Los Banos Police Reveal Details on Military Equipment Use

Los Banos, CA (August 20, 2026) — The Los Banos Police Department will hold a public meeting Friday, Aug. 21, to discuss its military equipment funding, acquisition and use policy required under California Assembly Bill 481.

The meeting is scheduled from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the training room at the Los Banos Police Department, 1111 G Street. The department said the meeting will provide residents an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about the policy.

Assembly Bill 481, which took effect in 2022, established statewide requirements governing law enforcement agencies’ acquisition, funding and use of equipment classified as “military equipment” under California law. The law requires agencies to obtain approval from their governing bodies for a military equipment use policy and establishes public reporting and community-engagement requirements.

The term “military equipment” under AB 481 covers a range of equipment and does not necessarily mean equipment obtained from the military. Categories established by state law include unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, command-and-control vehicles, certain specialized firearms and ammunition, flashbang devices and tear gas, pepper-ball systems, 40mm launchers and certain less-lethal projectile systems.

According to the City of Los Banos, the Police Department has equipment falling within five AB 481 categories: unmanned remotely piloted vehicles; command-and-control vehicles; certain specialized firearms and ammunition; munitions containing tear gas or oleoresin capsicum, or OC; and kinetic-energy weapons and munitions.

The city also states that the Los Banos Police Department does not use equipment obtained through the U.S. Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support Office program, commonly known as the 1033 program.

Los Banos adopted its military equipment policy in 2022. City Council records show Ordinance No. 1196 established the policy and added a military equipment use ordinance to the Los Banos Municipal Code.

AB 481 also requires law enforcement agencies to prepare annual reports addressing their military equipment. State law requires those reports to include information such as how the equipment was used, complaints received, costs, the quantity of each type of equipment possessed and whether the agency intends to acquire additional equipment. Agencies must hold at least one community engagement meeting within 30 days after submitting and publicly releasing the annual report.

The Los Banos Police Department currently makes its AB 481 information available through the city’s website, including its military equipment policy and annual reports. The department’s transparency page currently lists its 2023 and 2024 AB 481 annual reports along with its military equipment inventory and related policy documents.

Friday’s meeting is open to members of the public.

Article Originally Published At: https://losbanosenterprise.com/uncategorized/2026/los-banos-police-to-hold-public-meeting-on-military-equipment-use-under-ab-481/