HR

CALIFORNIA SB 1454 REVISITED: WHAT MINISTRIES NEED TO KNOW NOW

by | November 10, 2026

Two security men smiling

An Updated Look at How the Law May Affect Faith-Based Organizations

This article is informational only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to serve as, legal advice to our ministry clients. While we have consulted with our own legal counsel on the development of this article, ministries are strongly encouraged to consult with their own legal counsel to assist them in making a risk management decision that is most appropriate for their organization.

Effective January 1, 2025, a California Senate Bill (SB 1454) expanded the range of organizations potentially subject to oversight by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), the state agency that regulates the Alarm, Locksmith, Private Investigator, Private Security Services, and Repossession industries. 

The new law strengthens standards and increases regulations regarding proprietary private security—security personnel employed directly by an organization rather than through a third-party security firm. By removing long-standing exemptions previously in place for “charitable philanthropic societies or associations,” which included ministries and faith-based organizations, the law expands the application of existing training requirements, licensing procedures, and employer responsibilities to organizations previously exempt from these provisions. It also makes it an infraction for a person to engage in the business of a “proprietary private security officer” or a “proprietary private security employer” unless registered with BSIS.

For California churches and ministries, the central question is whether their safety or security personnel meet the legal definitions of proprietary private security employers and officers. Understanding these distinctions is essential when determining which registration and training requirements may apply.

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