# Baja California gender and governance reforms

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/baja-california-gender-and-governance-reforms
> Updated: 2026-08-12T14:37:17.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 3.

In late July 2026, Deputy Dunnia Montserrat Murillo López introduced a bill to amend the Baja California State Security System Law, mandating that police and security forces operate under a gender perspective to eliminate discriminatory practices and establish accountability.

A week later, the Baja California Congress approved the “Plan B” constitutional amendment. This reform introduced gender parity for the state legislature and municipal councils, imposed a 0.70% ceiling on the legislature’s share of the state budget, and mandated a 15% spending reduction over four years to fund infrastructure. It also restructured the State Electoral Institute by limiting members to a single seven-year term, capping remuneration at the federal limit, and creating an internal audit body. On 1 August 2026, the amendment officially entered into force, and the Morena-majority Congress elected former PRI member Eligio Valencia López as president for the period of 1 August to 30 November 2024.

On 12 August 2026, the Congress approved further reforms to the state Penal Code to strengthen protections against sexual violence for women, children, and adolescents. Proposed by Deputy Liliana Michel Sánchez Allende, the reform centers on the concept of consent, stating that silence, passivity, or a lack of physical resistance cannot be interpreted as consent. The law eliminates the crime of ‘estupro’ (statutory rape) and stipulates that consent is void if obtained through violence, intimidation, deception, or abuse of authority. Additionally, the legislation establishes prison sentences of 15 to 30 years for equivalent rape offenses involving minors.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: Baja California Congress approves sexual violence law reform

The Baja California Congress approved a Penal Code reform that centers consent in sexual violence cases and increases protections for women and minors, including prison terms of 15 to 30 years.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baja-california-congress-approves-sexual-violence-law-reform

### 2026-08-01: Baja California Approves Reform, Elects Congressional President

Baja California’s Congress enacted a constitutional reform limiting budget spending, enforcing gender parity and electoral rules, and elected Eligio Valencia López as its new president.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eligio-valencia-lpez-elected-president-of-baja-california-state-congress

### 2026-07-20: Baja California pushes gender‑focused reform of state security law

Deputy Dunnia Montserrat Murillo López introduced a reform to Baja California’s security law to mandate a gender perspective for police, aiming to curb discrimination and improve accountability.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baja-california-pushes-genderfocused-reform-of-state-security-law

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Cite as: Baja California gender and governance reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/baja-california-gender-and-governance-reforms