Committee places AB 449 on suspense after debate over statewide anti-hate media campaigns and steep estimated costs

Senate Appropriations Committee members placed AB 449 on the suspense file after debate on whether the state should fund a new, ongoing public-information campaign to discourage discrimination and hate.

Assemblymember Jackson presented the bill as a state effort to counter rising hate crimes and “empower the California Civil Rights Department to create and carry out statewide media campaigns to discourage discrimination, to uplift the humanity of various individuals who are being targeted.” He said the bill would, upon appropriation, convene a working group to plan and implement campaigns.

The Department of Finance opposed the bill on fiscal grounds, saying the measure “creates significant ongoing general fund cost pressures” and may duplicate existing programs such as the Department of Social Services’ Stop the Hate program and the California vs Hate initiative administered by the Civil Rights Department. The Civil Rights Department estimated a wide range of potential annual costs for public education campaigns between $2.5 million and $25 million depending on campaign type, frequency and size; the department also identified a need for an initial staff position at roughly $171,000 in the first year and $168,000 ongoing to manage the working group.

Assemblymember Jackson said the bill was developed with the Civil Rights Department and that it would be “in addition to” existing community-based Stop the Hate activities and aimed at broader public media channels, including TV and social media. The committee placed AB 449 on suspense for fiscal review.

Why it matters: The bill would authorize state-funded media campaigns aimed at reducing discrimination and could create recurring budget demands depending on campaign scope.

What’s next: AB 449 is on the suspense file for further fiscal analysis and to allow committee and budget staff to review potential duplication with existing programs.