SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus announced its priority legislation for the 2024 legislative session. These bills seek to protect Jewish students on campus, better educate young people about the Holocaust and modern forms of antisemitism, and address the rise in hate crimes. The Jewish Caucus is also working on a variety of other fronts to advance these objectives, including through implementation of key strategies set forth in the recently-released Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism. At a later date, the Jewish Caucus plans to announce its annual Tikkun Olam Bill Package, which seeks to advance social justice initiatives consistent with Jewish values and uplift vulnerable Californians of all faiths and backgrounds.-
“It is an honor to put forward legislation that uplifts the Jewish community and other marginalized communities — especially this year, amid rising hate,” said Jewish Caucus Co-Chair Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). “Our Priority Legislative Package will serve Californians of all backgrounds as we look to confront the hate that is festering in our great state. To stand against hate and antisemitism is not simply a show of our community’s resilience, but also an expression of our values and of our commitment to justice for all. It is time to get to work with the Governor’s office and with our allies in the Legislature and across the state to ensure that California lives up to its promise as a global leader.”
“In this difficult moment, the Jewish Caucus is a proud and unapologetic voice for our community and our values,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D - Encino), Co-Chair of the Jewish Caucus. “We look forward to working closely with Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta, Superintendent Thurmond, and our allies in the Legislature to ensure that Jewish Californians are safe and welcome on campus, in our communities, and across the Golden State.”
“Amid the troubling rise in antisemitism and violence against Jews on campuses, in workspaces and in public spaces, I am proud that the Jewish Caucus is laser-focused on legislation that prioritizes combatting this hate and making our state a safer, more compassionate, and more understanding place for all people,” said Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. “The Jewish Caucus stands united and fully committed to working with other communities to advance our legislative package and ensure that the California Dream is achievable for all of us.”
The following bills were included in the Jewish Caucus’s priority package:
AB 2925 (Friedman): Including Antisemitism in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This bill requires that any campus that chooses to provide DEI training must include training about discrimination against the groups most likely to be targets of hate – which includes the Jewish community.
AB 3024 (Ward): Stop Hate Littering Act
This bill seeks to prevent the distribution of hateful flyers, posters, or symbols that are intended to terrorize vulnerable communities.
SB 1277 (Stern): Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education
This bill will enshrine the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education as a statewide professional development program for teachers under the Department of Education. The Collaborative will focus on the Holocaust and other genocides, as well as identifying and confronting hate and antisemitism in modern society.
SB 1287 (Glazer): Protecting Free Speech at Institutions of Higher Education
This bill will require colleges and universities to update and enforce student codes of conduct to better prevent violence, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination that is intended to interfere with free speech and other constitutionally-protected rights.
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