In a moment when hate crimes and bias incidents continue at historically high rates and shape the lived reality of communities across California, Assemblymembers Dr. Corey A. Jackson, Josh Lowenthal, and Patrick Ahrens have introduced a coordinated anti hate policy package rooted in the findings from the Commission on the State of Hate.
The package includes AB 1578 by Jackson, AB 1803 by Lowenthal, and AB 2347 by Ahrens. Together, the measures address hate from multiple angles including law enforcement training, workplace accountability, and statewide data driven reform.
AB 1578 by Assemblymember Jackson advances a key recommendation from the Commission on the State of Hate to strengthen California’s response to hate based harm. The bill centers on prevention and accountability of hate speech by local and state elected officials in how the state confronts hate crimes and bias incidents by mandating training.
AB 2347 by Assemblymember Ahrens focuses on strengthening law enforcement training to better respond to hate crimes. Specifically, the bill will identify gaps in law enforcement training programs and require adoption of evidence-based hate crimes training to improve law enforcement responses. The legislation takes action to provide better support for peace officers and improve policing on our streets,” said Assemblymember Ahrens.
AB 1803 by Assemblymember Lowenthal addresses hate speech in the workplace by integrating anti hate speech training into existing sexual harassment prevention programs. This bill will ensure employees and employers alike have the tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to hate based conduct, fostering work environments where every Californian is treated with dignity and respect.
Together, the three bills form a coordinated strategy to confront hate where it appears in public spaces, workplaces, and institutions. Confronting hate is not symbolic work. It is structural work. It requires policy, training, and accountability. California has long claimed to lead on civil rights. This package asserts that leadership must be earned through action that protects those most targeted and most often unheard.