AB2624 - Privacy for immigration support services providers.

Assembly Bill No. 2624 CHAPTER 117 An act to add Chapter 3.26 (commencing with Section 6218.10) to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to privacy. [ Approved by Governor August 22, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State August 22, 2026. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2624, Bonta. Privacy for immigration support services providers. Existing law authorizes designated health care services providers, employees, volunteers, and patients, and individuals who face threats of violence or violence or harassment from the public because of their affiliation with a designated health care services facility, to complete an application to be approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of enabling state and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing a program participant’s residence address contained in any public record and otherwise provide for confidentiality of identity for that person, subject to specified conditions. Existing law defines “designated health care services” to mean gender-affirming health care services or reproductive health care services. Under existing law, any person who makes a false statement in an application is guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law prohibits a person, business, or association from knowingly publicly posting or publicly displaying, disclosing, or distributing on internet websites or on social media, the personal information or image of any designated health care services patient, provider, or assistant, or other individuals residing at the same home address, with the intent to incite a third person to cause imminent great bodily harm to the person identified in the posting or display, or to a coresident of that person, as specified, or to threaten the person identified in the posting or display, or a coresident of that person, as specified. Existing law additionally prohibits a person, business, or association from soliciting, selling, or trading on the internet or social media the personal information or image of a designated health care services patient, provider, or assistant with the intent described above. Existing law establishes a cause of action for injunctive or declarative relief for a violation of these prohibitions. Existing law prohibits a person from posting on the internet or social media, with the intent that another person imminently use that information to commit a crime involving violence or a threat of violence against a designated health care services patient, provider, or assistant, or other individuals residing at the same home address, the personal information or image of a reproductive health care services patient, provider, or assistant, or other individuals residing at the same home address. This bill would, commencing October 1, 2027, similarly establish an address confidentiality program for a designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer, as defined, who faces threats of violence or harassment from the public because of their affiliation with a designated immigration support services facility. This bill would additionally prohibit a person, business, or association from soliciting, selling, or trading on the internet the personal information or image of a designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer with the intent described above. The bill would also, among other things, prohibit a person from posting on the internet the personal information or image of a designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer, or other individuals residing at the same home address, with the specific intent that another person imminently use that information to commit a crime involving violence or a threat of violence that is likely to occur against such an individual. The bill would define various terms for these purposes. By imposing new duties on local agencies and creating new crimes, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 3.26 (commencing with Section 6218.10) is added to Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read: CHAPTER 3.26. Privacy for Immigration Service Providers 6218.10. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) Persons providing support services to the immigrant community have been subject to harassment, threats, and intimidation for their work. (b) Persons working in the organizations that provide immigration support services have faced doxxing, courthouse targeting, online harassment, anti-immigrant vigilante threats, and coordinated campaigns and death threats. These acts have risen to alarming levels in 2025 and will continue due to the current federal administration’s anti-immigration attitude and policies. 6218.11. For purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions apply: (a) “Address” means a residential street address, school address, or work address of an individual, as specified on the individual’s application to be a program participant under this chapter. (b) “Designated immigration support services” means services provided to the immigrant population, including, but not limited to, legal representation, legal assistance, advocacy, case management, humanitarian relief, immigration resources, referrals, translation services, counseling services, and health care. (c) “Designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer” means a person who provides, assists in providing, or receives immigration support services at a designated immigration support services facility. (d) “Designated immigration support services facility” means a facility where immigration support services are provided, including, but not limited to, nonprofit organizations offices, Department Of Justice-recognized entities, community legal clinics, law offices, accredited representative sites that provide immigration legal services, and health care facilities. (e) “Domicile” means a place of habitation, as defined in Section 349 of the Elections Code. (f) “Harassment” is repeated, unreasonable, and unwelcome conduct directed at a targeted individual that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their own safety or the safety of a household member. Harassing conduct may include, but is not limited to, following, stalking, telephone calls, or written correspondence. (g) “Image” includes, but is not limited to, a photograph, video footage, sketch, or computer-generated image that provides a means to visually identify the person depicted. (h) “Personal information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with a designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer, including, but not limited to, their name, signature, social security number, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, license plate number, employment, employment history, and financial information. (i) “Publicly post” or “publicly display” means to intentionally communicate or otherwise make available to the general public. 6218.12. (a) An adult person, a parent or guardian acting on behalf of a minor, or a guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person, who is domiciled in California, may apply to the Secretary of State to have an address designated by the Secretary of State to serve as the person’s address or the address of the minor or incapacitated person. An application shall be completed in person at a community-based assistance program designated by the Secretary of State. The application process shall include a requirement that the applicant shall meet with a counselor and receive orientation information about the program. The Secretary of State shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Secretary of State and if it contains all of the following: (1) If the applicant alleges that the basis for the application is that the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, is a designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer who is fearful for their safety or the safety of their family because of their affiliation with a designated immigration support services facility, the application shall be accompanied by all of the following: (A) Documentation showing that the individual is to commence employment or is currently employed as a provider or employee at a designated immigration support services facility or is volunteering at a designated immigration support services facility. (B) One of the following: (i) A certified statement signed by a person authorized by the designated immigration support services facility stating that the facility or any of its providers, employees, or volunteers is or was the target of threats, harassment, or acts of violence or harassment within one year of the date of the application. A person who willfully certifies as true any material matter pursuant to this section that the person knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor. (ii) A certified statement signed by the provider or employee of, or volunteer for, the designated immigration support services facility stating that they have been the target of threats, harassment, or acts of violence within one year of the date of the application because of their association with the designated immigration support services facility. A person who willfully certifies as true any material matter pursuant to this section that the person knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor. (iii) A workplace violence restraining order described in Section 527.8 of the Code of Civil Procedure, issued after a noticed hearing, or a civil restraining order described in Section 527.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, issued after a noticed hearing, protecting the applicant or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made. The order must be based upon threats or acts of violence to the applicant or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made and connected with the designated immigration support services facility. (C) A sworn statement that the applicant fears for their safety or the safety of their family, or the safety of the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made due to their affiliation with the designated immigration support services facility authorized to provide the declaration described in subparagraph (B). (2) If the applicant alleges that the basis for the application is that the applicant is a designated immigration support services facility volunteer, the application shall, in addition to the documents specified in paragraph (1), be accompanied by documentation by the designated immigration support services facility showing the length of time the volunteer has committed to working at the facility. (3) A designation of the Secretary of State as agent for purposes of service of process and for the purpose of receipt of mail. (A) Service on the Secretary of State of any summons, writ, notice, demand, or process shall be made by delivering to the address confidentiality program personnel of the office of the Secretary of State two copies of the summons, writ, notice, demand, or process. (B) If a summons, writ, notice, demand, or process is served on the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State shall immediately cause a copy to be forwarded to the program participant at the address shown on the records of the address confidentiality program so that the summons, writ, notice, demand, or process is received by the program participant within three days of the Secretary of State having received it. (C) The Secretary of State shall keep a record of all summonses, writs, notices, demands, and processes served upon the Secretary of State under this section and shall record the time of that service and the Secretary of State’s action. (D) The office of the Secretary of State and any agent or person employed by the Secretary of State shall be held harmless from any liability in any action brought by any person injured or harmed as a result of the handling of first-class mail on behalf of program participants. (4) The mailing address where the applicant can be contacted by the Secretary of State, and the telephone number or numbers where the applicant can be called by the Secretary of State. (5) The address or addresses that the applicant requests not be disclosed for the reason that disclosure will increase the risk of threats or acts of violence or harassment toward the applicant. (6) The signature of the applicant and of any individual or representative of any office designated in writing who assisted in the preparation of the application, and the date on which the applicant signed the application. (b) Applications shall be filed with the office of the Secretary of State. (c) Submitted applications shall be accompanied by payment of a fee to be determined by the Secretary of State. This fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs of enrolling in the program. In addition, annual fees may also be assessed by the Secretary of State to defray the reasonable costs of maintaining this program. Annual fees assessed by the Secretary of State shall also be used to reimburse the General Fund for any amounts expended from that fund for the purposes of this chapter. (d) The Address Confidentiality for Immigration Support Services Fund is hereby created in the General Fund. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the fund are available for the administration of the program established pursuant to this chapter. (e) Upon filing a properly completed application, the Secretary of State shall certify the applicant as a program participant. Applicants, with the exception of designated immigration support s [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]