Hate Speech

California Can't Define 'Hate Speech' But May Mandate Workplace Training Anyway

The term “hate speech” gets thrown around a lot, but it’s legally protected in the U.S.

J.D. Tuccille | 5.1.2026 7:00 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google

Media Contact & Reprint Requests

(Illustration: Luri Gagarin/Dreamstime/California Legislative Information)

"Hate speech" is notoriously hard to define and is usually a subjective characterization of harsh words. Though the term is thrown around by people describing comments they don't like, it generally refers to expression that might not be nice but is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as well as state speech protections. But that's not going to stop California lawmakers from trying to hector people into refraining from voicing nasty sentiments.

You are reading The Rattler from J.D. Tuccille and Reason. Get more of J.D.'s commentary on government overreach and threats to everyday liberty.

Instagram

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email(Required)

SUBSCRIBE

Training the Hate Away

Existing California law requires employers with five or more employees to provide at least two hours of training regarding sexual harassment to all supervisors, and at least one hour of training to all other employees, repeated every two years. Assembly Bill 1803, introduced by Assemblymembers Josh Lowenthal (D–Long Beach) and Rick Chavez Zbur (D–Los Angeles) and co-authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D–Moreno Valley), "would additionally require that the above-described training and education include, as a component of the training and education, anti-hate speech training."

In a press release, Lowenthal claims that "AB 1803 is about making our workplaces safer,........

© Reason.com