Federal challenge filed September 4, 2026; no order blocking the law
California AB 2624 (“Stop Nick Shirley Act”)
BadLawCalifornia AB 2624 (2026)
California, United States
California, United StatesSigned into law; challenged in federal courtMedium threat
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Became Law
Shields immigration-support workers' addresses but also expands liability over publishing their names, images, employment details, and other broadly defined personal information.
Current position
Signed into law; challenged in federal court
What it does
AB 2624 creates an address-confidentiality program for immigration-support providers, employees, volunteers, and members of their households beginning October 1, 2027. It also creates civil claims and potential injunctions when someone knowingly publishes a covered person's personal information or image with the specific intent to incite imminent great bodily harm or make a threat that causes an objectively reasonable fear for personal safety. Damages can be at least $4,000. A separate provision makes it unlawful to post the information with the specific intent that another person imminently use it to commit a violent crime or threat likely to occur. The law defines personal information broadly, including names, physical descriptions, photographs or video, employment information, addresses, phone numbers, identification numbers, and financial information.
What’s at stake
Protecting home addresses from credible threats is legitimate, but this law reaches names, images, employment details, and other information used in journalism and public oversight. Its intent requirements make the enacted text narrower than claims that it simply bans filming or criticism. Even so, broad definitions combined with private lawsuits and injunctions can make journalists and citizens hesitate before documenting organizations that receive public attention or money.
Our take
California could protect people from threats and conceal their home addresses without creating a wider litigation risk around names, images, and investigative material. The state should punish genuine threats and incitement while drawing an unmistakable line around lawful journalism, criticism, and public-interest investigation.
Timeline
Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom and chaptered as Chapter 117
Passed the Senate 30 to 10
Passed the Assembly 57 to 19
Introduced in the California Assembly
Sponsor
Mia Bonta (D-Oakland)
Votes
- Assembly — Final concurrence (59 to 19) · August 19, 2026
- Senate — Final passage (30 to 10) · August 18, 2026
Legal challenges
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