🛑 STOP California AB 495 – Protect Parental Rights & Child Safety

📜 What Is AB 495?

Assembly Bill 495, also known as the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, was introduced by Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez and passed the California Assembly in June 2025. The bill is now pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee, with a hearing scheduled for August 18, 2025.

⚠️ What Does AB 495 Actually Do?

✅ According to the bill’s supporters, AB 495:

Helps undocumented parents prepare for emergencies by nominating trusted adults as co-guardians.

Ensures children are not placed in foster care if a parent is detained or deported.

Updates schools on immigration enforcement and caregiver protocols.

❗But the real impact goes far beyond immigration-related concerns:

• Any adult can gain caregiver authority to enroll a child in school or authorize medical treatment—including psychological, gender-related, or reproductive services—without a parent’s consent or knowledge.
• No background check, no fingerprinting, and no court oversight is required.
• The definition of “nonrelative extended family member” is so broad that it includes neighbors, friends, coworkers, exes, or virtually anyone with a self-declared bond to the child.
• Allows joint guardianship between a parent and another adult with minimal judicial scrutiny.
• Mandates schools and daycare providers distribute government-produced content related to immigration and emergency planning, regardless of parental involvement or objection.
• Seals records from public view—including immigration authorities and, potentially, parents.

❌ Why We Oppose AB 495

1. Unverified Adults Granted Extreme Power

This bill allows anyone with a signed affidavit and ID to claim control over a child’s schooling and medical decisions—with no oversight, no background checks, and no parent signature required.

- Imagine a stranger walking into a school and legally taking control of your child. It could happen under AB 495.

2. Redefines Guardianship Dangerously

The bill redefines “nonrelative extended family members” to include:

• Casual acquaintances
• Ex-spouses
• Mentors or neighbors

- These individuals are granted significant authority with no legal vetting.

3. Undermines Parental Rights

AB 495 lets someone else override your authority as a parent—without your knowledge or consent. Schools and healthcare providers are not required to verify the legitimacy of these affidavits.

- Parents deserve to know who is making decisions about their children.

4. Puts Child Safety at Risk

Critics warn AB 495 creates loopholes for child predators and traffickers:

- Erin Friday, Our Duty-USA:

“Presto, someone walks away with your child… this is a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill.”

- Nicole Pearson, Facts Law Truth Justice:

“It lets someone unrelated remove a child from school, authorize treatment—without parents’ notice. This is not fear‑mongering. It’s terrifying.”

5. Goes Far Beyond Immigration-Related Scenarios

Though positioned as help for immigrant families, AB 495 applies to all children, for any reason. It bypasses essential child welfare checks like:

• Fingerprinting
• Home inspections
• Family court review

- Even when the parent is not detained, legal processes are skipped.

 

📣 Our Calls to Action

1. VOTE NO on AB 495 in the California Senate Appropriations Committee (August 18, 2025).

2. Demand strict amendments requiring court review, parental consent, identity verification, and background checks.

3. Protect legal parental authority—do not erode it.

4. Ensure guardianship is reviewed through proper courts, not given away by a one-page form.

 

📢 Real Stories from Concerned Parents

1. “My daughter’s school didn’t even call me.”
“Last year, my 14-year-old daughter was dealing with anxiety and asked a school counselor for help. Instead of calling me, they referred her to an outside clinic and I found out after the fact. With AB 495, a neighbor or teacher could sign off on this kind of thing. That’s terrifying. Parents should never be the last to know.”
 
2. “My ex tried to take our son out of school without my permission.”
“I’m in a custody dispute. A few months ago, my ex’s friend, who is not a legal guardian, tried to pick up our son from school. Thankfully, the school called me first. But under AB 495, that person could have just shown an affidavit and ID and walked away with him. I cannot believe this is being considered as law.”
 
3. “This bill makes it easier for predators to hide.”
“As someone who works in child welfare, I’ve seen predators use fake relationships to gain access to kids. AB 495 gives legal cover to that. No fingerprints, no background check, just an affidavit? We don’t even let volunteers in a classroom without vetting, but this bill would let someone make medical decisions for a child?”
 
4. “We immigrated legally, and we still wouldn’t feel safe under this.”
“My wife and I are legal immigrants raising our kids here. We understand the fear undocumented parents face, but this bill would allow courts to assign a co-guardian even if we’re still available. What if someone claims we’re unreachable? Are our kids up for grabs? There have to be better ways to protect families without destroying parental rights.”
 
5. “What happens if they approve hormone treatments behind our backs?”
“I’ve read AB 495. There’s nothing stopping an unrelated adult from authorizing gender-affirming medical procedures under this bill. That could include puberty blockers or hormones for my child, and I wouldn’t have to be notified. I’m not anti-trans. I’m anti-secret decisions made without parents involved.”
 
6. “Emergency planning should still involve the parent.”
“I support giving immigrant families tools to prepare, but why can’t we have both compassion and oversight? Why can’t parents still be notified, or courts still require verification? If a parent is deported, we still need a process that respects the law and protects the child, not a blank check to any adult.”

🧾 Endorsements Against AB 495

1. California Family Council:

• Warns the bill “dangerously redefines guardianship, strips away parental rights, and creates legal loopholes that make kidnapping easier”
• Vice President Greg Burt adds: "Compassion without guardrails is not mercy — it is madness.”

2. Our Duty-USA (Erin Friday, Attorney)

• Calls AB 495 “a child trafficker’s and kidnapper’s dream bill” due to zero background checks, no welfare screening, no court oversight: “All you need is a piece of paper and some ID—and presto, someone walks away with your child.” 

3. Facts Law Truth Justice (Nicole Pearson, Attorney)

• Highlights that the bill allows non-related adults to authorize children’s medical, mental health, or school enrollment decisions—without parent knowledge or consent.

4. VoterVoice / Family Policy Project

• States AB 495 “creates new risks by handing custody of any child to any adult.” The bill is marketed as compassionate but lacks necessary verification and legal safeguards.

5. The Daily Signal

• Warns AB 495 gives any adult claiming to “know” a child the right to legal custody and medical decision authority—even gender-related surgeries—without parental knowledge or consent. Critics argue it opens doors to traffickers or activist actors.

6. California GOP / Stop AB 495 Coalition

• Released a public alert: the bill quietly allows NON‑FAMILY adults legal child guardianship via a simple form—no court review, parental approval, or oversight required

These legal advocacy organizations are actively warning families and legislators about the real risks this bill introduces.

 

✊ What YOU Can Do Right Now

✅ Sign this petition to oppose AB 495.

📞 Call or email your California State Senator—especially those on the Senate Appropriations Committee—and urge a NO vote.

📢 Share this petition on social media, with schools, churches, parent groups, and local forums.

📝 Organize a local response through your PTA, neighborhood group, or faith community.

 

🔒 In Summary

AB 495 opens dangerous doors to fraud, abuse, and loss of parental control.

It gives unchecked power to unverified adults, skips court review, and compromises child safety.

-  California families deserve real safeguards, legal oversight, and respect for parental rights.

 

Sign the petition now and make your voice heard.

Let Sacramento know:

“Parents—not strangers—should make decisions for their children.”