Perhaps, but California generally doesn't look fondly on personal agency, especially on non-liberal topics like gun ownership/self defence, not participating in public education system, using gas vehicles, not getting vaccinated, etc.

I’ve lived in California and Indiana for 20 years each and recently discovered this explanation isn’t satisfactory.

You’re right in how you describe California; however they do look fondly on personal agency for liberal topics like birth control, abortion, marriage, drug usage, pissing on sidewalks in SF, etc.

I’ve concluded that different states value different forms of agency, but for some reason when people start pointing fingers they claim the other state doesn’t value agency.