Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) has introduced AB 1535, the Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Prevention Act. The bill aims to add political affiliation to the list of characteristics that can be considered when classifying an act as a hate crime in California.
The legislation is named after former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Both individuals were killed in politically motivated attacks—Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and Kirk while speaking at Utah Valley University during a Turning Point USA event.
Davies stated, “Our nation was founded on political freedoms, however, political violence is detrimental to our democracy and shouldn’t be tolerated.” She continued, “Leaders are required to cool the temperature, not fan the flames. AB 1535 isn’t just about protecting Californians; it’s about a cultural reset. It’s a commitment to the idea that every Californian has the right to their political views without fear of being targeted by those who see them as an enemy rather than a neighbor.”
She added, “This measure ensures that our justice system recognizes political violence for exactly what it is: a hate-motivated crime.”
Currently, California civil law provides protection based on political affiliation for matters such as employment and housing rights. However, these protections do not extend to criminal hate crime statutes if someone is assaulted or killed due to their beliefs or elected position. AB 1535 seeks to update penal codes so that targeting someone because of their political affiliation would qualify as a hate crime.
The bill comes after several high-profile incidents of political violence in recent years. These include the assault on Paul Pelosi in 2022, the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in 2024, and the killings of Melissa Hortman and Charlie Kirk in 2025. Davies emphasized that this legislation is timely with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Laurie Davies represents California’s 74th Assembly District, covering communities in southern Orange County such as Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano; as well as northern San Diego County communities including Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook, Oceanside and Vista.
