Governor Newsom Vetoes Controversial Transnational Repression Bill, Hindu Groups Relieved

India-West Staff Reporter

SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Senate Bill 509, a contentious measure that sought to mandate law enforcement training on “transnational repression,” following months of heated debate and community pushback.

Introduced earlier this year by Senator Anna Caballero and Assemblymembers Jasmeet Bains and Esmeralda Soria, the bill was framed as an effort to help police recognize and respond to harassment, intimidation, or violence carried out by foreign governments against individuals abroad. But from the moment Bains and her co-authors introduced it, SB 509 drew sharp criticism from Hindu, Indian American, Jewish, and law enforcement organizations, who warned that its vague definitions could open the door to profiling and ideological targeting.

Critics said the bill risked labeling community members who speak against Khalistani extremism or other separatist movements as acting on behalf of a foreign government — a charge with serious civil rights implications.

In his veto message, Governor Newsom acknowledged the bill’s intent but said it was unnecessary and potentially counterproductive. He noted that the California Office of Emergency Services  already partners with federal agencies on training related to foreign influence and transnational threats.

“By codifying definitions related to this training,” Newsom wrote, “this bill would remove the state’s flexibility and ability to avoid future inconsistencies related to this work.”

The governor added that issues of transnational repression are best handled through coordination with federal authorities to maintain national consistency.

The decision was immediately welcomed by several community organizations that had campaigned vigorously against the measure.

“This veto is a victory for the civil rights of all Californians,” said Samir Kalra, Managing Director of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), which opposed the bill. “Its vague language threatened to institutionalize bias against Hindus, Indian Americans, and other ethnic minorities — while costing taxpayers millions.”

Kalra said HAF had engaged lawmakers repeatedly over the past year, providing testimony and proposing changes to safeguard against misuse. While some revisions were made, the group argued the bill still lacked sufficient guardrails to prevent bias or politically motivated enforcement.

HAF maintained that SB 509 could have silenced community members who oppose Khalistani extremism or advocate for India’s territorial integrity, exposing them to false accusations of acting as “agents of a foreign government.”

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also applauded the veto, calling it “a victory for equality before law.” In a public statement, CoHNA thanked Newsom, District Attorney Jeff Rosen, and other allies for standing against what it described as “an ideologically motivated bill.”

“Thank you, Governor Newsom, for vetoing SB 509,” the group said in a statement. “This is a strike against those who misuse their institutional positions to bias state institutions in favor of personal ideological preferences. Nobody deserves to be labelled an ‘agent’ of foreign governments for simply having a different opinion.”

CoHNA criticized lawmakers for focusing on “ghosts of transnational repression crimes” rather than the real and rising problem of hate crimes. The group pointed to four incidents of Hindu temple vandalism between December 2023 and March 2025 and cited state data showing that anti-Hindu hate remains the second-highest religious hate category in California after antisemitism.

Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a former advisor to President Biden on the Asian American and Pacific Islander National Leadership Council, echoed those sentiments, expressing “heartfelt thanks” to Newsom for his “balanced and thoughtful decision.”

“SB 509 was widely seen as targeting Hindus and Indians,” Bhutoria said. “The governor’s veto demonstrates his commitment to fairness and to ensuring that California remains a place for all communities.”

The veto ensures that these existing programs, rather than a new statutory mandate, will continue guiding officer education on foreign influence and harassment issues.

While the bill’s authors said SB 509 aimed to protect vulnerable diaspora communities from intimidation by foreign regimes, critics maintained that the measure was deeply flawed from the start. They argued that it was crafted with input from ideologically motivated advocacy groups and lacked meaningful community consultation, leading to widespread mistrust.

Even as they welcomed the veto, both HAF and CoHNA urged lawmakers to direct attention toward combating hate crimes and ensuring that California’s institutions remain free from bias.

“The state must focus on crimes that are actually happening,” CoHNA said, noting that none of the temple vandalism cases have led to arrests or prosecutions. “California’s own hate crime data show alarming levels of anti-Hindu hate — yet the legislature spent its time advancing a bill built on speculative fears.”