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Panel advances bill to mandate anti‑hate training for elected officials over objections about free speech
Summary
AB 15 78 would require anti‑hate speech training for elected state and local officials; proponents said training helps reduce hate and violence, while opponents — including faith groups — argued the policy risks censoring protected speech. The committee approved the bill to the next committee on a recorded roll call.
Assemblymember Jackson presented AB 15 78 to require anti‑hate training for elected local and state officials by incorporating the curriculum into existing harassment training. The author cited an increase in hate crime offenses and research linking rhetoric by public figures to violence, and said the bill’s definition of hateful conduct was developed with the commission tasked with combating hate.
Opponents, including Greg Burt of the California Family Council and representatives from several Baptist ministries, said the measure risks subjectively branding religious or conservative views as hateful and could chill protected speech. Burt asked whether statements about gender, pronouns or parental notification would be deemed hateful under the bill’s definition.
The author replied that the definition was developed with the relevant commission and emphasized the bill is not a hate‑speech policing measure but an educational requirement that respects First Amendment protections.
Senator Choi said she would not support the bill because of its subjectivity and concerns about constitutionally protected speech; other senators expressed support and moved the bill forward. The committee passed AB 15 78 to the committee on governmental organization with a recorded roll call.
Next steps: The bill will be considered by the next committee named on the motion; sponsors said they will continue outreach and refinement.
