California Legislature Transmits Nine Priority LGBTQ+ Bills to Governor Newsom
BY VICTOR MELAMED
The California Legislature officially wrapped up its session by passing and sending nine major LGBTQ+ civil rights and healthcare bills to Governor Gavin Newsom for final action.
Concluding on August 31, 2026, this landmark legislative package was spearheaded by Equality California and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
Designed to fortify California’s role as a beacon of inclusion, safety, and liberty, the package directly pushes back against hostile national rollbacks to protect the dignity and autonomy of queer, transgender, and nonbinary residents.
Championing equity, privacy, and familial recognition, the core components of the package include:
SB 1114 (SOGI Data Privacy): Authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon, this vital protective measure secures sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status (SOGISC) data collected by state agencies. By strictly limiting when state entities can disclose this sensitive information, it shields vulnerable community members from malicious out-of-state weaponization or federal overreach while preserving data equity.
SB 1149 (Bereavement Leave for Chosen Families): Authored by Senator María Elena Durazo, this progressive policy expands California’s job-protected bereavement leave to explicitly include “chosen family” members. Recognizing the profound, life-affirming bonds built within the LGBTQ+ community, the law ensures that workers are never forced to choose between their livelihoods and mourning the loss of their loved ones.
SB 934 (Conversion Therapy Accountability): Authored by Senator Scott Wiener, this crucial bill updates and reinforces California’s protections against the deeply discredited, psychologically abusive practice of conversion therapy. By strengthening civil liability and legal avenues for survivors, the law empowers victims to hold bad-faith practitioners accountable and seek true justice.
Holistic Advancement of Community Well-Being: Beyond these spotlight pillars, the broader legislative push successfully advanced measures to secure affirming healthcare access, protect intersectional youth and elder resources, and defend the human rights of all queer Californians against rising political hostility.
