Urgent Legislative Action Alert — 2025–2026 California Legislative Session
Issue Areas: Religious Liberty · Family
| Author | Sen. Scott Wiener (D) (Senate District 11) |
| Status | Passed the Senate. Amended in the Assembly and passed committee on an 11-4 vote on August 13, 2026. Pending further Assembly action ahead of a floor vote. |
| Track It | View full bill text, votes & status on LegiScan |
Our Position: Oppose
Why This Matters
SB 934 expands California’s existing ban on sexual-orientation “change efforts” to explicitly cover gender-identity change efforts by licensed mental health providers. It also creates an unusually long statute of limitations for civil damages claims — up to 22 years for conduct occurring when the patient was a minor, or 10 years for adults — and revives previously time-barred claims dating back to January 1, 2009, exposing counselors to lawsuits over conduct from more than 15 years ago.
SB 934 is a direct assault on the freedom of pastors, biblical counselors, and faith-based therapists to walk alongside clients who voluntarily seek help aligning their lives with their own religious convictions. By reviving claims from as far back as 2009 and extending the statute of limitations for decades, this bill isn’t primarily about protecting anyone from harm — it functions as a legal weapon designed to bankrupt faith-based counseling ministries into silence and closure. Every Californian who believes in the free exercise of religion and the right to seek counsel consistent with their own faith should be deeply concerned.
Take Action Now
SB 934 has already passed the Senate and is advancing through the Assembly.
- 1Contact your Assembly member today and demand a NO vote on SB 934.
- 2Ask your representative to defend the right of faith-based counselors to serve willing clients without fear of retroactive lawsuits.
- 3Share this alert with every pastor, counselor, and ministry leader you know — this bill directly threatens their ability to serve.
Sources: California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, Bill SB-934); LegiScan bill tracking; Senate Judiciary Committee bill analysis. Status current as of August 15, 2026.
