Newsom signs 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' privacy bill

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a controversial privacy bill into law on Saturday, August 22, 2026, extending state protections to employees and volunteers of nonprofit organizations that provide immigration services. The legislation, Assembly Bill 2624, expands California's existing Safe at Home program to include these workers, allowing them to use a substitute mailing address to shield their personal information from public records.

The bill, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Mia Bonta, aims to protect immigration service providers from harassment and threats. Supporters argue that workers in this field have faced increasing doxxing and intimidation due to anti-immigrant rhetoric. "Our immigrant service providers are living in fear because of extremists looking to demonize the work that they do and the populations they serve," Bonta stated. The program will allow eligible individuals to register with the state, document a recent threat or incident, and receive a substitute address administered by the Secretary of State.

The measure also includes provisions that prohibit knowingly publishing a protected person's image or personal information with the specific...