FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2026
CALSAGA Calls on Assembly to Reject Bill That Would
Make Professional Security Unaffordable
Legislation threatens public safety and jeopardizes security staffing
ahead of 2028 LA Olympic Games
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates (CALSAGA) is calling on the state Assembly to reject legislation that would impose sweeping new training mandates on security guards, at a cost of billions to the organizations relying on trained and licensed security officers. These costs would be so steep that businesses from large to small will be forced to eliminate this essential protection, replacing it with unlicensed staff or unmanned surveillance right when the state needs its security workforce the most.
The impact would extend far beyond business. Cities, counties, and state agencies across California rely on licensed security guards to protect schools, government offices, courthouses, and other public property. Taxpayers would ultimately absorb hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs as public sector budgets are forced to stretch further to maintain basic protection of government facilities and the communities they serve.
The need for private security is only growing. California hospitals have reported thousands of violent incidents annually, retail theft continues to hit businesses and consumers hard and reported hate crimes remain near historic highs at schools, houses of worship, and community centers. Ninety percent of businesses that rely on security officers are small businesses, operating on the same tight margins as the schools, hospitals, and local governments this bill would burden.
With millions of people from across the globe set to descend on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic Games, CALSAGA warns that lawmakers are on the verge of gutting the very workforce California will depend on to keep venues, transit systems, and public spaces secure.
Communities that would be most impacted, including small businesses, communities of color, building managers, hospitality, residential properties, are coming together to voice their opposition to this bill that puts public safety at risk. This includes California Small Business Association, Greater Los Angeles Hospitality Association, Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, California Business Properties Association, California Hispanic and Asian Chambers of Commerce.
“I spent my career protecting the public, and I know what it takes to keep people safe at scale,” said Ralph Ruedas, retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. “You cannot replace a trained, licensed guard with a camera or an empty post. If this bill drives security companies out of business, the state will be walking into the Olympics with fewer trained guards on the ground, not more. That is a public safety risk California cannot afford to take.”
CALSAGA and its members have long championed training for licensed security officers, but this bill is the wrong approach.
“California already maintains among the highest standards for private security in the country, with strict licensing, background checks, and training requirements. Many licensed companies already go well beyond the state minimum, and our industry supports strengthening those standards further,” said David Chandler, President of CALSAGA. “What we can’t support is a bill that piles new costs on top of a system that already works. Employers are stretched thin enough as it is, and lawmakers need to reject this bill before it costs us the guards who keep our communities safe.”
ABOUT: CALSAGA represents approximately 3,000 licensed security employers and more than 360,000 licensed security professionals across California.
Media Contact: Nicole Evans
916-502-2756
nevans@nkestrategies.com
