Gov. Newsom Signs ‘A Child Trafficker’s and Kidnapper’s Dream Bill’

California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed Assembly Bill 495, “a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill.”

Democrats would have you believe the ludicrously titled, “Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025.”

However, California parents have been betrayed once again by the governor and Democrats in the California Legislature, and are in for a shock from their elected lawmakers. Assembly Bill 495 claims the bill “is a critical tool that will preserve California’s families.”

Instead, it’s “a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill.”

Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (San Fernando-D), the bill’s author, says, “We must do everything we can to safeguard families from separation and ensure children are supported.”

The Senate Human Services Committee spells it out:

“This bill allows a court to appoint a temporary guardian for a child, chosen by the child’s custodial parent, who is empowered to assume guardianship duties of the child if the parent is temporarily unavailable due to an immigration-related administrative action, among other circumstances.” [emphasis the Globe]

 Assemblywoman Rodriguez claims AB 495 will provide compassionate solutions for immigrant families facing sudden separations due to detention or deportation.

Actually, and more to the point, AB 495 “creates legal loopholes that make kidnapping children easy,” the California Family Council explains.

This isn’t just about helping out immigrant families facing deportation – this bill specifies that a “nonrelative extended family member” has the same rights to authorize school-related medical care. Think abortions, puberty blockers, and sex-change operations for the kids of parents who don’t support their gender fantasies.

AB 495 is another bill that threatens parental rights. Based on the bill’s language, the law would allow the state to remove custody from parents who do not “affirm their child’s gender identity,” even going so far as to claim parents are abusive or neglectful for not indulging their minor child’s gender dysphoria.

AB 495 even redefines what qualifies as a “safe” home, replacing parents with government for the parental position of deciding what is best for a child. Just imagine the definition of an “unsafe” home: one in which the children are homeschooled, or one which has legally purchased and registered guns, or there is a freezer full of Venison hunted by dad, or a Trump flag flying next to the American flag, or a home which mixes the recycling and landfill garbage.

Erin Friday originally called AB 495 “a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill.”

“There is no background check, no welfare check, no court oversight, and no verification. All you need is a piece of paper and some form of identification, with no obligation for the adult handing the child over to verify the identification, and presto, someone walks away with your child,” she warned.

Friday also rejects Rodriguez’s claim that this bill is narrowly tailored to immigration emergencies. The bill’s language applies to any child for any reason, regardless of immigration status, and grants temporary legal rights to individuals with no blood relation, including people who may not even be known to the child’s parents. The stranger can consent to medical treatments for the child, and the bill absolves the doctors from any liability should the adult consenting not have any actual legal connection to the child.

“We’re talking about a legal pathway for predators to operate in plain sight,” Friday said. “This bill is not about immigration. It’s about relinquishing parental rights to unvetted strangers under the guise of compassion.”

Think about this. Assemblywoman Rodriguez has authored a bill ostensibly tailored to family immigration deportation emergencies, but really authorizes the state to grab kids from public schools and appoint a custodial parent “if an employee of a school is aware that a pupil’s parent or guardian is not available to care for the pupil.” For any issue, not just immigration deportation issues.

Other media referred to AB 495 as “allowing a broad range of relatives to step in as children’s caregivers if their parents are deported.”

Governor Newsom channeled George Orwell for this statement on his signing AB 495:

“Our children deserve to feel safe at home, in school and in the community. We are putting on record that we stand by our families and their right to keep their private information safe, maintain parental rights and help families prepare  in case of emergencies.”

This bill, besides trying to replace parents with “non-relatives,” entirely undermines the family unit, while setting a terrifying precedence for government intrusion in the family.

And Governor Newsom signed it. Think about that.