SACRAMENTO, CA – On September 29, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senator Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 937, marking a victory in the fight to protect our immigrant communities and neighbors exercising their civil rights. 

The increased and indiscriminate use of military-style weapons against protestors and during immigration enforcement operations has resulted in serious injuries in California and nationwide. Despite being labeled as “less-lethal,” these weapons still pose significant risks of permanent, debilitating injuries and death to both users and targets. In 2025, a bystander at a Los Angeles protest was struck by a flash-bang, amputating his finger. In another incident, a mother and her two young children in Huntington Park were put in direct danger last year when federal agents used a charge to blow the door and windows off their home while they were inside.

In response to these and other incidents, SB 937 will protect communities by aligning the restrictions on flash-bang grenades for crowd control with restrictions for other “less lethal” weapons and prohibiting the use of flash-bangs and explosive breaching charges for immigration enforcement.

“I am grateful to Governor Newsom for recognizing the importance of this legislation, especially at a time when our communities are constantly under threat and many are afraid to leave their homes,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez. “SB 937 strengthens safeguards around the use of military-style weapons in California. Children, families, and protestors alike should have never been subjected to this egregious violence in the first place—and while we cannot take back what happened to my constituents and others across the state, we have a moral imperative to stop it from happening again.”

Signing SB 937 sends a clear message that protestors and immigrant communities in California cannot be continually subjected to the misuse of dangerous weapons and affirms the state’s commitment to accountability and transparency in law enforcement operations. Among other provisions, the bill will additionally require any use of a flash-bang to be documented on the Department of Justice’s public use-of-force database.

“We are thrilled that SB 937, which protects public safety and safeguards the civil rights of communities across California, has been signed into law,” said Shayna Englin, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy for the California Community Foundation. “By establishing common-sense rules for the use of flash-bang grenades and explosive breaching charges, this law takes important steps forward. We are grateful for Senator Gonzalez's leadership, and we look forward to continuing to work together to further strengthen community safety for all Californians.”

"California families and communities deserve protection from military-style weapons in their neighborhoods. These weapons endanger the health, safety, and rights of Californians," said Chloe Hermosillo, Government Affairs Manager of California Immigrant Policy Center. "We thank Governor Newsom for signing SB 937 and taking a stand against these dangerous tactics, and we thank Senator Gonzalez for her fearless leadership in getting it there. This is a win for every Californian who has the right to peacefully protest without facing military-grade force."

SB 937 will go into effect statewide on January 1, 2027.

###

Senator Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. She serves as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus and is a dedicated advocate on key priorities that impact Californians from economic development and environmental justice to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, digital equity and more. Senator Gonzalez has championed major policies, including broadband for all, expanding paid sick leave, advancing clean transportation incentives, and ending neighborhood oil drilling. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more, visit sd33.senate.ca.gov/.

Since 1915, CCF has served Los Angeles County as a public charitable organization dedicated to leading systemic change that strengthens communities. Managing $2.3 billion in assets and overseeing 1,900 charitable foundations, funds and legacies, CCF’s mission is to invest in, partner with and amplify the power of community toward a good life.

The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a constituent-based statewide immigrant rights organization with offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Fresno and a leading immigrant rights institution in the state. CIPC advocates for policies that uphold the humanity of immigrants and refugees while advancing racial, social and economic justice.