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  20. Set for hearing April 7.

  21. Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  22. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 6.

  23. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass.

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 11000
Republican 0004
Total 11004
% of votes cast 73%0%0%27%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Caloza, Jessica Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
González, Mark Democratic Yea
Krell, Maggy Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Sharp-Collins, LaShae Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Not Voting
Hoover, Josh Republican Not Voting
Ta, Tri Republican Not Voting
Tangipa, David J. Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5000
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 1001
Total 7001
% of votes cast 88%0%0%13%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Ávila Farías — Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Not Voting
Gonzalez, Jeff Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs]

Passed 6 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 6000
Republican 0001
Total 6001
% of votes cast 86%0%0%14%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Elhawary, Sade Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Solache, Jr., José Luis Democratic Yea
Stefani, Catherine Democratic Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

3rd Reading

Passed 29 Yea · 1 Nay · 10 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 29001
Republican 0109
Total 291010
% of votes cast 73%3%0%25%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Arreguín, Jesse Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Cabaldon, Christopher Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
McNerney, Jerry Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Pérez, Sasha Renée Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Richardson, Laura Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Not Voting
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Nay
Choi, Steven S. Republican Not Voting
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Not Voting
Niello, Roger W. Republican Not Voting
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Not Voting
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting
Valladares, Suzette Martinez Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights elections veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 970 do?
Existing law regulates the voting procedures for military or overseas voters to register to vote, to apply for voting ballots, and to vote. Existing law requires, among other things, unvoted voting materials to be electronically transmitted to a military or overseas voter. This bill would require the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations to facilitate the secure return of ballots from military or overseas voters delivered through secure methods.
Who sponsors SB 970?
SB 970 is sponsored by Cervantes, Sabrina (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 970?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 970?
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