'Repeal AB 5' Campaign Gets Support From SW RivCo Lawmaker

MURRIETA, CA — The fight over Assembly Bill 5 — the California law that puts limitations on freelancers and the self-employed, as well as those who hire them — continues, and a local lawmaker is voicing her support for repealing the legislation.

A "Repeal AB 5" rally held Tuesday morning in Sacramento was headlined by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Murrieta), who represents a large swath of Southwest Riverside County.

"No one should interfere between you and your responsibility of taking care of your family. No one has that right ... . Your freedom matters," Melendez told the crowd of nearly 100 gathered on the west steps of the State Capitol.

Melendez rallied the supportive audience, offering that AB 5 is not a partisan issue. "This does not have to do with politics. This is about your economic freedom," she said.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Roseville) led Tuesday's charge, looking to garner support for a bill he and Melendez introduced on Jan. 15 (AB 1928) that would gut AB 5. Their urgency statute came just two weeks after AB 5 took effect on Jan. 1. They have also drafted a constitutional amendment that would overturn the law.

Kiley told Tuesday's crowd that their legislation will end the "AB 5 nightmare" the minute the governor signs it, adding that hardly an industry or trade has not been impacted by the new law. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 on Sept. 18, 2019.

"AB 5 denies you the life you've created for yourself," Kiley told the crowd.

Other Republican lawmakers have taken aim at AB 5, with several bills introduced to alter or repeal the law. There have also been legal challenges to AB 5, including from the California Trucking Association, Uber, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and others.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) authored AB 5. In response to criticism, she introduced a bill Jan. 6 that might "further clarify" the law, although few details have been provided to date.

In addition to Kiley and Melendez, eight other speakers addressed Tuesday's crowd. All were in favor of repealing AB 5.