California Governor Gavin Newsom. / REUTERS/Fred Greaves

California Hindus are again finding themselves as targets of state legislation that would cause harm to the community. Was it just yesterday when Governor Gavin Newsom rightfully vetoed SB 403 to mitigate the violation of civil rights of Hindus. And now there is SB 509. Ironically, both SB 403 and SB 509 are authored by Assembly woman Jasmeet Kaur Bains. After vetoing SB 403 last year, SB 509 is another draconian law lurking around the corner.

CoHNA & Hindu American Foundation (HAF) partnered to propose sensible amendments to State Senator Caballero that would add guardrails into law enforcement training, so that it would not be unduly weaponized to indoctrinate anti-Hindu bias into those who are sworn to protect all Californians including Hindus. Although a few amendments were made, unfortunately they did not go far enough,” said Samir Kalra, Managing Director of Hindu American Foundation. 

"More dangerously, under the guise of protecting 'dissent,' SB 509 would empower law enforcement to criminally prosecute diaspora groups and community organizations who merely speak out against terrorism and extremism, by accusing them of being foreign 'agents' or engaging in 'transnational repression' on behalf of a foreign country," stated Kalra.

If Gov Newsom signs SB 509, it will pass. It will bias the police against Hindus. We won't be able to raise our voices against these Pro-Khalistani terrorists when they attack Hindu Mandirs. If we protest, we may get accused of transnational repression by the police prompted by the Pro-Khalistani radicals.

According to Sudha Jagannathan, Director, CoHNA, “If passed, SB 509 would give California’s Office of Emergency Services the power to train local law enforcement officials on how to identify “foreign proxies”—without clearly defining who those proxies are, and without any evidence that such threats even exist in the state. In effect, this bill puts any individual with foreign roots, who may be advocating for his/her community, at risk of being labelled a foreign government “proxy.”

For instance, California Hindus opposing the vandalisation of their neighbourhood mandirs with anti-India graffiti could be labelled as proxies of the Indian government. Additionally, the bill seeks to protect, specifically, ‘dissidents’ who are ostensibly protesting the policies of foreign governments. What this means for Hindu-Californians is that, at a time when anti-Hindu hate crimes are on rise, extremists who consider our mandirs and other sacred spaces as legitimate targets for their anti-India protests will now have legal cover and be further emboldened, said said Deepti Mahajan, President HinduPACT. 

Without evidence, India is now listed in the top three most transnational repressive governments (China, Iran, India). Without a shred of evidence, the Pro-Khalistan supporters of the bill have convinced the CA legislators that India is hiring Hindus in CA as paid agents. Thus, the bill targets us American Hindus. Search Results - Open Data (Search transnational repression).  Module 3: Top Foreign Transnational Repressive Governments. C India and Module 4:Transnational Repression Case Studies. India a. Case Study:  Khalistan Referendum. Does this make it a redundant bill? A duplicitous bill. 

What does the bill do?  SB 509 would require California police officers and all law enforcement to receive training to identify and respond to “transnational repression” — meaning harassment, intimidation, threats, etc. by foreign governments targeting diaspora communities. The collateral damage of this well intended bill is that Indian Americans especially Hindus will be targeted with suspicion by the Police and other law enforcement agencies. Surprisingly, although SB 509 has not passed, the OES POST has already created the curriculum for training the police officers.  

Implications of SB 509: If Gov Newsom signs SB 509, it will pass. It will bias the police against Hindus. “With numerous ongoing Attacks on Hindu Temples in the United States we won't be able to raise our voices against these Pro-Khalistan terrorists who leave behind their anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti. If we protest, California Hindus may get accused of transnational repression by the police, prompted by the Pro-Khalistan extremists, stated Pushpita Prasad, Director of Communications at CoHNA.

How much will SB 509 cost to the State?

CA is already in a debt of $40 billion dollars. The appropriations committee has budgeted close to one million dollars for SB 509. And these costs only rise. Of note, SB 509 will cost millions of dollars to the CA taxpayers to train the police officers on how to recognize Indian Americans, especially Hindu Americans. Already, a curriculum to stereotype Hindu Americans has been developed, making this bill duplicitous and redundant.  Although SB 509 has not passed, the OES POST has already created the curriculum for training first responders." Search Results - Open Data (Search transnational repression) Module 3: Top Foreign Transnational Repressive Governments. C India and Module 4: Transnational Repression Case Studies. India a. Case Study:  Khalistan Referendum

Why Veto SB 509?  While the intent of protecting diaspora communities from foreign repression is laudable, this bill is deeply flawed and risks serious unintended consequences for Californians.

1. Risk of unfair targeting of communities
The bill’s vague definitions may lead to stereotyping and disproportionate targeting of Indian Americans, particularly Hindus, under the pretense of “transnational repression.” In fact, curriculum materials are already prepared to accompany this bill specifically list India among the “top three transnationally repressive governments,” despite a lack of credible evidence. This risks law enforcement profiling Californians based on ethnicity or religion. 

2. Civil liberties and free speech
By blurring the line between peaceful advocacy for civil rights versus legitimate political expression, SB 509 risks chilling the free speech rights of some Californians. Peaceful dissent or advocacy could be mischaracterized as “repression,” leading to mistrust between diaspora communities and law enforcement.

3. High costs to taxpayers
California faces a $40 billion deficit. SB 509 requires expensive law enforcement training statewide, costing millions of taxpayer dollars. These resources could instead support the recent damage from California’s wild fires damage and other pressing priorities like homelessness, housing, education, and wildfire prevention.

4. Law enforcement opposition
Law enforcement leaders themselves have raised concerns. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office stated the bill could have “unintended consequences, particularly its impact on law enforcement practices and the inadvertent targeting of diaspora communities.” When those tasked with enforcing a law caution against it, their voices should carry weight.

5. Lack of equity for diaspora communities
This bill privileges certain diaspora groups while leaving others vulnerable. Hindu temples across California have been vandalized with pro-Khalistan slogans in recent months, yet those incidents remain unaddressed. SB 509 risks worsening this imbalance by discouraging victims from coming forward, fearing they may themselves be accused of “foreign repression.”  California vs Hate Civil Rights Department data shows anti-Hindu bias was the second highest in the state after antisemitism. 

Criticism / concerns of SB 509 for Governor Newsom’s consideration

• “The bill lacks enough safeguards, so peaceful advocacy or dissent could be mischaracterized,” said Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation and a Civil Rights Attorney.

• There are worries about how law enforcement might interpret “transnational repression.” There are concerns that Hindu temples attacked with pro-Khalistan slogans might not get protection if certain speech is deemed “political expression.”           

• Some local law enforcement (e.g. Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) have voiced concerns about law enforcement practices and potential overreach by SB 509. For this reason,  just like SB 403 was vetoed last year by Governor Newsom.  Newsom has until October 12, 2025 to veto SB 509.

• California has always stood for fairness, equity, and inclusion. SB 509 undermines those values. For the sake of civil rights, community trust in law enforcement, and fiscal responsibility.

Supporters of SB 509 are clearly several anti-Hindu organizations: 1) The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF*), 2) The Sikh Coalition, 3) The Indian-American Muslim Council (IAMC), a proxy organization of radical muslims from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and 4) Hindus For Human Rights ( anti-Hindu organization). These anti-Hindu organizations are complicit because of their shared ideology to break up India.Hinduphobic Assaults by Anti-Hindu Hate Organizations: Who Are They? - Voice of Hindus See below photo for list of  Supporters and Opponents of SB 509 The bill appears to be innocuous, but the devil is in the details.

Supporters and Opponents of SB 509 / Courtesy of Geeta Sikand

Supporters and Opponents of SB 509

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said that it had “concerns regarding the bill’s potential implications, particularly its impact on law enforcement practices and the inadvertent targeting of diaspora communities in Riverside County.” There are many more groups opposing SB 509: Americans4Hindus, Hindu American Foundation, Coalition of Hindus of North America, Bay Area Jewish Coalition, HinduPACT, even a Sikh group 'The Khalsa Today,' The Santa Clara Attorney’s office, and The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and many more.

California must protect ALL communities equally. Law enforcement says the over-reach from SB 509 will have “unintended consequences.” Community trust is at stake. @GavinNewsom must stand for fairness — #VetoSB509. SB 509 may look harmless, but the details are dangerous. It risks unfairly targeting Hindu & Indian Americans, costs millions of taxpayer dollars during a budget deficit, and undermines trust in law enforcement.

In totality, many Hindu temples have been desecrated in recent months with pro-Khalistan slogans. A deep dive into SB 509 has shown that despite its good optics, the Indian diaspora, especially Hindus, will be treated with suspicion. The Hindu American community does not feel safe and secure reporting these incidents without fear of being accused of being a foreign agent.” 

Importantly, SB 509 will further enable law enforcement to downplay the attacks on Hindu Mandirs.  This lack of equity is the perfect reason for Governor Newsom to VETO SB 509! Criticisms of SB 509 are relatively strong, particularly from civil liberties-oriented groups, especially concerning possible unintended consequences. For instance, it will make Hindus prone to be treated with suspicion by the police. Let's not endanger one diaspora group and privilege another diaspora group. California has always stood for fairness, equity, and inclusion. SB 509 undermines those values. For the sake of civil rights, community trust in law enforcement, and fiscal responsibility. Question remains…why is Assemblywoman Jasmeet Kaur Bains consistently scapegoating Hindus? Is she anti-Hindu?  

Governor Newsom did the RIGHT thing by vetoing SB 403! Signing SB 509 will be a huge step in the WRONG direction. By vetoing SB 509, Governor Newsom will protect all Californians equally! Civil rights should be equally accessible to all. 

 

Geeta Sikand is Vice President, Communications, of Americans for Hindus organzation.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)