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Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday signed Assembly Bill 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, authored by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando), a measure designed to safeguard parental rights, protect children’s privacy, and ensure that schools and childcare facilities are equipped to support families during emergencies such as immigration enforcement or parental separation.
“California is committed to protecting our youngest constituents,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the signing. “Our children deserve to feel safe at home, in school, and in the community. We stand by our families and their right to keep their private information secure, maintain parental rights, and prepare for emergencies.”
The new law prevents licensed childcare centers and state preschools from collecting immigration-related information from families, strengthens privacy protections for parents, and ensures that schools and other institutions can assist families with preparedness planning. AB 495 also provides a legal framework that helps families identify trusted caregivers if parents are temporarily unable to care for their children due to immigration enforcement, incarceration, military deployment, or disability.
Assemblymember Rodriguez called the law a critical step toward protecting children and families from unnecessary trauma during times of crisis. “By creating additional protections and tools that reinforce parental rights and community preparedness, we are ensuring that no child is left without a safety net,” Rodriguez said. “This legislation sends a clear message to immigrant and mixed-status families that California stands with you and will protect you from the trauma of family separation.”
Under the law, any change in a parent’s custody or guardianship must still be determined by a court of law. The measure does not alter who may serve as a child’s legal custodian or guardian without judicial approval. Schools, working with the California Department of Justice, will also be able to help families develop safety plans for their children in the event of parental separation due to federal immigration enforcement actions.
California is home to more than 11 million immigrants, and nearly half of all children in the state have at least one immigrant parent. State officials estimate that close to one million U.S. citizen children in California are at risk of being separated from a parent due to immigration enforcement. The bill was introduced amid ongoing federal crackdowns that Newsom and legislative leaders have described as “unprecedented and indiscriminate,” affecting families nationwide.
Supporters of AB 495 said the legislation fills critical gaps in existing law by helping parents establish continuity of care for their children and preventing exploitation. Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking CEO Kay Buck called family separation “a public health and human rights issue” and said the bill “closes dangerous gaps that traffickers often exploit, helping keep children with trusted caregivers during times of crisis.”
California State PTA President Heather Ippolito said AB 495 ensures that children retain access to school, health care, and other essential services when parents face unexpected crises. “This significantly reduces trauma for families and protects the well-being of California’s most vulnerable youth,” Ippolito said.
Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, said the bill upholds “the fundamental rights of parents to make decisions about their children’s care” and ensures that “even in moments of crisis, children remain safe, loved, and stable.”
Advocates also highlighted the measure’s role in preventing human trafficking and exploitation. VALOR CEO Sandra Henriquez said AB 495 “safeguards families from violence and abuse while promoting continuity of care within trusted networks.” Aradhana Tiwari, senior policy counsel for the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School, said the legislation provides a necessary safety net for children at risk of being left alone due to aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
“This law is narrowly tailored to ensure that in the event a child is left without their parents, there is a trusted adult ready to provide continuity of care,” Tiwari said. “It’s a proactive and humane measure that keeps children out of harm’s way.”
Newsom’s signing of AB 495 builds on California’s broader efforts to resist federal immigration overreach and protect immigrant families. State law already limits the ability of federal agents to conduct immigration enforcement in schools and hospitals without a judicial warrant. Under previous legislation signed by Newsom, schools must notify families when immigration enforcement occurs on campus, and immigration-related data collected by health care providers is protected as confidential medical information.
On Friday, Newsom also signed several related bills, including AB 419 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael), focused on educational equity and immigration enforcement; AB 1261 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), expanding legal counsel access for immigrant youth; and SB 580 by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), directing the state attorney general to establish formal immigration enforcement policies.