Assemblymember Catherine Stefani introduces state bill with support of the Civil Prosecutors Coalition aimed at strengthening local government’s ability to tackle problematic properties that contribute to criminal activity.
Sacramento, CA (February 17, 2026) –Today, Assemblymember Catherine Stefani introduced Assembly Bill 2001, which would provide access to important criminal history information essential to effectively prosecuting problematic businesses and properties that create public nuisances and engage in illegal activity.
Current state law allows local City Attorneys and County Counsels to access criminal history information when they are pursuing gang injunctions, drug abatement actions, or gun violence restraining orders. This new legislation will expand this authority to include public nuisance cases and actions brought under California’s Red Light Abatement laws.
“When we are blocked from seeing a pattern of repeat offenses, illegal operations stay in business and neighborhoods pay the price,” said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. “This bill gives us the tools we need to keep our residents safe. Thank you to San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and the Civil Prosecutors Coalition for partnering with me to stop these illegal operations.”
Public nuisance and Red-Light Abatement laws are critical to addressing problematic properties and businesses that enable criminal activity in our communities. Recently in San Francisco, City Attorney Chiu successfully sued and shut down the Empire Relaxation Spa, an unpermitted massage parlor that was engaging in prostitution. Additionally, City Attorney Chiu has used public nuisance statutes to crack down on several gambling and drug dens fronting as convenience stores in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
“In our experience, the operators of these problematic businesses may have prior criminal histories, and access to this information strengthens our ability to investigate and pursue successful cases to improve the quality of life of our neighborhoods, said City Attorney David Chiu. “I am thankful for Assemblymember Stefani’s leadership on this bill, which will give us the tools we need to continue to bring cases to shut down establishments that house and contribute to criminal activity in our communities.”
“This bill will help us protect our communities and keep our enforcement staff safe. As civil prosecutors enforcing against illegal massage business, cannabis grows, and other illicit enterprises, our access to data—including past criminal data—is critical to our success. And it’s vital that we know beforehand if we’re sending officers into potentially dangerous situations so we can provide for their safety,” said Santa Clara County Counsel and Civil Prosecutors Coalition Chair Tony LoPresti.
AB 2001 is sponsored by the Civil Prosecutors Coalition and is expected to be heard in an Assembly policy committee in the coming months.
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