Posted on 05/28/2026 10:14:38 PM PDT by Bullish
Assembly Democrats have passed AB 2108, undermining Prop 36 which overwhelmingly passed in every one of California’s 58 counties
Just months after voters approved Proposition 36 to restore felony penalties for repeat theft and drug crimes, Democrats in the Assembly passed AB 2108, a bill authored by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-La Mesa) that creates a pretrial diversion program for retail theft, shoplifting, forgery, and vandalism.
Prop 36 passed with strong support in every one of California’s 58 counties in November 2024. The ballot measure restored felony penalties for repeat offenders after a decade of disaster and rising crime under Prop 47. Fed-up voters demanded accountability for smash-and-grab thefts, organized retail crime, and open drug dealing,
But a supermajority of Californians don’t matter to the Democrat supermajority in Sacramento.
AB 2108, approved by a party-line vote on Wednesday night, allows prosecutors and probation departments to steer offenders, including repeat criminals, into diversion programs. Criminals could avoid jail by completing conditions like restitution or community service, after which charges could be dismissed.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes warned: “AB 2108 would create a diversion program allowing people who commit property crimes, including repeat offenders, to avoid jail time. This directly undermines Proposition 36 and the clear vote by Californians to increase accountability for theft and retail crime.”
Assemblymember David Tangipa (R-Fresno) called the bill “a direct slap in the face to the supermajority of Californians who just want safe streets and real accountability.” He noted that Democrats are moving to weaken Prop 36 before it has even been properly funded.
🚨 WARNING: Criminal-First Agenda in California In the dead of night, California Democrats rammed through AB 2108 — a bill that guts Prop 36 enforcement and puts criminals back on the streets!
Prop 36 passed in every single county in the state because Californians are fed up… pic.twitter.com/RElYQfqI6u
— David Tangipa (@DavidTangipa) May 28, 2026
California GOP lawmakers slammed the bill as the latest example of the Democrat supermajority’s soft-on-crime, “criminal-first” agenda.
Governor Newsom’s budget proposals have repeatedly included zero dedicated funding for the jail beds, drug treatment, and mental health programs Prop 36 requires. California Globe reporting has exposed how Democrats rejected Republican amendments for hundreds of millions in new resources, leaving counties on the hook while they continue pouring billions into illegal immigrant healthcare and other progressive priorities and nonprofits.
The bill heads to the Senate next. The supermajority of Californians who backed Prop 36 to restore public safety are now left wondering whether their mandate will survive Sacramento Democrats’ preference to undermine the will of the voters and the rule of law.
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Can anything nullify Ab 2108?
Not that I expect it to happen, but in theory, could the Governor put a stop to this if he wanted to?
Somebody should inform the President about this inappropriate piece of ..... legislation.
“ pretrial diversion program”
Un effing believable. Just “divert” the criminals so they never get to trial. The Dems in Sacto ought to all be “diverted” straight to prison.
If criminals are removed from the streets, attorneys, judges, police, Citizens are safer but much money will be saved or lost depending on which side of justice one stands.?!
California is what a tyranny looks like.
They’re not about to lock themselves up
They pulled a ‘Spanberger’ in Sacramento. This kind of stunt is aiming towards being a lexicon when a person or body does something really stupid.
California is a one party state. There are no checks and balances. I have to go there to see older family members that still live there, but the younger family members are bugging out.
The National Socialists Party of California. Their headquarters are located in the Sacramento state congress.
California is run by criminals. It is no surprise they want their friends back on the streets.
How about the people of CA just defund the judiciary of CA since they are no longer needed under AB 2108.
Propositions and other ballot measures mean nothing in CaCaLand. State judges made that clear when voters tried to defund the BulletTrain.
The judge ruled that only the Legislature can make changes, voters cannot.
That is the DNC in CACaLand. Like an election in NKorea.
When will they be forced to obey the law of the land there? It is past due & I can’t understand how they get away with this.
This sounds like pure, absolute stupidity to me. Guess that’s why the Democrat Party likes it so much. There doesn’t presently seem to be any way to drive common sense into their heads.
“pure, absolute stupidity”
Isn’t it? I guess the only point to having DAs, courts, judges and prisons is for people like you and me.
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