Governor Newsom Signs Assembly Bill 1657, Legislation Initiated by Sonoma County Family Justice Center

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1657, authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers, into law, establishing new statewide protections for domestic violence survivors seeking temporary restraining orders.

Assemblymember Rogers announced the signing of AB 1657 on September 20th at the Family Justice Center Sonoma County’s annual Journey to HOPE fundraiser, sharing the news with community members and supporters gathered to support services for survivors of family violence.

The legislation originated from concerns identified by the Family Justice Center Sonoma County (FJCSC) regarding court practices that could require survivors to provide advance notice to the person they were seeking protection from before a judge considered their request for an emergency restraining order. FJCSC brought the issue to Assemblymember Rogers and worked closely with his office to develop the legislation and secure support for its passage.

For survivors of domestic violence, seeking a restraining order often occurs during a period of heightened danger. Providing advance notice to an abusive partner before judicial review can create an opportunity for retaliation, intimidation, or further harm before legal protections are in place.

AB 1657 establishes a clear statewide standard prohibiting courts from requiring advance notice to the person to be restrained before accepting or deciding an application for an ex parte domestic violence restraining order. Courts also may not require survivors to provide an explanation or declaration for why advance notice was not given.

AB 1657 received unanimous approval in both the California State Assembly and Senate before being signed by Governor Newsom on September 20, 2026. The law preserves the due process rights of restrained parties, who receive notice and an opportunity to respond before a longer-term restraining order may be issued.

The passage of AB 1657 reflects FJCSC’s commitment not only to supporting survivors in Sonoma County, but also to identifying and addressing systemic barriers that can affect survivor safety. By bringing lessons from direct service into broader policy and systems change, FJCSC seeks to improve the response to family violence both locally and beyond Sonoma County.

The Family Justice Center Sonoma County provides a single point of access to comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, child abuse, stalking, and other forms of family violence. Through collaboration among government and community partners, FJCSC works to protect the vulnerable, stop violence, and restore hope.

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