Last Tuesday, the steps of the California State Capitol became a battleground for one of the most pressing family issues facing the state: AB 495. Thousands of parents, pastors, attorneys, and community leaders rallied in defense of parental rights and the safety of children. The event was sparked by a call from Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and sponsored by his church’s public policy ministry, Real Impact, alongside Capitol Resource Institute.
The rally drew a wide coalition of believers and concerned citizens. Buses from all over the state brought families to Sacramento to stand for truth, while local parents and advocates joined in, determined to make their voices heard inside the halls of the Capitol.
Before the rally began, Jonathan Keller, President of California Family Council, interviewed on the Capitol steps Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Sharp, the Director of the Center for Public Policy. Their conversation underscored the seriousness of AB 495.
Sharp explained that the bill, by expanding who can use a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit, effectively allows any non-relative adult to make educational and healthcare decisions for a child without parental consent, including gender transition drugs and surgeries. “We really see this as one of the biggest threats to parental rights that we’ve seen across the country this year,” Sharp warned. “We want to see this bill die here today. But… we want parents to know if your rights are violated because of this bill or anything else happening in California, we are here to stand with you as a legal organization—to stand with California families and to make sure that no family has their God-given right to raise and direct the care of their children stripped away by government power.”
Jonathan Keller’s Speech
When Jonathan Keller later addressed the rally, he began by thanking the organizers and Pastor Jack Hibbs for their leadership. He reminded the crowd that Christians must not shy away from politics. Quoting Christian commentator Allie Beth Stuckey he said, “Politics matters because policy matters, and policy matters because people matter.” Keller pushed back against claims that churches are “too political” when they engage in legislation, arguing that involvement is essential because real lives and families are at stake.
Keller also challenged the idea of overemphasizing the bill author’s intent when evaluating this bill. Using a vivid illustration, Keller compared AB 495 to a store clerk accidentally handing a child poison instead of juice. Even if the intention is harmless, the effect is devastating. “I don’t care what the author says her intent is,” Keller said. “It matters what the contents of the bill are.” He called AB 495 “poisonous” and warned it would lead to “death and destruction of families and children.”
Keller concluded by urging the crowd not to be intimidated into silence: “We will not back down. We will not shut up. We will not stand aside.”
Pastor Jack Hibbs’ Remarks
Pastor Jack Hibbs reminded the crowd that grassroots political engagement often begins inside the local church. He pointed to the example of Gina Gleason, who decades earlier began Calvary Chapel Chino Hills’ Real Impact ministry by equipping believers to track city council and school board issues. Hibbs urged pastors not to fear political involvement, emphasizing that congregants are ready to carry the work if leaders will simply give their blessing. He explained that California desperately needs Christians to wake up to their calling, saying that when fire is placed “in your heart, [and] fire in your soul for what is right,” it can spark widespread change across the state.
Hibbs also placed AB 495 within a larger biblical and cultural context, citing Isaiah 10 as a warning against governments that “legislate evil and destruction.” He noted California’s historic role as a center of innovation and industry but lamented how poor leadership has driven families and businesses away. “God said, Woe to those who write misfortune for the people and legislate evil and destruction,” Hibbs warned, applying the verse directly to California lawmakers. He closed by calling for both civic and spiritual revival, urging believers to register to vote, study candidates’ records, and take a clear stand on life, freedom, marriage, and faith.
The Broader Concern
Speakers throughout the day emphasized that AB 495’s danger lies not in abstract hypotheticals but in very real consequences. Legal experts agreed with California School Boards Association legal guidance, schools can release children to anyone presenting a caregiver affidavit, even if parents never approved that person. For families, this means a neighbor, activist, or even a casual acquaintance could lawfully remove their child from school without the parents’ knowledge.
Alliance Defending Freedom’s legal team, along with other constitutional attorneys, issued clear warnings: AB 495 undermines parental rights, lacks due process, and exposes children to potential harm.
A Call to Action
The rally concluded with attendees entering the Capitol to meet with legislators. Armed with personal stories and packets of information, they urged lawmakers to reject AB 495.
The message was clear: California families are awake and engaged. Whatever noble-sounding intentions AB 495’s authors claim, the bill strips parents of their God-given authority and places children at risk.
Jonathan Keller summed it up best: “This is why we fight.”
The rally against AB 495 was more than an event—it was a declaration that California parents will not remain silent while their rights are eroded.
