Rise and Resist: Four Bills To Defund Privacy, Language Access, and Housing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2026
Media Contact:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Jenny Bach, jenny@bach.consulting
Liana Liang, Lliang@ajsocal.org
Los Angeles, CA — Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) today unveiled its 2026 legislative package, Rise and Resist, a bold package of four bills designed to safeguard data privacy, strengthen dual language access in education, and protect immigrant families from housing instability.
At a time when immigrant and AAPI communities face heightened surveillance, cuts to language support, and attacks from immigration enforcement, AJSOCAL’s legislative priorities seek to ensure California continues to lead with policies that protect civil rights, dignity, and opportunity for all.
The package also marks an important moment for the organization, as this is the first legislative package announced under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Dahni K. Tsuboi, J.D. Since stepping into the role, Tsuboi has emphasized meeting the current fight with bold advocacy that protects civil rights and strengthens the safety and well-being of all communities.
Tsuboi stated, “The people of California deserve to live without fear – to go to work, to send their children to school, to walk in their neighborhoods – knowing that they are safe and can live with dignity and privacy. These fundamental rights are under attack.
The Rise and Resist legislative package is our answer. These bills shield communities from surveillance and exploitation, strengthen dual language access in our schools, and ensure that no family loses their home because of immigration enforcement. We are meeting this crisis with urgency and compassion. As I step into this chapter of leadership at AJSOCAL, I am clear-eyed about what this moment demands and deeply honored to stand alongside our partners and communities in rising to meet it. Civil rights are not negotiable. ”
AJSOCAL’s 2026 Legislative Package: Rise and Resist
AB 322 – California Location Privacy Act (Asm. Ward)
- AB 322 protects Californians, regardless of immigration status, from having their movements tracked and sold especially when visiting sensitive locations such as protests, domestic violence shelters, legal service centers, and reproductive health clinics. The bill restricts businesses from collecting, selling, or sharing precise location data and requires government officials, including immigration enforcement, to obtain a judicial warrant before accessing this information.
AB 1542 – California Sensitive Data Privacy Act (Asm. Ward)
- Sensitive personal information can reveal the most intimate parts of our lives, including immigration status, health data, Social Security numbers, sexual orientation, genetic information, and precise location data. This information has been used by immigration enforcement to facilitate raids. Additionally, scammers have used it for financial fraud, retailers for predatory pricing, and government agencies for surveillance. AB 1542 prohibits businesses from selling or sharing sensitive personal information.
AB 2332 – Dual Language Immersion Coordinator (Asm. Mark González)
- AB 2332 establishes a Dual Language Immersion Coordinator at the California Department of Education. The coordinator will facilitate collaboration among school districts seeking to start or expand dual language immersion programs and maintain a statewide directory of these programs to support students, families, and educators.
SB 1243 – Tenant Protections for Immigrant Families (Sen. Durazo)
- SB 1243 creates an affirmative defense in the eviction process for tenants who have been negatively affected by immigration enforcement and are at risk of losing their housing, helping prevent families from being pushed into homelessness due to federal enforcement actions.
For more information about AJSOCAL’s legislative priorities, visit: ajsocal.org/advocacy
About Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations dedicated to advancing justice for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through policy advocacy, legal services, community engagement, and impact litigation. AJSOCAL works to protect civil rights, expand opportunity, and build a more equitable future for all Californians.
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