Governor Newsom Signs Key LGBTQ+ Protections Into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom's signing Saturday of six priority bills advancing protections and resources for LGBTQ+ Californians.

These bills strengthen privacy protections for patients and LGBTQ+ data, support transgender veterans discharged from the military, protect survivors of conversion therapy, expand access to PrEP and ensure LGBTQ+ students have access to critical resources.

Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang released the following statement:

"Today, California is once again demonstrating that when LGBTQ+ people are targeted, our state will respond with action. At a moment when the Trump administration is attacking transgender people, dismantling LGBTQ+ protections and threatening access to health care and critical services, these new laws provide real protections for people across our state. They will help transgender veterans rebuild their lives after being forced out of the military, protect private health information from hostile investigations, safeguard sensitive LGBTQ+ data, expand access to HIV prevention, support LGBTQ+ students and ensure survivors of conversion therapy have a meaningful path to justice.

We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing these measures, to the LGBTQ Caucus for its leadership, and to our legislative partners who fought alongside us to get them across the finish line. California has spent decades building some of the strongest LGBTQ+ civil rights protections in the country, and we will continue building on that progress as long as our community remains under attack."

The legislation signed today includes:

AB 1775 by Assemblymember Chris Ward - Support Transgender Veterans
Ensures transgender veterans discharged under discriminatory federal policies can access housing assistance, receive support to obtain professional licensure and employment, and utilize California's discharge upgrade assistance programs to correct their military records.

AB 1930 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur - Safeguard Patient Privacy from Out-of-State Investigations
Strengthens privacy protections for patients and health care providers by establishing clear guardrails before California entities respond to subpoenas or investigations related to abortion or transgender health care.

SB 934 by Senator Scott Wiener - Expand Justice for Conversion Therapy Survivors
Ensures Californians continue to be protected against conversion therapy by integrating the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2026 guidance in Chiles v. Salazar regarding the state's conversion therapy ban.

SB 1023 by Senator John Laird - Strengthen Access to PrEP
Improves insurance coverage and reimbursement practices for long-acting PrEP to help ensure providers can offer this highly effective HIV prevention option without facing unnecessary financial or administrative barriers.

SB 1114 by Senator Christopher Cabaldon - Protect LGBTQ+ Data Privacy
Strengthens privacy protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data by limiting when state agencies can share this sensitive information and ensuring it cannot be disclosed outside of California state government, except under limited circumstances.

SB 1328 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes - Expand LGBTQ+ Higher Education Support
Requires institutions of higher education to designate a confidential employee at satellite campuses, branch campuses, and outreach centers to support the needs of LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff.

This victory comes as the Trump administration continues to roll back federal protections and resources affecting LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender people. Just last week, California also approved major investments to preserve access to transgender health care and restore LGBTQ+-specific crisis services threatened by federal actions.

Equality California worked closely with members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and other legislative partners to advance the bills as part of the organization's 2026 legislative agenda.

###