Gov. Newsom signs bill redefining ‘caregiver’ for kids ‘separated from parents’ amid illegal immigration crackdown

October 15, 2025

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a controversial bill that critics warn could lead to abuse of parental rights and enable child trafficking.

The Christian Post reports that Gov. Newsom signed the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025 on Sunday, which proponents claim will expand child welfare protections by legally recognizing non-family caregivers and providing greater access to family services.

Assembly Bill 495 broadens the definition of a “caregiver” to include “nonrelative extended family members,” defined as “any adult caregiver who has an established familial or mentoring relationship with the child, or who has an established familial relationship with a relative of the child.”

This means that any “caregiver” would be allowed to take custody of a child simply by providing a signed “affidavit” to childcare or school staff.

Newsom says that AB 495 still requires that changes in a parent’s legal custody or guardianship remain subject to a court decision, and does not make changes to who can be identified as a child’s caregiver or guardian “without a court order.”

According to the Christian Post, in August Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills warned that if the bill became law, he would tell his church and Christians throughout California to flee the state.

Hibbs urged his followers to “not give up on doing the right thing” and to consider getting their children out of the public school system.

Hibbs said, “Sell your boat, sell your airplane. You don’t have to have two Porsches,” he said. “You can survive with one and get your kid into private school or homeschool them. We are Californians. We have more than enough, and we can live. We can downsize.”

Photo: top, Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images