Historic Victory: SB 509 Passes CA Senate Unanimously!

 

Historic Victory: SB 509 Passes CA Senate Unanimously!

We are thrilled to share that SB 509 has passed the California Senate floor with a unanimous 38-0 vote and bipartisan support! This overwhelming result reflects both the credibility of the bill and the strength of our community’s advocacy.

SB 509 is a landmark piece of legislation that:

  • Strengthens the protections of American sovereignty and freedom of speech
  • Defines transnational repression as a civil rights violation under California law. 
  • Directs the California Office of Emergency Services to train state and local law enforcement on how to recognize and respond to threats of transnational repression
  • Ensures that all Californians can safely exercise their First Amendment rights, without interference or intimidation from foreign entities.

With unanimous passage with every vote in the Senate, SB 509 is now poised to keep its momentum in the State Assembly. 

We want to recognize and thank everyone who helped make this win possible—especially the community members who showed up in person and educated legislators on the importance of anti-TNR police training, the Gurdwaras who signed letters of support, the community-based advocates drawn from across the diaspora and from across California, and for the countless California sangat who signed on to our support letter urging their Senators to vote YES on this bill. 

A special thank you Senator Anna Caballero (D-14) for authoring and carrying this bill to passage in the Senate, and to all partners involved in making this historic feat a reality: the Sikh Coalition, Jakara Movement, American Sikh Caucus, Hindus for Human Rights, and various civil rights leaders across the nation.

Together, we are helping California continue to lead in protecting the free speech rights of all diaspora communities from any foreign repression.

We’re One Step Closer (SB 509): Send a Letter to your State Senator!

Thanks to your continued advocacy and support, SB 509 is headed to a full vote on the California Senate Floor in the coming days — a major milestone in the ongoing effort to protect diaspora communities, including Sikh Americans, from transnational repression.

SB 509 provides training and resources to law enforcement in the state of California on the topic and threats of transnational repression by foreign actors.

Just yesterday, SALDEF stood alongside community leaders in Sacramento for a legislative advocacy day, meeting directly with state legislators to champion SB 509. Together with our coalition partners, we made a strong case for the bill’s potential to establish essential protections and frameworks to confront transnational repression.

Why is this bill important? SB 509 would:

  • Create a legal definition of transnational repression in California.
  • Authorize California officials, such as the Attorney General and law enforcement, to investigate and act when individuals in California are being harassed or threatened by foreign actors; helping ensure that those targeted by transnational repression are not left vulnerable or isolated.
  • Protect the sovereignty and freedom of speech of Americans

If you live in California, Take Action Now: Click Here to Urge Your State Senator to Vote YES on SB 509.

Transnational repression poses a serious threat to the freedoms we all hold dear. With your support, SALDEF is helping lead the charge — mobilizing communities, engaging lawmakers, and shaping bold policy like SB 509 to protect civil liberties across California and beyond.

Now, we need your voice once more. Help us ensure SB 509 becomes law and sets a national precedent. Take action today — and triple your impact by sharing this message with 3 friends and family in California.

Together, we can turn advocacy into action and safeguard the rights of our communities for generations to come.