California’s controversial AB2624 bill was passed by both chambers of the California legislature on Wednesday (19th) and has now reached the desk of Governor Newsom. Newsom’s decision to sign or veto the bill has become a focal point of public attention. Independent investigative journalist Nick Shirley criticized the bill for restricting journalists’ investigative powers, which could prevent exposure of fraud cases involving immigrants.
According to the text of AB2624, individuals providing legal assistance, immigration resources, healthcare, and other immigrant support services face threats such as personal information disclosure, online harassment, anti-immigrant vigilante groups, and organized attacks. The bill establishes confidentiality programs for these individuals, allowing places and residences providing immigrant support services to request confidentiality and prohibiting the disclosure of personal information and related images.
Shirley criticized the potential consequences of AB2624 becoming law, pointing out that if a provider of immigrant services issues a written document requiring citizens or investigative journalists not to publish relevant investigative videos, violators could face fines of at least $4,000 and have their freedom of speech rights protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution revoked.
The bill was proposed by Mia Bonta, a California assemblywoman and wife of Attorney General Rob Bonta, and was co-sponsored by nine Democratic lawmakers. It passed in the California Assembly on Wednesday by a vote of 59-19. The votes in both chambers strictly followed party lines, with Republicans unanimously opposed and Democrats largely in favor. Due to the Democratic majority in both chambers, the bill easily passed without suspense.
Governor Newsom must decide whether to sign or veto the bill by September 30th. If it becomes law, the bill will take effect on October 1st next year.
Shirley has dubbed this legislation the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” On Thursday, he released videos and press releases of interviews with Bonta and other officials at the state Capitol on his anti-fraud website. Most Democratic lawmakers declined to be interviewed, with few responding to Shirley’s questions.
AB2624 had previously explicitly stated that its restrictions did not apply to anyone protected by Article 1070 of the Evidence Code, which is California’s “shield law” for journalists. When asked why this sentence was removed by the state Senate on July 2nd, Bonta only gave a vague response.
Democratic state Senator Sasha Renee Perez responded on her official website, stating that the bill has nothing to do with Shirley personally and cited several prominent journalists, saying the legislation would not hinder their investigations and exposure of corruption. She acknowledged that “current cases of corruption and fraud are real and serious,” but stated they do not occur in California. On the 17th, she encouraged Shirley to focus on exposing real corruption outside the state Capitol.
One Democratic state assemblyman told Shirley he had not read the bill but still voted in favor. When asked why he supported the bill when his committee had previously indicated it violated the First Amendment, the assemblyman remained silent and walked away.
Republican state assembly members emphasized that the bill is unconstitutional and that some provisions violate the principle of “freedom of speech,” advocating for Newsom to veto it.
Since last year, Shirley has exposed multiple cases of Medicaid abuse and fraud in California. In April of this year, federal and state authorities took enforcement actions, arresting dozens of individuals at multiple locations with the amount involved reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.
Due to federal government concerns about fraud and non-compliance in areas like California’s in-home care, in July of this year, they suspended over $800 million in Medicaid funds to California, escalating the conflict between the state and federal governments.
Republican state assemblyman Carl DeMaio stated that AB2624 could be used to hinder investigative reporting and intimidate journalists or the public who document misconduct, which undermines efforts to combat fraud and instead seeks to suppress those who expose issues. If the bill becomes law, every journalist in California would receive a clear message: revealing corruption will result in punishment.
Following the passage of AB2624 by the state legislature on Wednesday, Shirley’s video posted on X platform had garnered nearly 10 million views in just one day. Shirley plans to host a rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento on the 26th (Wednesday) morning to further voice opposition to the bill.