California Republicans Challenge Law After Nick Shirley Raises Free-Speech Concerns
The law creates an address confidentiality program and bars online posting of workers’ personal information, with opponents warning of First Amendment concerns and a lawsuit.
- Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2624 into law, known as the Safe at Work Act, establishing protections for immigrant services workers by restricting publication of their personal information online.
- The measure expands the 30-year-old Safe at Home program, which already protects domestic violence victims and reproductive care providers, to shield legal-service providers and volunteers at immigrant organizations from harassment and doxxing.
- Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, said the law aims to prevent worker harassment, rejecting claims it restricts investigative journalism. Courts can impose fines of $4,000 or more for violations.
- On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers and independent journalist Nick Shirley rallied at the California State Capitol to oppose the measure, which they dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act," citing First Amendment concerns.
- Sen. Tony Strickland confirmed GOP officials are seeking counsel from the Pacific Justice Institute to challenge the statute in court, arguing the law could impede journalists' ability to expose potential fraud.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Scratch a liberal, find a censor
California tried to pass a law squelching dissident speech. Again. People are finally noticing.Governor Gavin Newsom last week signed Assembly Bill 2624, aptly dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” The law establishes special privacy protections for qualifying “immigration-service workers” who claim threats or harassment. It also creates a formal process letting those workers demand restrictions on publication of their “personal information” and i…
Free Speech Advocates Rally at California Capitol Against ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’
Tensions flared at the California state Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 26 as free speech advocates rallied to overturn a new state law they dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week. Utah independent journalist Nick Shirley joined Republican state lawmakers and hundreds of supporters speaking out against what they said was a violation of their rights. The legislation signed by Newsom on Aug. 22 expands an existing …
‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ Sparks Showdown At California Capitol
By ANGELINA DELFIN, The Daily Signal | August 26, 2026 Days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a controversial bill critics have dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” the journalist whose name became attached to the measure showed up at the California State Capitol to fight it. The rally comes just days after Newsom signed AB 2624 into law, setting up an argument over whether the bill truly is meant to protect immigration services providers…
'Stop Nick Shirley Act' gets GOP pushback at Capitol | The Highland County Press
Republican lawmakers, independent journalist Nick Shirley and a large crowd of activists spoke out against a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law that some said would impede the work of journalists reporting on immigration services providers.
California law aiming to protect immigration support services faces push back at state capitol
State lawmakers, a coalition of advocacy groups and protesters rallied at the California State Capitol, calling out Democratic lawmakers and the governor for what they claim to be an attack on the First Amendment and journalists' rights to free speech.
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