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Public safety

Every story on LexCircuit filed under public safety: court orders, regulation, ethics opinions, litigation and research, each summarized across its sources.

35 stories

M.D.N.C.Litigation

Tyler Technologies agrees to $1.5 million settlement over North Carolina eCourts arrests

Tyler Technologies, the vendor behind North Carolina's eCourts court records system, has agreed to pay up to $1.5 million to settle a federal class action by people allegedly wrongly arrested or held too long because of software problems. Plaintiffs asked the Middle District of North Carolina on October 26, 2026, to approve the deal, which needs preliminary and final court approval.

Filing (The Assembly) → · Carolina Journal
9TH CIR.Court order

Ninth Circuit rules Trump lacked authority to federalize California National Guard in Los Angeles

A split Ninth Circuit panel on October 23, 2026, affirmed a preliminary injunction against President Trump's June 2025 federalization of the California National Guard in Los Angeles. Judge Jennifer Sung, joined by Judge Eric Miller, held that the deployment exceeded the president's statutory authority and rejected claims of a rebellion, relying on the Supreme Court's Trump v. Illinois ruling. Judge Mark Bennett dissented.

Order (Courthouse News Service) → · Bloomberg Law, Law360
CAL.Funding

Longeye raises $20 million Series A for AI evidence review used by justice agencies

San Francisco startup Longeye, which sells an AI investigative workspace to police departments, prosecutors and public defenders, said on October 21, 2026, that it raised a $20 million Series A led by N47, with Andreessen Horowitz's American Dynamism practice participating. The company said more than 50 justice agencies now use the platform to search jail calls, video, phone extractions and financial records.

Announcement (Business Wire) → · We Are San Francisco
CAL.Roundup

State and local law roundup, week ending October 2, 2026: 23 developments

Twenty-three state and local measures dated September 25 to 29, 2026. California enacted laws on prescribed fire, children's meals, added-sugar menu warnings, diaper ingredients, disposable vapes, supplement sales to minors and disability-form fees. North Dakota, Texas, Arkansas and Georgia issued fuel emergency orders. New Jersey and New York signed school, reentry, Rutgers and climate bills, Massachusetts set emergency adult foster care rates, and San Jose paused detention-facility applications.

Entries (California Legislative Information) → · North Dakota Office of the Governor, City of San Jose, Office of the City Clerk (Legistar), Office of the Texas Governor +6
D. MD.Litigation

DOJ sues Maryland and two counties over law enforcement mask ban and ID rules

The Justice Department sued Maryland, its attorney general, the state police training commission and Prince George's and Montgomery counties on October 1, seeking to invalidate state and county laws that bar law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks and require them to show identification. The complaint alleges Maryland's SB 1 and the two county ordinances directly regulate federal officers and violate the Supremacy Clause and intergovernmental immunity.

Filing (U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland) → · U.S. Department of Justice, The Daily Record
CAL.Regulation

California disqualifies decertified officers, including federal immigration enforcers, from peace-officer service

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1627 on September 29, 2026. It amends Government Code section 1029 to disqualify from peace-officer service anyone listed in the National Decertification Index whose certification was revoked in any jurisdiction. Beginning January 1, 2028, anyone previously employed as a sworn officer or contractor and personally engaged in immigration enforcement is disqualified unless approved to enter a POST basic course.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor

Rulings this week

All court orders

CAL.Regulation

California requires agency decals on rented vehicles used for detentions and arrests

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1650 on September 29, 2026. It adds Civil Code section 1939.36, requiring privately owned vehicles rented by or furnished to law enforcement agencies to detain, arrest or transport people to display a temporary agency decal legible at 50 feet in daylight. It applies to rental contracts entered on or after January 1, 2027, with exceptions for plainclothes, undercover, exigent, tactical and protective operations.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California penalizes drone flights that interfere with wildfire suppression

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1749 on September 29, 2026. The bill adds Civil Code section 1714.57, prohibiting knowingly or recklessly operating a drone to interfere with wildfire suppression or related emergency response, including under an FAA temporary flight restriction. The Attorney General, county counsel, or city attorney may sue, with prevailing plaintiffs recovering civil penalties up to $75,000 per violation plus injunctive relief and attorney's fees.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires a state prosecutor to investigate immigration-officer shootings that kill unarmed civilians

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1806 on September 29, 2026. New Government Code section 12525.4 requires a state prosecutor, the Attorney General unless another is named, to conduct an independent investigation of any shooting by an immigration enforcement officer that kills an unarmed civilian, and to prepare a written report with a statement of facts and a detailed analysis and conclusion on each investigatory issue.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California tightens fire-tool requirements for forestry operations

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2075 on September 29, 2026. Operators of spark-producing equipment on or near forest, brush or grass land must keep a backpack pump extinguisher and enough round point shovels, at least 46 inches long, for every person within 25 feet of the equipment. The law defines 'person' to include business entities and removes the exception for emergency crews and utility service vehicles.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California streamlines approvals for essential local fire station projects

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2152 on September 29, 2026. It amends Public Resources Code sections 21189.81 to 21189.82 so the Governor may certify essential local fire station projects for CEQA infrastructure streamlining, including expedited litigation timelines. Qualifying projects must be undertaken by a local agency, be covered by a project labor agreement, and have the applicant pay trial and appellate court costs of any challenge.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bars officers from obstructing medical care for people in their control

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2318 on September 29, 2026. It adds Penal Code section 832.11, making it unlawful for law enforcement — including federal officers acting under color of law — to deny, delay, or obstruct medical care for a person under their control when safe and reasonable and a medical professional requested care or is present and willing. Denials must be documented within 72 hours and reported to civilian oversight when a professional was present.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bans wearable electroshock 'shock gloves' in law enforcement through 2029

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2760 on September 29, 2026. The bill adds Government Code section 7286.1, prohibiting law enforcement — including federal officers operating in California — from using wearable electroshock devices known as shock gloves through January 1, 2030. It bars the use of state funds to purchase the devices and directs the Department of Justice to complete a study of them by January 1, 2029.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California creates a CAL FIRE Fire Innovation Unit through 2032

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1079 on September 29, 2026. Upon appropriation, it creates a Fire Innovation Unit within CAL FIRE to research, test, procure and deploy wildfire technology. A vendor that completes a unit-run pilot and receives formal validation may get a follow-on contract for substantially similar technology without a separate competitive solicitation. The provisions are repealed January 1, 2033.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California sets mobilehome park duties after disasters

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1093 on September 29, 2026. After a disaster, mobilehome park management must make good faith efforts to give displaced residents weekly then monthly status updates, let them retrieve belongings and inspect damage starting seven days after evacuation orders are lifted, and evaluate rebuilding costs before a closure or change of use. Residents may sue management for willful violations.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California requires large water suppliers in fire zones to add wildfire procedures

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1153 on September 29, 2026. It adds Government Code section 8607.3, requiring water suppliers serving at least 3,300 people in high or very high fire-hazard severity zones to include wildfire incident procedures in their disaster plans beginning January 1, 2028. The bill creates no duty to build infrastructure for wildfire defense.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California extends attorney general reviews of immigration detention facilities indefinitely

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1399 on September 29, 2026. It amends Government Code section 12532 to indefinitely extend the Attorney General's reviews of county, local, and private locked detention facilities housing noncitizens for civil immigration proceedings, including facilities holding minors for ORR or ICE. It deletes the inoperative and repeal dates and the apprehension-and-transfer-circumstances requirement, and guarantees the Attorney General full access.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California orders removal of abandoned transmission facilities and utility liaisons to emergency centers

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 742 on September 29, 2026. By January 1, 2028, the Public Utilities Commission must update General Order 95 to require each electrical corporation to remove all permanently abandoned transmission facilities. Wildfire mitigation plans must account for all transmission facilities and set removal timelines, and certain utilities must assign liaisons to local emergency operations centers.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California bars civil arrests at courthouses and within 1,000 feet of them

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 873 on September 29, 2026. Civil Code section 43.54 bars civil arrests at a courthouse, including public ways within 1,000 feet, and of people traveling to or from one for lawful activity; arrests under a valid judicial warrant are exempt. Violators are liable for false imprisonment or false arrest, with actual damages plus $10,000 in statutory damages. Court security must ask entering officers for identification, purpose and a judicial warrant.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California sets rapid post-wildfire permitting and reporting duties

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 904 on September 29, 2026. It adds Government Code section 8608.2, requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to report within 30 days of post-wildfire permitting suspensions and update every 60 days, with a rapid-permitting goal of 30 days; section 8608.3 creates a Title 24 suspension workgroup by July 1, 2028; and section 8608.4 electronic-filing mandates take effect January 1, 2028.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California extends crowd-control limits to flash-bangs and federal agents, bars them in immigration raids

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 937 on September 29, 2026. It amends Penal Code sections 13652 and 13652.1 to extend existing limits on kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents at assemblies to flash-bang grenades and to federal law enforcement agencies. Flash-bangs and explosive breaching charges may not be used for immigration enforcement except in joint task forces or as state law permits, and agencies must report flash-bang use.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California lets employers seek workplace violence restraining orders covering all employees at a site

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1961 on September 30, 2026, amending Code of Civil Procedure section 527.8. From January 1, 2027, an employer may seek a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of all employees at a workplace, or at a location where a group of employees primarily work, when harassment, violence or a credible threat is directed at that site, without naming individual employees. The Judicial Council must update its forms by January 1, 2028.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
CAL.Regulation

California sets emergency-response duties for driverless vehicle makers from July 2028

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1246 on September 30, 2026. From July 1, 2028, autonomous vehicle manufacturers must use U.S.-based, California-licensed remote drivers, immediately dispatch local incident technicians after crashes or official requests, notify local jurisdictions of fleetwide failures, and let remote staff move or stop driverless commercial vehicles at an emergency official's direction. They must report response data to the DMV quarterly, and city attorneys may sue for civil penalties.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
DEL.Regulation

Delaware governor signs SB 249 creating licensed harm reduction program framework

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed Senate Bill 249 on September 30, 2026, as 85 Del. Laws ch. 536, effective on signing. It adds Chapter 48 to Title 16, letting the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health license harm reduction programs under evidence-based regulations. Programs must offer sterile supplies, drug-checking equipment, opioid antagonists and disease screening, and personal possession of drug paraphernalia is decriminalized.

Enrolled text (Delaware General Assembly) → · State of Delaware News
CAL.Regulation

California requires youth football leagues to allow soft-shell helmet add-ons

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 708, the California Youth Football Act safety-equipment amendment, on September 28, 2026, adding Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code. Youth tackle-football leagues, organizations and coaches must allow participants to use safety equipment including soft-shell helmet add-ons. Courts may grant injunctive relief for violations, and a prevailing plaintiff who obtains relief is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California orders performance framework for county veterans service offices

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2219 on September 28, 2026 (Chapter 728, Statutes of 2026). From January 1, 2027, counties must fill a county veterans service officer vacancy within 12 months, and appointees must obtain department accreditation within nine months. The Department of Veterans Affairs must set minimum training requirements, develop a service-capacity and performance framework for county offices, build a statewide work queue by January 1, 2029, and report to the Legislature every three years.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
CAL.Regulation

California grants property tax exemption to disabled-veteran homeowners

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 296 on September 28, 2026. For lien dates from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, it exempts 50 percent of the first $1 million in value of the principal residence of a 100 percent disabled veteran, rising to 100 percent for claimants under a household income limit, and extends the exemption to eligible unmarried surviving spouses. As a tax levy, the act took effect immediately.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Office of the Governor
NICARAGUA · NI HIGH COURTCourt order

NI High Court upholds Parades Commission Drumcree Garvaghy Road determination

In a hearing that ended at 2:15am BST on September 27, 2026, Mr Justice Michael Humphreys of the High Court in Northern Ireland dismissed a remitted challenge by Garvaghy Road residents to the Parades Commission determination allowing a limited Orange Order parade along the road, Belfast Live, The Irish Times and The Independent reported. He held the commission’s decision was reasoned and not irrational, saying the court cannot substitute its view for the commission’s.

Order (The Irish Times) → · The Independent, Belfast Live
NICARAGUA · NI CACourt order

NI Court of Appeal overturns injunction barring Drumcree Garvaghy Road parade

At an 11:30pm sitting on September 26, 2026, Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal allowed an appeal against a High Court injunction that had temporarily blocked the Parades Commission’s determination permitting an Orange Order parade along Portadown’s Garvaghy Road on September 27, The Independent and The Irish Times reported. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said Justice Patricia Smyth, who granted the Saturday injunction, had “unfortunately erred in law.”

Order (The Independent) → · The Irish Times
CAL.Court order

California Supreme Court orders Riverside sheriff to return 650,000 ballots and affirms state AG oversight

The Supreme Court of California issued two unanimous opinions on Thursday ordering Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to return approximately 650,000 voted ballots seized following the November 2025 special election. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero held that Elections Code section 15551, as it then read, prohibited removing ballots from election officials' custody even during criminal investigations. The court also held that Article V, Section 13 of the California Constitution grants Attorney General Rob Bonta binding supervisory authority over county sheriffs' investigations.

Order (Supreme Court of California) → · KQED, State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General, Horvitz & Levy LLP
UKRegulation

UK rolls out specialist rape courtrooms across every Crown Court in England and Wales

The Ministry of Justice said on September 21, 2026 that every Crown Court in England and Wales will receive at least one courtroom configured for rape and serious sexual offence cases within two years, with private entrances and waiting rooms, trauma-informed staff training, and priority listing. The package includes a Rape Justice Taskforce; Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC said the scheme should also cover domestic abuse cases, the Law Gazette reported.

Text (The Guardian) → · BBC News, GOV.UK / Ministry of Justice, Law Gazette