California Governor Gavin Newsom has finished his annual bill-signing blitz – and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, Chairman of Reform California, has thoughts. Lots of them.
In a video roundup on his Carl DeMaio / Reform California channel, DeMaio unveiled what he calls the “Top 10 WORST” new laws Newsom just signed. He didn’t mince words, calling the slate “outrageously bad” and promising a political counteroffensive. (Source: Carl DeMaio / Reform California video)
Below is a report of DeMaio’s arguments, bill by bill, along with my own analysis where useful.
1) SB 627 – Masks Off for Law Enforcement
What DeMaio says: SB 627 “doxxes” police by prohibiting officers from concealing their identity with masks. DeMaio argues many officers mask up for legitimate safety reasons – to protect families from doxxing and harassment, or during sensitive operations.
He notes Newsom carved out exemptions for his own security detail and claims the bill purports to cover federal officers (like ICE) despite federal supremacy.
Public transparency matters, but across the country we’ve seen targeted harassment of officers and their families. If the law doesn’t narrowly carve out bona fide safety and undercover exceptions, it’s inviting litigation – and hesitation in high-risk operations.
2) SB 518 – A State Reparations Agency
What DeMaio says: In a budget crunch, Newsom created a new bureaucracy to administer racial reparations programs. DeMaio calls it unconstitutional race-based spending that will be blocked in court, but says the bureaucracy – and the salaries – will stay.
California’s reparations debate is politically explosive. Even supporters admit the legal path is narrow after recent equal-protection rulings. If the checks can’t be cut, taxpayers may still be funding an office with little deliverable output beyond reports and recommendations.
3) SB 155 – “State Propaganda” Grants to Media
What DeMaio says: SB 155 creates what he characterizes as a state “propaganda agency” – grants to local outlets that, in his view, reward favorable coverage of the Governor’s agenda. He pledges to “follow the money” and compare grants to editorial stances, including positions on Prop 50.
Public-interest media funding isn’t new, but it demands guardrails. If the program isn’t strictly content-neutral and competitively administered, even the appearance of viewpoint favoritism will torch trust that’s already fragile.
4) AB 1207 – Extending Cap-and-Trade (and Costs)
What DeMaio says: AB 1207 extends cap-and-trade fees to 2046, which he frames as a “climate change tax” that will keep raising the cost of living. He says it adds 28–43 cents per gallon at the pump and raises prices on electricity and goods.
Extending cap-and-trade is consistent with California’s climate targets – but the price tag is real for households. If lawmakers want durability for climate policy, they’ll need equally durable cost offsets or visible consumer benefits. Right now, most people just see the bill.
5) AB 1127 – “Effectively Bans Most Handguns”
What DeMaio says: AB 1127 bans any handgun that could be modified to fire automatically with one trigger pull in the future. He argues that sweeping language would “effectively ban most handguns” and predicts it will be struck down under recent Second Amendment rulings.
Laws aimed at conversion devices (like switches) are proliferating. The constitutional risk is in how broadly “could be modified” is defined. If the standard swallows ordinary semi-autos, the courts will likely pare it back or scrap it.
6) SB 79 – Six-Story Towers on Single-Family Lots
What DeMaio says: SB 79 allows developers to build up to six stories on a single-family parcel and preempts local control. He calls it a gift to deep-pocketed developers who bankroll Democrats, while neighborhoods lose say over size and character.
California’s housing shortage is severe, but one-size-fits-all upzoning breeds backlash. The state has to marry production with infrastructure, design standards, and truly local input – or “build more” will keep crashing into community revolt.
7) AB 361 – Locking in Project Labor Agreements
What DeMaio says: AB 361 locks in project labor agreements (PLAs), which he argues exclude non-union firms from public work and “end fair and open competitive bidding.” He says that squeezes small, veteran-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and drives up taxpayer costs.
PLAs remain a polarizer. Supporters promise quality and labor stability; critics point to higher bids and fewer bidders. If equity is the goal, a transparent opt-out path for qualified non-union firms would blunt the “closed shop” critique.
8) SB 42 – Publicly Funded Campaigns
What DeMaio says: SB 42 authorizes public financing of political campaigns, which he says voters have rejected “repeatedly.” In his telling, it’s another pipeline from taxpayers to incumbents’ campaign accounts.
Public financing can widen the field and reduce special-interest dependence – but design matters. Caps, matching structures, and strict enforcement determine whether it empowers challengers or calcifies incumbency.
9) AB 288 – State Muscle in Private-Sector Union Drives
What DeMaio says: AB 288 directs the Public Employment Relations Board to step into a role he says belongs to the National Labor Relations Board, assisting unionization efforts and “bullying” employers. The ultimate aim, in his view: force workers into dues streams that cycle back into politics.
My take: Expect federal preemption fights here. If California agencies move into NLRB’s lane, lawsuits will follow. The political optics are obvious – and combustible – in a year of high-profile labor actions.
10) AB 495 – Letting Strangers Take Custody of Minors?
What DeMaio says: AB 495, he argues, “allows strangers to take custody of minor children without the parents’ say,” undermining parental rights and endangering kids. He devoted a standalone episode to this claim and labels the bill “atrociously bad.”
Any custody-related statute warrants fine-print reading. If the law meaningfully lowers notice or consent thresholds for non-parents, it will ignite bipartisan concern – not just culture-war heat.
DeMaio isn’t just venting. He outlines a campaign plan: identify the most vulnerable Democrats who voted for these bills, recruit strong challengers, and “give them the race of their life.” Don’t chase everyone. Pick a few “gazelles,” take them down, and send a message that bad votes carry consequences.
The Big Picture – and a Straight Talk Reality Check
Whether you agree with DeMaio or not, his list hits California’s pressure points: safety, speech, cost of living, housing density, labor power, gun policy, and who gets to shape the narrative.
On several items, litigation seems likely. On others, the state will be stress-testing how far it can push centralized decision-making before voters pull back.
Here’s my read:
- Costs vs. Ideals: Climate and equity goals are real – but so are family budgets. If voters don’t see tangible wins, they’ll punish the price hikes first.
- Localism matters: Housing supply must rise, but bulldozing local input creates durable opposition. Sustainable reform needs coalition, not just a preemption pen.
- Guardrails build trust: Media grants, public campaign financing, and union-tilted procedures only work if the rules are scrupulously neutral and transparent. Otherwise, they look like self-dealing.
- Courts will be busy: Broad gun restrictions and race-conscious programs face a chilly judiciary right now. Passing laws to make a statement invites defeats that can set back the cause.
DeMaio is betting voters are ready for a correction – not just in policy, but in process. If he’s right, the “gazelle strategy” could sting. If he’s wrong, Sacramento will read it as a green light to sprint farther.
Either way, Californians deserve clarity about these laws – what they do, what they cost, and what they risk. On that point, I’ll give DeMaio this: sunlight beats spin, every time.
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Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.