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Regular-Law & Justice Services   # 48.
Board of Supervisors
Sheriff-Coroner
Meeting Date:
12/09/2025
Brief Title
AB 481 Annual Report
From:
Tom Lopez, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator, Yolo County Sheriff's Office
Staff Contact:
Matt Davis, Undersheriff, Yolo County Sheriff's Office, x5395
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide

Subject

Receive, file and accept public comments and questions regarding an annual report, prepared pursuant to AB 481 (2022), for approved "military equipment" maintained by the Sheriff's Office, and approve renewal of Ordinance No. 1555 pertaining to such equipment. (No general fund impact) (Lopez/Davis) (Est. Staff Presentation: 5 min)

Recommended Action

  1. Receive, file and accept public comments and questions regarding an annual report, prepared pursuant to AB 481 (2022), for approved "military equipment" maintained by the Sheriff's Office; and
     
  2. Approve the renewal of Ordinance No. 1555.

Strategic Plan Goal(s)

Thriving Residents
Safe Communities

Reason for Recommended Action/Background

Effective January 1, 2022, Assembly Bill 481 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of a “military equipment use policy” by the applicable governing body (Board of Supervisors) prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment. As the Board will recall from a presentation on AB 481 in 2022, the definition of “military equipment” in AB 481 is very broad and includes many types of equipment commonly possessed by most law enforcement agencies such as drones and tactical robots, pepper spray, smoke canisters, rifles and ammunition (lethal and non-lethal) utilized by a SWAT team, and other conventional equipment.

The Sheriff’s Office obtained Board approval of its military equipment use policy and a related ordinance on November 8, 2022. A copy of the Board-approved policy is included as Attachment A hereto; the ordinance is included as Attachment B. As explained at the time of adoption in 2022, the “military equipment” owned and maintained by the Sheriff’s Office (listed in Att. A.) has been consistent for the past decade.

Pursuant to AB 481, the Sheriff's Department is required to submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors regarding each type of military equipment approved by the Board of Supervisors for as long as the military equipment is available for use. The annual military equipment report shall, at a minimum, include the following information for the immediately preceding calendar year for each type of military equipment:
  1. A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use.
  2. A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment.
  3. The results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the military equipment use policy, and any actions taken in response.
  4. The total annual cost for each type of military equipment, including acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs, and from what source funds will be provided for the military equipment in the calendar year following submission of the annual military equipment report.
  5. The quantity possessed for each type of military equipment.
  6. If the law enforcement agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type of military equipment.
The report included as Attachment C responds to this requirement. As the report concludes, the Sheriff's Office has no plans to acquire new types of military equipment in the foreseeable future but will act as needed to maintain adequate supply levels of equipment in its existing inventory.

Under AB 481, the public is permitted to comment and ask questions regarding the annual report and the Sheriff's funding, acquisition, or use of the equipment described therein. The Sheriff will have staff present to respond to questions as needed. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Board is required by AB 481 to determine whether its ordinance on military equipment (Att. B) shall be renewed by determining:
  1. The military equipment is necessary because there is no reasonable alternative that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety;
  2. The adopted military equipment use policy will safeguard the public's welfare, safety, civil rights, and civil liberties; 
  3. If purchasing the equipment, the equipment is reasonably cost-effective compared to available alternatives that can achieve the same objective of officer and civilian safety; and
  4. Prior military equipment use complied with the military equipment use policy that was in effect at the time, or if prior uses did not comply with the accompanying military equipment use policy, corrective action has been taken to remedy nonconforming uses and ensure future compliance.
As the report demonstrates, the Board may make the findings necessary to renew Ordinance No. 1555. The Board took essentially the same actions in connection with AB 481 on October 24, 2023 and December 3, 2024, and this item is expected to recur annually with few significant changes from year to year. 

Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)

County Counsel

Fiscal Impact

No Fiscal Impact

Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)

Total cost of recommended action:
$   
Amount budgeted for expenditure:
$   
Additional expenditure authority needed:
$   
On-going commitment (annual cost):
$    0

Source of Funds for this Expenditure

General Fund
$0

Attachments

Form Review

Inbox Reviewed By Date
Matt Davis Matt Davis 11/17/2025 09:43 AM
Tom Lopez Tom Lopez 11/17/2025 11:13 AM
Yen Nguyen Yen Nguyen 12/03/2025 09:33 AM
Form Started By:
Phil Pogledich
Started On:
11/17/2025 09:06 AM
Final Approval Date:
12/03/2025