Christian group warns California hate-speech law could force churches into civil disobedience

Governor Gavin Newsom enacted Assembly Bill 1803, which obliges California employers with at least five employees to provide training on recognizing and confronting workplace speech that vilifies protected groups, alongside existing harassment training. A companion bill, AB 1578, extends the requirement to paid local officials and mandates a state-developed online course for state employees. While the legislation contains no explicit religious exemption, California law generally excludes nonprofit religious entities from the definition of "employer," a point highlighted by the California Baptists for Biblical Values.

The California Family Council, however, argues the bill’s vague language could force churches to label traditional biblical teachings as hateful, prompting its vice president Greg Burt to call for religious accommodations and suggest civil disobedience may become necessary. Legal commentary from Fisher Phillips and the National Law Review indicates that organizations already covering prohibited harassment may meet the new standards, but the lack of clear conscience protections remains a concern for many pastors.