SACRAMENTO (Press Release) – The California Legislative Jewish Caucus announced on Thursday that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed all six of the 2026 Jewish Caucus Priority Bills that passed the Legislature.
The following six Jewish Caucus Priority Bills were signed into law:
AB 395 (Gabriel): Ensuring Fair and Equal Access to Public Meetings and Education
This bill promotes inclusion by requiring state agencies and schools to make a good faith effort to avoid scheduling public meetings, graduations, and other important events on major religious and cultural holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the first and last two days of Passover.
AB 1803 (Lowenthal): Anti-Hate Speech Training
This bill requires all California businesses with five or more employees to include anti-hate speech training as a mandatory component of their existing workplace harassment prevention training.
AB 1836 (Gabriel and Ward): Enhancing Security for Vulnerable Communities
Expands the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program by allowing nonprofits to use grant funding for offsite events in need of security, such as LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations, cultural festivals, and religious observances.
AB 1853 (Pellerin and Berman): Barring Hate Speech from Voter Guides
This bill establishes clear, enforceable standards requiring that candidate statements remain factual, relevant, and appropriate for an official state publication.
AB 2664 (Bauer-Kahan): Protecting Houses of Worship (Safe Worship Zone Act)
This bill establishes a zone around the entrances of houses of worship within which protesters may not harass congregants or approach them without their consent.
SB 1387 (Stern): Recognizing Jewish Identity as an Ethnicity
This bill clarifies that “ethnicity” in the collection and reporting of demographic data by state agencies is inclusive of Jewish identity, thereby improving the accuracy of hate crime reporting and other demographic data collection.
The Jewish Caucus also secured historic funding in the state budget. Most notably, the state budget will now include an annual, ongoing appropriation of $80 million for the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The budget also includes $36 million distributed for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program to continue supporting the aging Survivor population in California, where over 50% live below the poverty line.
“During this difficult moment in history, the Jewish Caucus is proud to stand firmly for our community and our values,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. “We are proud to have advanced priority bills that are focused on protecting people where they live, work, and worship, and ensuring that public institutions are inclusive of all communities. The Jewish Caucus will always stand up to hate and fight to ensure that Californians of all faiths and backgrounds can live openly and proudly in the Golden State.”
“I am thrilled that the Governor signed six priority bills of the Jewish Caucus. At a time when communities across the state and nation are facing social and economic hardship, our legislation represents California’s values of solidarity, stewardship, and resilience,” said Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), Vice Chair of the Jewish Caucus. “By preserving our democratic elections, expanding participation in public education, investing in non-profit safety, and addressing hate-fueled attacks, these laws will truly benefit California’s communities.”
“In a difficult year for our community, I am proud of the Jewish Caucus for our continued focus on policy that makes a difference,” said Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), Vice Chair of the Jewish Caucus. “While antisemitic and hateful rhetoric seeks to ostracize and attack, our Caucus has worked to pass legislation that protects all Californians. This legislative package contains important measures that will save lives, combat hate speech, and make our state more inclusive. We are grateful to our colleagues in the legislature and look forward to continued collaboration with Governor Newsom in ensuring the Jewish community, and all communities, are safe, included, and valued in California.”
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Preceding provided by the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.