The Street Vendor Business Protection Act makes history!

We’re proud to have successfully advocated for the passage of SB 635, the Street Vendor Business Protection Act, in the 2025 state legislative cycle. The bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025 and went into effect on January 1, 2026. Read the legislative alert for guidance on this new law.

The Street Vendor Business Protection Act was authored by Senator María Elena Durazo, and co-sponsored by Inclusive Action for the City, CHIRLA, Community Power Collective, Public Counsel, and Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice.

The law establishes strong protections for immigrant sidewalk vendors by preventing local sidewalk vending permitting and enforcement activities from being used to detain, deport, and separate families. Specifically, the law prevents cities, counties, and any company contracted for enforcement from: (1) sharing the personally identifiable information of sidewalk vendors except pursuant to a valid subpoena or court order, (2) aiding or cooperating with any agency conducting immigration enforcement; and (3) inquiring into citizenship or immigration status or requiring the completion of background checks or fingerprinting requirements in order for sidewalk vendors to receive their local vending permits.