Overview
- SB 509 would have directed the Office of Emergency Services and POST to create training for law enforcement to recognize and respond to transnational repression.
- The bill cleared both the Senate and Assembly unanimously before reaching the governor’s desk.
- In his veto message, Newsom cited the lack of a unified federal definition and warned that codifying terms could limit flexibility, noting California already offers a Transnational Repression Class.
- Sikh advocacy groups including the Sikh Coalition and SALDEF, which championed the measure, expressed disappointment and said they will review existing training and continue engagement at multiple levels of government.
- Hindu organizations such as the Hindu American Foundation and CoHNA welcomed the veto over concerns about vague language, and Indian-American Ajay Jain Bhutoria publicly thanked Newsom while also highlighting his recent recognition of Diwali as a state holiday.