California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Saturday that he signed a six-bill package responding to what his office described as recent direct attacks on LGBTQ individuals by the federal government, strengthening privacy protections and expanding access to critical resources and services.
"The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on the LGBTQ community, using medical records to target U.S. servicemembers and civilians alike, hurting countless people and betraying hard-won trust. California will not stand for it," Newsom said.
The bills are priorities for the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. They include stronger privacy protections that limit the sharing of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex data, and require healthcare providers and institutions to notify the California Attorney General when they receive a subpoena regarding protected healthcare activity, authorizing the AG to respond and intervene.
The package also provides housing, employment and transition-to-civilian-life support to servicemembers discharged as a result of President Trump's ban on trans servicemembers from the military. It follows 2022 legislation helping LGBTQ veterans discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" update their records and access benefits.
Other measures update California's longstanding ban on conversion therapy to protect vulnerable LGBTQ youth following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down another state's ban, ensure resources at public higher education institutions are available to students at satellite campuses, and enhance access to HIV prevention medications such as PrEP and PEP.
"California continues to show what it means to stand with LGBTQ+ people and protect the dignity, safety, and freedom of every Californian," said Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. "I'm grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this year's LGBTQ Caucus priority legislation and for his partnership in turning our commitment to equality into meaningful action."
Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair-Elect of the caucus, said, "Every LGBTQ+ Californian deserves to feel valued in all aspects of their life—from the classroom and the workplace to their home and community."
The legislation includes AB 1775 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward, AB 1930 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, SB 934 by Senator Scott Wiener, SB 1023 by Senator John Laird, SB 1114 by Senator Christopher Cabaldon and SB 1328 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes. The 2026-27 Budget Act appropriated $66 million to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information to support continued access to abortion and gender-affirming care.