Breaking News: AB495 Passes Appropriations and Heads to the Senate Floor
Breaking News: AB495 Passes the Senate Appropriations Committee
ACT NOW: Stop AB 495 — Protect Every Child in California
Dear PERK Members,
We need you—loud, fast, and in writing. AB 495 creates dangerous loopholes that could let strangers assume custody and medical decision-making for a child—without ID, background check, court oversight, or parental knowledge. This is unacceptable. California’s children deserve real safeguards, not paperwork that can be weaponized. AB 495, Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez bill is making national news.
AB 495 Current Status:
Senate Suspense File- AB 495 was placed on the suspense file of the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 18, 2025.
Passed the Senate Appropriations Committee: The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on the bill today, August 29, 2025.
Next Stop: The bill is headed to the Senate Floor for a Vote.
What AB 495 Would Allow
• “Name a child.” A person can identify a child on a school-site form and assume custody/authorized caregiver status with no ID, no verification, no background check, no notarization, and no court.
• Medical authority by checkbox. The form lets a person check one box—“I cannot get a hold of the parent”—and take over medical decisions.
• No parental consent or notice. Parents may not be contacted before decisions are made.
• Records sealed. Confidentiality provisions can seal records, preventing parents and the public from seeing what happened until it’s too late.
• Exploiting legal loopholes. The bill removes critical safeguards that protect children from trafficking, kidnapping, and predation.
• Bottom line: No ID. No verification. No parent. No child is safe.
CALL TO ACTION. We need more official letters.
1) Submit an Official Opposition Letter via the CA Legislature Portal
Step 1 – Register (first time users):
Create an account at: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/
One-time registration: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/faces/register.xhtml
If you lead an organization: Register individually and as an organization—submit two letters.Step 2 – Log in and Submit:
Go to https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/
Click “Submit a Letter”
Enter: Measure Type: AB | Measure Number: 495 | Session Type: Regular Session
Click “Search”
Select the Senate Appropriations Committee and your State Senator
Select Your Stance: Oppose
Upload your signed opposition letter (PDF or Word)
Complete Captcha and SubmitStep 3 – For individuals submitting comments directly:
After selecting the bill, choose the appropriate Committees
Select Oppose stance
Enter a short note in the message box (keep comments professional)
Submit
Full detailed instructions: Senate Advocacy Quick Guide (https://www.senate.ca.gov/sites/senate.ca.gov/files/2019_quick_ref_guide_advocacy.pdf)
2) Send Directly to the Senate and Your Senator
· Use our flier. Compounding Impact.
· Email and fax your letter directly to their Capitol offices.
· Use subject line: Oppose AB 495 – Dangerous Custody & Medical Authority Loopholes.
3) Spread the Word
· Share this alert with parents, teachers, PTAs, youth leaders, coaches, and faith communities.
· Post on social media using: #StopAB495 #ProtectAllChildren #ParentalRights
Sample Closing for Your Letter
Please vote NO on AB 495. Children deserve stronger safeguards, not weaker ones. Require ID, background checks, parental notice/consent, notarization, and court oversight for any transfer of custody or medical authority. Protect all children.
Watch The Highwire Video on AB495
Thank you for taking action today. PERK will continue to monitor AB 495 and provide updates, templates, and informational guidance. Your letters and official opposition can stop this bill.
PERK — Protecting Educational Rights & Kids
Follow updates: @PERK_Group on IG and X , PERK Website: www.perk-group.com
Compounding Impact
Compounded by recent laws eroding parental rights (SB 1419, AB 5, AB 223, AB 665), AB 495 strips away the most fundamental safeguard — a parent’s right to protect their child from strangers. Records will be sealed from the public, making it nearly impossible to track or recover a child once taken.
No child in California will be safe if AB 495 passes. It impacts public schools, private schools, and homeschoolers. This bill is a predator’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare. Pastors are already warning families to leave the public schools and the state if this becomes law.
Education Code 234.7 already allows parents to consent to and authorize a long list of authorized emergency contacts in the event of an emergency. AB495 creates loopholes.
Stand with parents and protect all the children!
What can you do?
We urge you to tell your Senator to vote NO on AB 495. Protect our children. Close the loopholes. Stand with parents and against trafficking, kidnapping, and exploitation. Resources to help you.
Talking points by Real Impact
Legal analysis by ADF
AB495 Senate Template Letter by PERK
Amy Bohn on The Highwire With Del Bigtree
Amy Bohn Goes On The Highwire Live With Del Bigtree
On Thursday, August 21st, Amy Bohn discusses a new bill in California could put children directly in harm’s way. Del Bigtree sits down with Amy Bohn, Co-Founder & President of PERK, to expose the risks behind this dangerous legislation.
https://thehighwire.com/ark-videos/any-adult-any-shot-ab459-uncovered/
Amy Bohn, Co-Founder and President of Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids (PERK), breaks down California Assembly Bill AB 459 and how it could indirectly strip parents of fundamental protections for their children. She also shares how PERK is working to reverse the damage caused by Senate Bills 276 and 277—efforts aimed at restoring exemptions and defending doctors who were penalized for issuing legitimate medical exemptions.
Amy also discusses how the tide is turning in public opinion in favor of medical freedom and exemptions. She also shares about PERK’s Executive Order Campaign and how people can sign the letter to support PERK’s efforts.
Lastly, Amy Bohn shares exciting news as PERK secures senator to champion landmark legislation restoring personal belief exemptions and medical privacy for all Californians.
Donate- Fuel the fight: donorbox.org/religiouslibertyforall
Sign the Letter – Tell Governor Newsom & legislators to we want and support this bill: bit.ly/religiouslibertyforallCA
Volunteer – Join PERK’s statewide advocacy teams: bit.ly/PERKvolunteerteams
PERK Secures Senator to Champion Landmark Legislation Restoring Personal Belief Exemptions for All Californians
PERK Secures Senator to Champion Landmark Legislation Restoring Personal Belief Exemptions for All Californians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025
PERK Secures Senator to Champion Landmark Legislation Restoring Personal Belief Exemptions and Medical Privacy for All Californians
Sacramento, CA — The fight for parental rights, religious liberty, and children’s access to education in California has taken a historic leap forward. On June 1, 2025, the Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids (PERK) announced it had secured the commitment of a California Democratic Senator to author and carry legislation that will:
Restore medical privacy.
Amend SB277 to restore personal belief exemptions for all Californians.
Amend SB276 to protect doctors who issue legitimate medical exemptions and safeguard children in need.
Introduce new protections through new legislation for religious freedom and ensure every child’s constitutional right to an education.
This breakthrough follows more than a year of strategic relationship-building that began with a simple introduction from a firefighter friend, Barry Arata, who shares PERK’s deep commitment to protecting children and future generations. In a confidential April 2025 meeting with PERK’s leadership, the Senator committed to championing the reversal of SB277 — the 10-year-old law that stripped away personal belief exemptions and forced hundreds of thousands of children out of classrooms. Since then, the Senator has reached out to fellow Democratic legislators to rally support for this long-overdue change.
A Decade of Harm Ends Here
For more than 10 years, SB277, SB276, and SB714 have:
Violated medical privacy.
Restricted legitimate medical exemptions.
Punished doctors for following their conscience and training.
Forced parents to choose between their deeply held beliefs and their child’s education.
These laws violate the First Amendment, deny access to public education guaranteed under the California Constitution, and perpetuate discrimination against children based on personal or religious beliefs. The result: families torn apart, careers ruined, medical privacy rights trampled, and children barred from learning alongside their peers.
From PERK’s President, Amy Bohn:
“This is one of the most pivotal moments in America for religious freedom, children’s rights, and parental rights. PERK has stood unwavering for our children, our doctors, and our families — fighting unconstitutional laws in the courts, in the Capitol, and in our communities. Now, with this bill, we are set to finish what we started. This is restitution. As our courageous Senator has said, this is about ‘righting the wrongs.”
A Victory with National Impact
If passed, this legislation will not only restore rights in California but also serve as a national precedent, inspiring lawmakers in other states to take similar action.
How You Can Help Right Now
This victory will only happen if we stand together. Here’s how you can help immediately:
Donate – Fuel the fight: donorbox.org/religiouslibertyforall
Sign the Letter – Tell Governor Newsom & legislators to we want and support this bill: bit.ly/religiouslibertyforallCA
Volunteer – Join PERK’s statewide advocacy teams: bit.ly/PERKvolunteerteams
About PERK
The Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids (PERK) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to defending medical freedom, bodily autonomy, religious rights, parental rights, and every child’s constitutional right to an education. With tens of thousands of members statewide, PERK leads one of the largest grassroots movements in California.
Contact:
PERK – Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids
3401 Grande Vista Dr., #723
Newbury Park, CA 91319
Email: info@perk-group.com | Website: www.perk-group.com
Is the Hype Around AB495 True?
Yes! Every Child is in danger if aB495 passes.
Dear PERK Members,
AB 495, Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez bill is making national news. Here’s PERK’s analysis and view on the bill. This bill is so dangerously written that it opens the door for child predators, traffickers, and strangers to legally take custody of children without a parent’s knowledge or consent. If passed, this legislation will endanger every child in California. To equip you, we’ve taken screen shots of the actual bill language to prove the problems.
While the stated intent of AB 495 is to help children whose parents are detained or deported by ICE, its actual language creates a loophole big enough for traffickers to walk through. Under this bill, any adult — including total strangers — can fill out a “Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit” with no ID, no background check, no verification, and no notarization. Once completed, that person can:
Remove a child from school.
Change the child’s school enrollment.
Take the child to live with them.
Authorize medical care — including immunizations, dental procedures, and mental health treatment.
Make these decisions without the parent’s knowledge, consent, or presence.
The bill explicitly states there is no obligation to verify the adult’s identity or relationship to the child.
This means anyone can literally check a box and claim “I cannot reach the parent” and legally assume control over a child — even against the parent’s wishes — with no court oversight and no safety checks.
“Signature of the court is not required.”
The harms in AB495 Sec. 4
This is not hypothetical. We know predators seek the easiest path to vulnerable children. With hundreds of thousands of migrant children already missing from federal custody, AB 495 will magnify this crisis — putting immigrant and non-immigrant children alike in immediate danger.
Compounded by recent laws eroding parental rights (SB 1419, AB 5, AB 223, AB 665), AB 495 strips away the most fundamental safeguard — a parent’s right to protect their child from strangers. Records will be sealed from the public, making it nearly impossible to track or recover a child once taken.
No child in California will be safe if AB 495 passes. It impacts public schools, private schools, and homeschoolers. This bill is a predator’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare. Pastors are already warning families to leave the public schools and the state if this becomes law.
Education Code 234.7 already allows parents to consent to and authorize a long list of authorized emergency contacts in the event of an emergency. AB495 creates loopholes.
Stand with parents and protect all the children!
Sincerely,
Amy Bohn
PERK President
What can you do?
We urge you to tell your Senator to vote NO on AB 495. Protect our children. Close the loopholes. Stand with parents and against trafficking, kidnapping, and exploitation. Resources to help you.
Talking points by Real Impact
Legal analysis by ADF
Template letter by PERK
Pastor Jack Hibbs group called Real Impact has organized a rally day. PERK team and volunteers will be there to support. We encourage all PERK members to attend the rally and lobby day in Sacramento on Tuesday August 19th and show your support.
