[NFBC-Info] Congratulations on the Veto of SB 1130

[Tina Thomas]

Good job, California affiliate.
I must say that our California governor has been very receptive to our concerns, legitimate service dogs and or fake service dogs.
Now AI glasses.
Tina Thomas Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 1, 2026, at 9:53 AM, president--- via NFBC-Info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Dear Federation Friends,
> 
> 
> 
> I'm pleased to share a small victory in our state legislative work.  We
> succeeded in stopping a well-intended and overly restrictive law that would
> have impacted our use of wearable devices like AI-powered smart glasses and
> services like Aira and Be My Eyes.  We commend the Office of the Governor
> for vetoing S.B. 1130.  This is our collective action at work.  The content
> of our letter is pasted below:
> 
> Tim Elder, President
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of California
> 
> president@ nfbcal. org
> 
> 4226 Castanos Street Fremont, CA 94536 ( 916) 382- 0372
> 
> September 23, 2026
> 
> The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor of California 1021 O Street, Suite 9000
> Sacramento, CA 95814
> 
> Re: Request for Veto of Senate Bill 1130 ( Reyes) - Wearable Recording
> Devices
> 
> Dear Governor Newsom:
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind of California (" NFBC") is the
> statewide affiliate of the nation's transformative membership and advocacy
> organization
> 
> of blind people. I write on behalf of NFBC to respectfully ask that you veto
> Senate Bill 1130 ( Reyes) with the intention for the author to explicitly
> 
> include an exception for glasses used for visual interpretation by blind and
> low- vision Californians. To be clear, we share the bill's underlying goal
> 
> of protecting Californians from being secretly recorded by wearable devices,
> and we do not oppose that aim. A veto now will give the author the
> opportunity
> 
> to amend the bill so that it accomplishes its purpose without penalizing
> disability access.
> 
> We also appreciate the disability- related exemptions the bill already has
> in subdivisions
> 
> ( e)
> 
> and ( g), and we do not take that protection lightly. We would propose some
> clarifying edits to subsection ( e) in order to fully protect blind and low
> 
> vision Californians. These edits ( underlined) would read:
> 
> "( e) This section does not apply to the use of hearing aids, wearables used
> for visual interpretation, augmentative and alternative communication
> devices,
> 
> and similar devices by a person with impaired hearing, impaired vision, or
> any communication disorder when the hearing aid or device is used for the
> purpose
> 
> of overcoming the impairment or disorder to permit the hearing of sounds
> ordinarily audible to the human ear or to support interpretation of visual
> surroundings,
> 
> or communication with the person."
> 
> For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to veto SB 1130 and to invite
> the author to return with amended protections afforded under subsection ( e)
> 
> along the lines described above. We would welcome the opportunity to work
> with your office and with Senator Reyes to get this language right. Thank
> you
> 
> for your consideration and for your
> 
> continued commitment to the independence and equal participation of blind
> Californians.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> Tim Elder President National Federation of the Blind of California
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Tim Elder
> 
> President
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of California
> 
> <mailto:president at nfbcal.org> president at nfbcal.org
> 
> (916) 382-0372
> 
> <http://www.nfbcal.org/> http://www.nfbcal.org/
> 
> 
> 
> Did you know that blind Californians are holding monthly meetings in your
> region over Zoom and telephone?  Check out our virtual local chapter and
> division meetings.  All are welcome to attend.
> 
> <http://www.nfbcal.org/chapters-and-divisions/>
> http://www.nfbcal.org/chapters-and-divisions/
> 
> 
> 
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