SACRAMENTO (Diya TV) — California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Senate Bill 509, halting an effort to require law enforcement training on “transnational repression”, a term that refers to the intimidation, harassment, or coercion of diaspora communities by foreign governments.
Authored by Senator Anna Caballero, SB 509 would have added Section 8588.13 to the Government Code. It called on the Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), through its California Specialized Training Institute, to develop a formal training program by January 1, 2027. The goal: to help state and local law enforcement officers recognize and respond to tactics like surveillance, online threats, and proxy harassment carried out on U.S. soil by foreign state actors targeting immigrants, dissidents, and activists.
Supporters framed it as a necessary step to protect vulnerable communities from escalating foreign interference. Groups like the Sikh Coalition praised the bill as critical for safeguarding civil liberties in an increasingly interconnected and digitally surveilled world.
Backers of SB 509 said it would equip law enforcement with tools to counter foreign-backed intimidation campaigns, especially from governments like China, Iran, or others with a history of suppressing dissent abroad.
Meanwhile, critics voiced concern about the bill’s broad and imprecise language. Civil rights groups such as CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) warned that undefined terms like “repression” and “proxy” could be misapplied, potentially sweeping up legitimate diaspora organizations and advocacy groups into unnecessary scrutiny.
In his official veto message dated October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom acknowledged the intent of the bill but argued that the issue is “best addressed through administrative action in coordination with federal agencies.” He noted that codifying definitions would reduce the state’s flexibility and could lead to “future inconsistencies,” especially in the absence of a unified federal standard.
Newsom also pointed out that CalOES has already developed a Transnational Repression Awareness training program, done in collaboration with federal partners, that equips local law enforcement with tools aligned to national standards.
“My administration moved quickly to provide local agencies with the necessary tools to protect these impacted communities while maintaining the essential administrative flexibility to adapt to this evolving issue,” he wrote. “For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.”
Samir Kalra, Hindu American Foundation Managing Director, welcomed the decision:
“This veto is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians. We are grateful that Governor Newsom saw the lack of necessity for SB 509 and listened to the civil rights concerns this bill posed to millions of Californians, from a variety of backgrounds. This bill had vague language which threatened to institutionalize bias against Hindus, Indian Americans, and other ethnic minorities. What’s more, SB 509 would have cost California taxpayers millions of dollars, at a time when state government desperately needs to address other pressing issues.”
Pushpita Prasad, Chief Communications Officer at CoHNA, added:
“This is a victory for common sense and equal treatment before law, and so we thank Governor Newsom for doing the right thing. For the past two years we have watched in horror as California lawmakers have ignored the real and rising anti-Hindu hate in the state — as documented by the state itself. They have ignored four vandalism attacks on Hindu temples and prioritized bills that further empower privileged groups at the expense of those that do not. We thank Governor Newsom for staying true to his promise of California For All.”
Ajay Bhutoria, former advisor to President Biden and a leading community voice, also expressed appreciation for the veto:
“I am immensely grateful to Governor Newsom for his leadership and willingness to listen,” Bhutoria said. “His veto of SB 509 preserves our harmony, and I am equally thankful for his historic decision to declare Diwali a state holiday — a beautiful tribute to our cultural heritage that fills our hearts with pride.”
This is the second time Governor Newsom has vetoed legislation with significant implications for California’s South Asian communities. In 2023, he vetoed SB 403, a bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination, which drew widespread attention and sparked debate within the South Asian diaspora. Like SB 509, that bill was praised by some as a civil rights measure and criticized by others as overly broad. With both vetoes, Newsom has emphasized the importance of clarity, implementation feasibility, and alignment with existing legal frameworks—signaling a consistent approach to complex identity-based legislation in the state.
