OAN Staff Lillian Mann
12:28 PM – Wednesday, April 15, 2026
A new bill introduced earlier this year—California Assembly Bill 2624 (AB 2624), dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act”—has sparked debate, with opponents arguing it could limit the ability of citizen journalists to record in public, according to a state press release.
The bill, which recently passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee, advanced after a 40-minute video by 24-year-old independent journalist Nick Shirley on alleged hospice fraud in California.
The video gained 42 million views on the platform X, and has since been highly debated by the public, scrutinizing California’s federally funded Medicare programs. Subsequent investigations found that a single program is responsible for approximately $6 billion in fraud annually.
Prior to the committee’s approval, Shirley argued that if passed, the bill would “criminalize investigative journalism.”
“The enemy truly is within,” Shirley stated. “When our politicians would rather protect fraudsters and illegal migrants, it’s time for us to stand up or face mass oppression from the traitors who ‘rule’ over us.”
According to the bill, a provider could bring a claim in court seeking at least $4,000 in damages from those who violated the proposed law, according to The New York Post.
Furthermore, criminal penalties could be enforced, with violators facing up to a $10,000 fine or up to one year in a county prison. If sharing the information results in bodily harm, the penalties could jump to a $50,000 fine and felony imprisonment.
State Assembly member Carl DeMaio (R-Calif.) criticized those supporting a bill he has dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” citing concerns over its potential impact on free speech. DeMaio warned that AB 2624 would prohibit the release of investigative videos and impose penalties on those seeking to expose fraud.
“California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-Left-wing NGOs,” DeMaio said. “Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them.”
Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Calif.), who authored the bill, said it aims to strengthen privacy protections for immigrant service providers. Writing on X, she said the measure “doesn’t stop journalism or fraud investigations; it stops bad-faith actors from doxxing workers serving immigrants with proven intent to threaten or incite violence.”
Bonta opposed DeMaio’s thoughts at a hearing in early April, insisting that providers must primarily show evidence that they were being threatened, adding that a journalist asking questions would not count.
“Individuals who provide immigrant support services including legal aid, humanitarian relief, case management, and advocacy are facing targeted harassment. This is not hypothetical,” Bonta stated.
“This program allows participants to keep their home and work addresses out of public records, giving them a critical layer of protection and privacy in an environment where their personal safety is increasingly at risk,” said Bonta.
DeMaio’s press statement argued, “AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties.”
“If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to every journalist in California: expose corruption and you will be punished. AB 2624 is an unconstitutional direct attack on transparency and the First Amendment – and it needs to be defeated,” the statement continued.
The bill is now awaiting its next committee hearing after Democrats voted to advance it. California lawmakers have until the end of August to send the measure to the governor.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
