Senate passes bill expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, 30‑10

The California State Senate on 2026‑08‑18 passed AB 2624, known as the Safe at Work Act, expanding the Safe at Home confidential‑address program to include immigrant service providers, their employees and volunteers.

"AB 2624 will expand California's Safe at Home program to include immigrant service providers, their employees, and volunteers," Senator Gonzales said while presenting the bill on behalf of Assemblymember Mia Bonta, summarizing testimony from legal‑aid groups and humanitarian relief organizations about doxxing, coordinated death threats, and targeted harassment.

Supporters said the bill is a narrow protective measure for workers who face coordinated threats for doing immigration‑related or humanitarian work. "It's about the workers who've been followed during their lunch breaks and are being fearful, of being harassed in their own homes and their families being harassed as well," Senator Ott said during floor debate, urging members to "focus on what this bill does and ignore the noise." Senator Ott said the program applies only when an individual or organization shows proof of unreasonable threats linked to harassment.

Opponents said the statutory language risks chilling investigative reporting and public accountability. "This bill actually... goes against the freedom of speech and our First Amendment rights," Senator Strickland said on the floor, arguing that some provisions could make it harder for journalists to report on government waste or misconduct.

The measure's supporters responded that the bill preserves lawful reporting while targeting violent threats and harassment. After debate, the Senate recorded a roll‑call vote that resulted in 30 ayes and 10 noes; the secretary announced that the measure passed.

AB 2624 will now proceed according to the legislative calendar and the usual concurrence and enrollment procedures.