Assemblymember Chris Ward highlights new state bills targeting 'hate littering,' doxxing and forced‑outing policies

Assemblymember Chris Ward on Monday outlined several legislative efforts he said are intended to give victims and prosecutors clearer tools to address targeted harassment and identity‑based harms.

Ward described AB 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act, as a response to what he said the Anti‑Defamation League documented as a spike in hate‑motivated propaganda. "These materials," Ward said, "are not just pieces of paper ... they're direct threats placed on personal property of targeted community members and their neighbors with the intention to harass, intimidate, and dehumanize them." He said AB 3024 defines "hate littering" and supplies city attorneys and district attorneys with tools to pursue violations under the Ralph Civil Rights Act.

Ward also summarized AB 1979, the Doxing Victims Recourse Act, which would add a civil‑remedies avenue for people whose personally identifying information is published without consent. "Doxing is already a crime in the penal code," Ward said, "but absent that, there was actually no protections for the victims in the civil code." He said the bill aims to allow victims to pursue restitution.

On AB 1955, the Safety Act, Ward said the bill was written to invalidate local school policies that compelled school employees to report a student's gender identity or sexual orientation to parents within a set time (he cited an example of a 72‑hour reporting requirement). He told commissioners the law (which is facing litigation) both protects teachers from retaliation and preserves appropriate conversations about student welfare when safety or academic decline is apparent.

Commissioners pressed on legal and practical limits. Commissioner Che asked how AB 3024 handles First Amendment concerns; Ward said the measure targets conduct (the act of leaving targeted materials on private property) rather than protected speech. Commissioner Feiler asked for specifics about the Chino Valley policy; Ward said that policy required school officials to report what they had learned to parents within 72 hours and that AB 1955 was designed to invalidate such local mandates.

Public comment included Greg DeJear, who praised Ward for attending to constitutional issues in AB 3024 and said civil‑rights groups will bring recommendations to the commission.

The most recent status, as stated by Ward in the meeting, is: AB 3024 is signed into law; AB 1955 is subject to litigation; AB 1979 was presented as part of Ward's legislative package for consideration this session.

What’s next: Ward encouraged commissioners to send recommendations to his office ahead of February bill‑package deadlines and said his staff is actively taking requests.