Features 15 Speakers, 2,000 Lobby Legislators, Bill Suspendedn

CALIRED NEWS–The Stop AB 495 Rally (Tuesday, Aug. 19) promoted by Chino Hills Pastor Jack Hibbs, who has a congregation of 10,000, the Capitol Research Institute and Real Impact attracted 3,000 to the Sacramento Capitol: featured 15 speakers (five state legislators, four attorneys) and 2,000 participants that lobbied legislators.

The bill called the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, was written by California Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (D-43, San Fernando) and six other co-authors with the intention of safeguarding and ensuring children have caregivers; but opponents concerned about parental rights are calling it “The California Legislature Trafficking Act.” 

On Monday, the bill was suspended in a California Senate Appropriations Committee hearing but it can still be resurrected and voted on during this legislative session which does not end until Sept. 14.

Pastor Jack Hibbs opened up the Stop AB 495 rally by saying: “If this passes here, it is going to come to your state. California is a Republic. We have a representative form of government. We are the ones that can send our opinions and decisions through an ambassador: a State Senator or a State Assembly member. What we are doing here is a legal exercise of our constitutional rights.”

Hibbs Opening Prayer: “We made our way here in the defense of our children even if they are here illegally. We are asking you to hear our prophetic little cry to a great awesome God. Heal our land. You are God. Sacramento belongs to Jesus Christ.”

Five Legislators Speak Out Against AB 495:

• CA State Senator Shannon Grove (R-12, Fresno, Kern and Tulare Counties): “Jesus weeps when we don’t protect children. Make sure you get your voice heard. Continue to fight and engage in this process.”

• CA State Senator Tony Strickland (R-36, Orange County): “You make a difference. No more of this nonsense. I am here today not just as a State Senator but as a father and dad of a beautiful daughter and wonderful son. This bill is unacceptable. I stand with parents, families and religious leaders to oppose AB 495 which has unintended consequences for sex traffickers and those who would want to gain custody without parental knowledge or consent. This bill gives a legal pathway to predators. Thousands have come here to voice their opinion. Together we can ‘Make California Golden Again.’”

• CA State Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-3, Butte, Glen, Placer, Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba Counties): “I am the proud leader of the Republicans in the Senate. We are fighting tyranny in California. We’re taking control of our kids and we’re not going to let this bill happen. This is the time to build that pressure. We will never surrender our rights given by God. We will do what we have to do to secure our liberty and rights in the future. Act. Talk. Speak out against this injustice. We will fight for our freedoms and for our families and for justice.”

• CA State Senator Roger Niello (R-6, Placer and Sacramento Counties): “This is my hometown. It is great to see so many people for this cause–to protect our kids. It is great to see you here.”

• CA State Senator Marie Alvarado Gill (R-4, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties): “This is the most important time to be in California. We are under attack every single day, not just in Sacramento, but in our living rooms, bedrooms and schools. We are small but mighty because we are mothers and grandmothers. I want rights for my children and your children. No more can they put their hands on our homes and schools and take our children. No more. No more. No more.”

Four Attorneys Speak Out Against AB 495:

• Nathan Shackleford (Associate General Counsel First Liberty Institute, North Texas): “I flew here from Texas and I have a message to California. The State of California cannot tell our kids what is best for them. We sacrifice for our kids, not the State. The government cannot be surrogate parents for our kids. California is inserting itself on our kids. Parents take a stand. We need young professional parents to protect their kids. Learn more about your rights with resources on protecting your kids.”
• Matt Sharp (Senior Counsel Alliance Defending Freedom, Scottsdale, Arizona): “You have the right for free speech, the right to train up your child in the ways they should go. But your right to train your kids is under attack. AB 495 is the latest threat. With this bill, anyone can execute an affidavit. They don’t have to be a family member. They don’t need your permission. This is not just a threat for families but for good nurses, teachers, lawyers. Under this bill, parents will be harmed. Kids will be harmed. This is not just a threat to thousands of California families, but for copycat laws in other states. When families stand up and let their voices be heard, we can stop it from being law. To every lawmaker in the building behind us, families are off limits. Our children are off limits. Our God given right to train and raise our children is off limits. If we contend for the truth that our children are entrusted to us, we will prevail.”
• Brad Dacus (Founder and President Pacific Justice Institute, Sacramento, CA): “We have been defending religious freedom in Sacramento and our 36 offices from coast to coast but never in my life have we seen such an attack on parents and parental rights and on our children. Schools are grooming our children without us knowing about it. This legislation opens the flood gates to strip away all our parental rights. A stranger can take our children and flee the country. This is a nightmare of nightmares. It is either incompetence or the deepest darkest sinister piece of legislation. Let’s be involved with our children. Get resources for such a time as this.”
• Will Estrada (Senior Counsel Homeschool Legal Defense Association and President of the Parental Rights Foundation from 2021-2023): “I am a proud homeschool graduate, a proud Puerto Rican and I am proud to stand for parents and grandparents. AB 495 must be defeated because it comes between parents and children. Parental rights are fundamental rights, inalienable rights. The U.S. Supreme Court (continues to rule) that parental rights are fundamental rights. Legislators need to oppose AB 495.”

Other Speakers:

• Heidi St. John (Vancouver, Washington Podcaster): “I am the proud parent of seven children and grandparent of eight: a mother, grandmother and daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  When we give up our seat in the public square, our adversary fills the void. I am here to say that this is the beginning of Christians in California never giving the adversary a political advantage again. Politics determines policy. Policy shapes the nation. Why have good people abandoned the policy sphere? Somehow we bought the lie to be tolerant. The left was never interested in tolerance but in capitulation. This resulted in great devastation we now see in our great nation (through) misguided mercy.
• “We must wake up. Our children are our future. The Democrat Party is put on notice. We won’t take this anymore. AB 495 is dangerous for our children. It disregards marriage between a man and a woman. The family is under attack. I want to encourage you to find your voice again. AB 495 is an overreach that the government has taken against parents and God. 
• “What starts here will ripple across the country. The entire nation is watching you today, praying for you. Do you believe that you serve a God that is greater than the government? This is the time to stand boldly. History will remember this day. Your children will remember and be glad that you stood in their defense. God loves our children. Stand and protect them today.”
• Pastor Morgan Lawrence (Heritage Church Escalon, CA): “I pastor a church in the Central Valley. The importance of this gathering can’t be overstated. AB 495 is a threat to our children and society. This bill is dangerous. 
• “It has two casualties: parental rights and child safety. I invoke ‘we the people’ in this fight to stand for righteousness, resist evil. Stand in the defense of the family. God created the family. It is the duty of the church to preserve it and protect it. 
• “We need to nurture the family and insulate it and safeguard marriage and children. The last thing we need is legal overreach that will impede the health of the family. Anything that impedes the health of the family and makes it vulnerable and impedes family rights must be opposed and squashed. If the family is injured, everyone suffers. As the family goes, so does the nation.
• “We must protect and nurture the next generation. Parental rights is a safeguard, a Christian duty, a patriotic duty to guide and influence society. It matters that you are here today. Your being outspoken matters to the future of the state and country. Stand for what is right. Advocate for what is righteous.”

• Pastor Mike McClure (Calvary Chapel San Jose): “We kicked God out of our institutions. Our school system used to be Christian. We kicked God out of government. The reason we are losing is because a pure God wants a holy church. But the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. God will heal California. It is up to you to change this state, to make a difference in this country. Stand, put on the armor of God and watch what God will do.”

• Jonathan Keller (President and CEO of Family Research Council): “I am so grateful to be here. Politics matters because policy matters because people matter. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too political and that the church is too political. The content of this bill matters. We oppose AB 495. It is poisonous and leads to death and destruction. We will not back down or shut up. This is why we fight.”

Pastor Hibbs Closing Comments: “The church in California (needs) to wake up to do righteousness. Stand up for children. This is a last day’s battle between what is evil and what is right. Isaiah 10:1 (states): ‘Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees.’ God is speaking to the governments of the world. California is a state that has had a technology boom, an aviation revolution, one of the greatest economies of the world but is under pathetic leadership. 

“The Bible says when the righteous are in power but when bad people rule, the people groan. A spiritual revival has yet to happen in California and in America. We are to be salt and make a difference. God is asking will you stand? Pray for peace in our communities. Defend your children. Go vote biblically. Voting records never lie. Be an educated voter. Vote for a biblical world view. Find out candidate views on marriage, on Israel, and on the economy.”

(Editor’s Note: Please read Aug. 11 story on Pastor Jack Hibbs Calls Thousands To Sacramento Capitol To Stop AB 495: “The Most Dangerous Bill We’ve Ever Seen” Part I, Aug. 12 story on Stop AB 495 Email & Phone Campaign: “The California Legislature Trafficking Bill” Part II, and Aug. 16 press release from the California Family Council on “Truth Denied: AB 495 Backers Say Parents Aren’t Excluded–But the Bill and Legal Experts Say Otherwise”.)

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CaliRed News is a column posted on Making California Red by the 2026 elections through reaching Gen Z (ages 13-28), Hispanics, and Christians with biblical traditional values and their pastors. CaiRed News reports on political, business, community, nonprofit, and church news.

Mike Hernandez is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service and writes for Citizens Journal and Mountain Top Media. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “CaliRed News” and “Prayer Over News Daily” and edits the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes” and other columns. Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists/podcasters and can be contacted here.

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