California Governor Newsom signs new speech and worship safety laws

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two pieces of legislation addressing speech and safety in the state.

Assembly Bill 1803 mandates that employers with five or more employees implement training to recognize, report, and confront workplace speech that “vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred” against protected groups. The law, set to take effect on January 1, 2028, does not explicitly define “hate speech” or provide express exemptions for religious organizations, though existing laws may exempt certain nonprofit religious associations from the definition of “employer.” The California Family Council has expressed concern that the lack of explicit conscience protections could necessitate civil disobedience from religious groups.

Additionally, Newsom signed AB 2664, known as the Safe Worship Zone Act. This law establishes a 100-foot buffer zone around the entrances of houses of worship. Within this zone, individuals are prohibited from approaching congregants within eight feet without consent to distribute literature, display signs, or engage in behavior that obstructs, harasses, or intimidates. The legislation aims to balance First Amendment rights to worship and protest, modeling itself after existing buffer-zone laws used for reproductive health clinics.