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Bill

AB 1363

Protective orders: Wyland's Law.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Angelique Ashby and 8 co-sponsors

California expands protective orders to cover individuals facing harassment or threats based on their immigration status, providing legal recourse without requiring law enforcement involvement.

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 574, Statutes of 2025.
#protectiveorders #wyland'slaw
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 1363

Legislative bill overview

AB 1363, known as Wyland's Law, expands California's protective order system by allowing courts to issue orders protecting individuals from harassment, threats, or violence based on their perceived or actual immigration status. The bill broadens the definition of protected classes in protective order statutes to include immigration status as a qualifying characteristic for seeking legal protection.

Why is this important

Immigrant communities, particularly undocumented immigrants, may face targeted harassment, threats, or violence due to their immigration status. This law creates a legal mechanism for vulnerable individuals to seek court protection without needing to report to law enforcement—a critical consideration for those with legitimate fears about immigration consequences. The measure addresses a gap in existing protective order frameworks that didn't explicitly recognize immigration status-based harm.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and definition concerns: The bill's specific language defining what constitutes harassment or threats "based on immigration status" could create interpretation disputes and potentially conflicting rulings across different counties
  • Law enforcement coordination: Questions remain about how protective orders interact with mandatory reporting requirements and whether issuing orders could inadvertently expose individuals to immigration enforcement
  • Resource allocation: Court systems may face increased workload processing these petitions, raising questions about adequate funding and training for judges to properly evaluate immigration-based harassment claims

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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