The Crazy Coming Out of the California Legislature Just Won't Stop
And Governor Newsome is all for it
Anyone wondering what happens when Democrats take total control over a State Government need only look to California. California is in the complete control of Democrats, from all statewide elected offices to both the State House and Senate. The leftist Democrats are so dominant in California they can no longer hide the insanity. They don’t even try. The California State Legislature just keeps providing more proof by passing crazy laws. The State’s equally unstable Governor, Gavin Newsome, keeps signing them into law. Here is the latest unfathomable law passed in California.
California’s Crazy “Kidnap” Law
California Assembly Bill 495 is a piece of legislation recently passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Newsome. The bill was dubiously named the Family Preparedness Act of 2025. Governor Newsome’s official statement regarding the new law claims the law protects the rights of parents and children, by:
(Childcare facilities and preschools cannot inquire about a child or his or her parents’ immigration status? That is crazy, but the law gets MUCH worse.)
Contrary to Governor Newsome’s misrepresentations, the new law does NOT help “protect parents’ legal rights.” Not at all.
In fact, this law completely undermines parental rights by allowing “caregivers” to exercise parental rights, without notice to a parent.
The Truth About California’s New Law
The law allows a “caregiver” who signs a “caregiver’s authorization affidavit” to “enroll a minor in school” and “authorize medical care and dental care for the minor.” Further, this medical care “. . . may include mental health treatment.” This law amends Section 6550 of the California Family Code. Here is the actual language of the law cited above:
The decision of a “caregiver” regarding the medical care to be provided to the minor may be superseded by an actual parent, but only if the decision of the parent “. . . does not jeopardize the life, health or safety of the minor.” Here is that language:
Who may be “caregivers?” Well, technically any relative “within the fifth degree of kinship” (by blood, adoption or affinity”) or “. . . the spouse of any such person, even after the marriage is terminated by death or dissolution.” Here is this language:
The fifth degree of kinship is incredibly broad:
So, a “caregiver” can legally be as far removed as great grandparents, great uncles or great aunts or cousins even if the relationship was only established by marriage and that marriage is over. Those are the people who may LEGALLY claim to be a caregiver. An adult may easily FALSELY claim to be such a relative.
How does one claim this “caregiver” status for himself under California’s new law? Easy, just sign the statutory “caregiver’s authorization affidavit” which provides:
The document is not an affidavit at all since it does not need to be notarized. What is worse, NO PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN IT.
Further, the law specifically relieves any person (such as a healthcare provider) of any liability for any medical care provided based on the caregiver’s affidavit AND specifically relieves a person who relies on the affidavit of the obligation to make any further inquiry or investigation:
What Does This Actually Mean?
Dean Broyles with The National Center for Law & Policy provided the best description I could find of this law. He described the law as a “Child Predator’s Dream Bill” and had this to say about it in an interview with the California Family Council:
Governor Newsome deceptively describes AB 495 as a caregiver planning tool for undocumented immigrant parents. It’s more accurately described as a child trafficker’s and child predator’s dream bill. Its sweeping application is not limited to immigrant families, does not require any parental notice or consent, and lacks even the most basic safeguards to protect children. Anyone falsely claiming kinship can easily sign the affidavit, access a child, obtain medical care, and enroll them in another school. Even the most basic safeguard of a notary is not required to confirm the true identity of the person accessing your child.
The California Family Council article linked to above contains this headline:
Julianne Fleischer with Advocates for Faith & Freedom was quoted in the same article stating:
With AB 495, state sanctioned kidnapping is now legal
Erin Friday with Our Duty USA excoriated Governor Newsome in the same article, stating:
Well said. What can California parents do to defend their rights, their children and their families?
The California Family Council shared some very timely advice with California Parents, instructing them to:
This is good advice without a doubt.
An article published by PJ Media on October 13, 2025, proclaimed people will leave the State of California over this new “kidnap” bill:
Let’s hope that turns out to be true.
Conclusion
I practiced law now for 29 years and I read thousands of bills and laws in that time. This new law from California is one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation I ever encountered. How in the world this insanity made it through a deliberative legislative body is unfathomable. How the Governor of California could sign it and shamelessly lie about and promote it literally boggles the mind.
The late Will Rogers once famously quipped "When Congress makes a joke it’s a law, and when they make a law it’s a joke.” If Will Rogers were living today, I doubt he would find much humor in the laws coming out of California.
The fact Governor Newsome readily lies about this law and grossly distorts what it does, then touts it as a positive achievement is simply more proof Newsome is not competent or fit to serve in public office. Keep all of the above in mind as this chameleon, Newsome, positions himself to run for President of the United States in 2028.
(My latest book Fake News Exposed: 25 of the Worst Media Lies about Conservatives, Guns, COVID and Everything Else is available at Amazon. You may also pick up a copy of one of my other books at Amazon as well.)