.png)
California governor Gavin Newsom signs bill limiting use of rap lyrics as evidence in court
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a landmark bill into law restricting the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court.
The Friday move makes California the first state to have such a law.
"CA is the 1st state to ensure creative content, like lyrics & music videos, can't be used against artists in court without judicial review," the office of Newsom, a Democrat, tweeted Friday.
A handful of rap musicians, including Meek Mill, Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign, Too Short, Killer Mike, and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., are pictured in a photo below the tweet in a Zoom call when Newsom signed the bill.
"The second time I witnessed the Governor of California sign bills that help our people … probation caps & bans on using rap lyrics in court "I RESPECT YOU" Thank you I understand the magnitude of the moves you make we need help in the system," Mill posted on Twitter.
Introduced as a bill by Democratic state Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer of Los Angeles, the law now requires judges to balance the value of the evidence with the “undue prejudice” and racial bias possible when that evidence is presented to a jury. Assembly Bill 2799 unanimously passed the Legislature in late August.
