Assemblyman Corey Jackson (D-Riverside), chair of the California Assembly's Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia, has introduced AB 1578, a measure that would require state and local officials to undergo mandatory "anti-hate speech" training.

Under AB 1578, every state and local agency official would be required to complete at least one hour of anti-hate speech training within six months of taking office, and then repeat the training every four years thereafter. This mandate would be layered on top of already-required sexual harassment prevention training.

At first glance, the bill may sound reasonable. Who would oppose opposing hate? But a closer look reveals a deeply troubling problem: AB 1578 never defines what "hate speech" actually is.

Undefined "Hate Speech" Is a Recipe for Abuse
The bill requires training that includes "information and practical guidance" on laws concerning the "prohibition against, and the prevention and correction of, hate speech," along with examples of how to prevent it. Trainers must have "knowledge and expertise in the prevention of hate speech."

Yet nowhere in the bill is "hate speech" clearly or narrowly defined.

That omission is not a minor technical flaw; it is the central danger of the bill.

In practice, vague hate-speech standards are routinely weaponized against speech that is lawful, protected, and simply unpopular, particularly religious and moral viewpoints grounded in Scripture. Groups like California Family Council and trusted allies such as Alliance Defending Freedom have already been labeled "hate groups" or accused of "hate speech" simply for expressing biblical beliefs about marriage, gender, and sexuality.

When government mandates training on an undefined concept, it inevitably hands power to outside advocacy organizations, often ideological activists, who design the curriculum, define the terms, and decide which beliefs are acceptable. Legislators pass the mandate, but the real authority is delegated behind closed doors to trainers with a particular worldview.

"The problem with AB 1578 isn't opposing hate. It's giving the government power to define it without any clear limits," said Greg Burt, Vice President of California Family Council. "When 'hate speech' is undefined, it inevitably becomes a tool to silence views that are simply out of step with the political majority, including long-held Biblical beliefs about marriage, biological sex, and human sexuality."

We've Seen This Play Out Before
Californians do not have to speculate about how this will be used. We have recent examples.

Last year, legislation was introduced to protect female athletes from being forced to compete against biological males. In response, Assemblyman Rick Zbur compared the bill's introduction to the rise of Nazi Germany, an outrageous and historically reckless analogy. Simply advocating for fairness and safety in girls' sports was cast as morally equivalent to totalitarian evil.

If protecting women and girls can be framed as "hate," what chance do Biblical Christians have when expressing centuries-old teachings about human sexuality?

Europe Shows Where Hate-Speech Laws Lead
Supporters of AB 1578 may insist that fears of censorship are exaggerated. But Christians around the world know better.

Across Europe, expansive hate-speech laws have increasingly been used to investigate, prosecute, and silence Christians for expressing biblical views. Alliance Defending Freedom International has documented numerous cases, including that of Finnish Member of Parliament Päivi Räsänen, who faced years of legal harassment, including a Supreme Court case, for tweeting a Bible verse about marriage.

Similarly, the European Union's Digital Services Act threatens to pressure online platforms into suppressing lawful speech under the guise of combating "hate," with ripple effects that could reach even American audiences.

History shows that hate-speech regulations rarely remain limited to genuinely violent or threatening behavior. Instead, they expand to encompass moral disagreement, religious conviction, and dissent from prevailing cultural orthodoxies. (Image: Unsplash-Brian Wangenheim)

Christians Believe in Love, Not Silence
Christians unequivocally reject hatred, bigotry, and violence against any person made in the image of God. Jesus Himself commands us to love our neighbors and even our enemies (Matthew 5:44, ESV).

But love does not require silence about truth.

Standing for Biblical morality is not an act of hate; it is an act of love for our neighbor. Christians believe that God's design for marriage, family, and human identity leads to human flourishing. Speaking those truths, even when unpopular, is motivated by compassion, not animus.

The Real Concern: Who Controls the Training?
One of the most concerning aspects of AB 1578 is not just what it mandates, but how little detail it provides about implementation.

As we have seen repeatedly in California, required trainings are often passed with broad language and noble rhetoric, while the actual content is determined later by contractors and advocacy organizations that have strong ideological commitments.

Once embedded in mandatory training, those perspectives become effectively enforced orthodoxy, especially for public officials who fear accusations of bias or hate.

California Family Council will be seeking clarity on how "hate speech" is defined, who will design and administer these trainings, and what safeguards, if any, exist to protect free speech and religious liberty.

What Comes Next
AB 1578 has not yet been voted on in committee, and its future remains uncertain. But its introduction reflects a growing trend in California: the use of government power to regulate speech through euphemisms like "training," "education," and "prevention."

CFC will continue to monitor this bill closely and keep Californians informed as it moves through the legislative process. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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