A California bill under consideration has drawn sharp national criticism over its potential to eliminate parental consent in key decisions involving school-aged children. Assembly Bill 495 would allow unrelated adults—potentially strangers—to remove children from schools or daycare facilities and authorize medical treatments without notifying or obtaining consent from the child’s parents or guardians.
The most vocal critic to date is Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. Speaking to his congregation, Hibbs warned that the legislation “100% strips parents of their parental rights,” and called on California parents to leave the state if the bill becomes law. “You gotta run with your kids,” he said. “You gotta go.”
Under AB 495, individuals would be permitted to use a one-page “Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit” to assume temporary control over a minor child. Critics point out that the form does not require identification, verification, background checks, or proof of relationship to the child. Schools would be obligated to comply with the form as presented.
If passed, the bill would authorize the adult signatory to provide consent for medical, dental, and mental health services on behalf of the child. The scope of these services could include gender-transition procedures, abortion, psychological evaluations, and other significant medical interventions—all without the knowledge of the child’s legal parent or guardian.
Just as I suspected: #AB495 is even worse than we thought:
It is 100000% a vehicle to take legal custody away from parents/guardians without due process of law (notice of charges against you and basis thereof + an opportunity to be heard). See Exhibit 4,872: pic.twitter.com/J4JHjVyqaH
— Nicole Pearson, Esq. (@NicolePearsonJD) July 6, 2025
Supporters of the bill claim it is designed to protect undocumented minors and other vulnerable children from immigration enforcement actions and family instability. However, the bill’s broad language has triggered alarm across political lines.
Attorney Nicole Pearson, founder of the legal advocacy group “Facts Law Truth Justice,” described the legislation as “terrifying” during testimony before a California legislative committee. Pearson stated that the bill enables individuals with no legal relationship to a child to transfer school enrollment and authorize medical procedures without parental awareness. “These unintended consequences are terrifying, and they are unavoidable,” she said.
Critics warn that the bill could be exploited by traffickers, predators, or ideologically driven organizations to gain access to minors under the guise of caregiving. The proposed law does not impose criminal background checks or safeguards to prevent abuse.
A rally organized by Hibbs is scheduled for August 19 in Sacramento, where parents and community leaders will lobby lawmakers to reject the bill. The event is expected to draw thousands of attendees.
AB 495 is currently advancing through the California Legislature. Governor Gavin Newsom has not commented publicly on the bill. If passed and signed into law, AB 495 would significantly alter the state’s framework for parental rights in education and healthcare, with national implications for the broader debate surrounding child welfare and government authority.
