GOP lawmaker warns 'Stop Nick Shirley Act' will block independent journalists from uncovering fraud in CA

California Democrats have advanced a bill that aims to protect "designated immigration support services" from "threats or acts of violence." Republican lawmakers have warned that the bill would silence citizen journalists such as Nick Shirley, who has recently released reports uncovering millions in fraud in the state. 

California’s AB 2624 passed the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee in an 11-2 vote on April 7 and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Republican Assemblymembers Alexandra Macedo and Carl DeMaio were the only ones to vote against it. The bill, which has been dubbed the "Stop Nick Shirley Act" by DeMaio, was authored by Democrat Assemblymember Mia Bonta, the wife of California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

The bill would prohibit the posting of personal information or the image "of any designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer, or other individuals residing at the same home address" online with the "intent" to "Incite a third person to cause imminent great bodily harm to the designated immigration support services provider," or to "Threaten the designated immigration support services provider."

If such an immigration support services worker has information posted online, they can bring forth legal action. If a judge rules in the worker’s favor, damages shall be awarded "in an amount up to a maximum of three times the actual damages, but in no case less than four thousand dollars ($4,000)."

DeMaio has warned that the bill would "silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny" amid a time when independent journalists such as Shirley have been scrutinizing the state. 

A press release from DeMaio’s office stated, "AB 2624 claims to be about protecting immigrant organizations from 'threats of violence,' when in fact the legislation would apply to any left-wing group that claims to provide any services to legal or illegal immigrants. For example, under AB 2624 entities like the Somali 'Learing' Daycare centers would all be covered if they operated inside California."

DeMaio said in a statement, "California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-Left-wing NGOs. AB 2624 can only be described as the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ — a bill designed to silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them."

"AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties. That’s not about public safety — it’s about protecting powerful interests. If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to every journalist in California: expose corruption and you will be punished. AB 2624 is an unconstitutional direct attack on transparency and the First Amendment – and it needs to be defeated."

DeMaio confronted Bonta during the committee hearing on the bill, saying that "certain political groups" would be granted more privacy "than law enforcement." Bonta said the bill "ensures that we have an opportunity when people are being harassed, doxxed, subjected to violence, to have the ability to be able to protect themselves."