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2025 LEGISLATIVE WATCH LIST

California 2025 legislation that Real Impact is watching, including its status and action steps.

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Written by Real Impact
Updated today

LEGISLATIVE WATCH LIST

BILL

SUMMARY

STATUS

(OPPOSE) LGBTQ+ Education for K-8 Students

AB 86 (Boerner) Requires the adoption of instructional materials for health education for kindergarten through 8th grade.


Currently, curriculum for grades K-8 is required in language arts, mathematics, science, social science, and bilingual subjects, but not health education.


The bill does not mandate teaching health education in grades K-8, or change current curriculum standards, but it allows health curriculum publishers to produce curriculum that aligns with the current state framework adopted in 2019, which was created for grades 9th-12th.


Publishers have created a curriculum for 9-12 grades that has been criticized by parents for its overtly sexual content.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Assembly member and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 86.

AB 86

Referred to suspense file.

(OPPOSE) – Free Condoms for Students

SB 608 (Menjivar) This bill mandates that all public and charter schools serving grades 7-12 must provide condoms, ensuring they are easily accessible to students. Additionally, it blocks school districts from banning condom distribution in sex education programs, peer-led health initiatives, school health fairs, and other public health efforts.


SB 608 doesn’t stop at schools—it also demands that nonprescription contraception, including condoms and birth control pills, be available in pharmacies, grocery stores, and retail outlets without age-based restrictions.


Senator Menjivar defends the bill passionately, declaring, “By expanding access to condoms in California schools and communities, we are empowering the youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from STIs, while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex.”


However, not everyone is on board. Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar proposal, citing budget concerns.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on SB 608.

SB 608

Referred to suspense file.

(OPPOSE) New LGBTQ Student ID Law

AB 727 (Gonzalez) seeks to expand LGBTQ rights across all educational institutions in California, including public and charter schools, as well as public and private colleges and universities. The bill mandates that every student in grades 7-12 and higher education must have the Trevor Project's phone number and text line printed on the back of their school ID. The Trevor Project offers a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.


The Trevor Project also offers counseling for individuals aged 13-24. Their TrevorSpace platform creates an online community where LGBTQ youth can connect, share experiences, ask tough questions, and find support. They even offer resources for dealing with the tensions that can arise when LGBTQ+ identities clash with family beliefs—especially in religious households.


On April 9, the day of the hearing, the author introduced an amendment to exempt private schools from the proposed requirement, as enforcing it would have violated the First Amendment by forcing speech that contradicts the religious beliefs held by those schools.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Assembly member and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 727.

AB 727 Referred to suspense file.

(OPPOSE) Divisive Ethnic Studies Agenda in Schools

AB 1468 (Dawn and Zbur) would create standards for high school ethnic studies. Originally, ethnic studies courses were introduced in 2021 when AB 101 passed without statewide curriculum guidelines, leaving school districts to create their own versions. But now, critics argue that some educators have misused the subject to push political agendas in classrooms.


AB 1468 shifts control from local school districts to the state, requiring the CA Department of Education to establish uniform curriculum standards and oversee ethnic studies instruction. While some see this as necessary oversight, others see it as state overreach, stripping districts of the flexibility to tailor courses to their communities.


Specifically, AB 1468 requires that the curriculum be appropriate for use with pupils of all races, religions, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, not reflect or promote, directly or indirectly, any bias, bigotry, or discrimination against any person or group of persons on the basis of any category.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Assemblymember and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 1468.

AB 1468

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. May be heard Assembly Education Committee 5/14 at 9am


(OPPOSE) – Expands Confidentiality for Gender and Name Changes

SB 59 (Wiener) changes the law to make records about gender or name changes more private. Right now, if someone under 18 wants to change their gender or name, the court keeps their records secret. This bill expands that protection to everyone, no matter how old they are. It ensures that no one can publicly access or share these records, including on the internet.


The bill also makes sure that records from past petitions are kept private. If someone violates these privacy rules, the person who was harmed can take legal. Additionally, if a person requests it, the court will seal their records without a public hearing, if they meet certain legal criteria. If passed, this bill is urgent and should take effect immediately.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on SB 59.

SB 59

Referred to suspense file.

(OPPOSE) Fast-Tracking Name and Gender Changes on Legal Documents

AB 1084 (Zbur) focuses on simplifying and speeding up the process for adults and minors to change their names or self-identifying gender in legal documents, like birth certificates or marriage licenses.


Currently, for adults who want to change their name to match their gender identity, there’s a process where objections can be filed, and a court hearing is required. This bill removes the ability for people to object to an adult's name change and speeds up the process. The court will have to approve the name change within two weeks without a hearing, unless there's a major issue.


For minors, if both parents sign the petition for a name change, the court will automatically approve the change within two weeks without a hearing. If both parents do not sign, the non-signing parent will be notified, and the court will only hold a hearing if there’s a valid objection. A parent objecting to the child’s name change or change on gender identity is not considered a valid objection.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Assembly member and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 1084.

AB 1084 Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
​5/14 at 9am

LEGISLATIVE WATCH LIST

AB 40 (Bonta) - (OPPOSE) Expands emergency medical services to include abortion, increasing access to abortion in California hospitals and emergency rooms. By redefining 'emergency services and care,' the bill allows abortions to be performed in urgent care settings, potentially increasing the number of abortions under the guise of emergency treatment. If this bill is passed, it will take immediate effect, making it easier for abortion procedures to be integrated into hospital emergency protocols across the state.

STATUS:

Referred to Senate Com. on Health.


AB 45 (Bauer-Kahan) - (OPPOSE)this bill bans the collection, sale, or sharing of their location data unless it’s needed for a service they requested. It also prohibits geofencing around health care facilities to prevent targeted messaging, limiting the ability of pro-life groups to offer women alternatives to abortion through. Violators can be sued or fined, with penalties supporting the state’s Reproductive Justice Fund. The bill also blocks the release of personal health or research data to out-of-state authorities enforcing anti-abortion laws. This legislation further isolates women from life-affirming options while prioritizing secrecy over accountability in abortion practices..

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.


AB 54 (Krell and/ Aguiar-Curry) - (OPPOSE) ““Access to Safe Abortion Care Act,” poses serious threats to life, parental rights, and the moral fabric of our society. This bill promotes the widespread use and distribution of dangerous abortion drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol—even allowing them to be mailed without medical oversight or accountability. It retroactively removes any civil or criminal liability for actions involving these drugs since 2020, opening the door to reckless and unregulated abortions. Worse yet, it undermines the rights of parents by enabling minors to access abortion-inducing drugs without parental knowledge or consent. This bill pushes a radical agenda that prioritizes abortion access over the safety of women, the rights of parents, and the protection of unborn life.

STATUS:

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.


AB 67 (Bauer-Kahan) - (OPPOSE) allows the Attorney General to take legal action against individuals or groups attempting to limit abortion access, including fining local governments that block abortion providers. This bill increases state power to enforce abortion laws by allowing investigations, evidence collection, and subpoenas. It represents an aggressive effort to silence opposition and prevent challenges to California's abortion laws, further expanding abortion access while undermining protections for the unborn. An example is Beverly Hills, which chose not to open a Planned Parenthood clinic that would have allowed third-trimester abortions.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Appropriation Committee 5/14 at 9am


AB 551 (Petrie-Norris) - (OPPOSE) establishes the Reproductive Health Emergency Preparedness Program (RHEPP) to expand abortion and birth control access in California emergency rooms. Taxpayer-funded grants will support hospitals in training staff and providing abortion services. This bill normalizes abortion as emergency care, potentially increasing abortion rates and allowing minors to undergo abortions without parental knowledge, further embedding abortion into mainstream healthcare.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.


AB 1500 (Schiavo) - (OPPOSE) This bill will create a comprehensive online resource for sexual and reproductive health, including abortion services, that would be regularly updated and informed by community input.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

AB 908 (Solache) - (OPPOSE) Requires public and charter schools to provide all-gender bathrooms and locker rooms, implement a gender-affirming curriculum, and create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, regardless of age-appropriateness. Teachers will be forced to undergo training to promote equality and inclusion for all students. The bill could also punish students who disagree with LGBTQ+ views, undermining parental rights and religious freedoms.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee 5/14 at 9am


AB 727 (Gonzalez) - (OPPOSE) seeks to expand LGBTQ rights across all educational institutions in California, including public and charter schools, as well as public and private colleges and universities. The bill mandates that every student in grades 7-12 must have the Trevor Project's phone number and text line printed on the back of their school ID. The Trevor Project offers a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.

On April 9 on the day of the hearing there was an amendment was made by the author to exempt private schools from this requirement.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.


AB 1468 (Dawn and Zbur) - (OPPOSE) Establishes statewide curriculum standards for high school ethnic studies, shifting control from local school districts to the California Department of Education. The bill aims to ensure the curriculum is inclusive, free from bias or discrimination, and appropriate for all students while addressing concerns that some educators were using ethnic studies to push political agendas.

STATUS:

Assembly Education Committee. Join Rule 61 suspended 5/15


AB 84 (Muratsuchi) - (OPPOSE) raises several concerns by increasing state control over charter schools, potentially limiting their flexibility. It imposes stricter audit and compliance requirements, which could burden smaller schools with added costs and administrative tasks. The creation of a new Education Inspector General introduces worries about government overreach and a lack of accountability. Expanded data collection raises privacy concerns, while new restrictions on no classroom-based learning may reduce educational options for families seeking flexibility or faith-based alternatives. Stricter credentialing rules could also hinder schools from hiring specialized or nontraditional educators.

STATUS:

Referred to Assembly Appropriation Committee. 5/14 at 9am

AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry) - (OPPOSE) expands abortion access in California and blocks enforcement of other states' laws that restrict it, while protecting doctors, pharmacists, and clinics from legal consequences for providing abortion services. It allows abortion pills to be used beyond FDA-approved guidelines and requires insurance to cover them. It also loosens requirements for telehealth and Medi-Cal abortion services. While claiming to protect access, AB 260 lowers medical standards and oversight, putting patient safety and legal transparency at risk.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Assembly Appropriation Committee 5/14 at 9am


AB 302 (Bauer-Kahan) - (OPPOSE) changes how and when medical information can be shared, especially in sensitive cases. It would only allow disclosure of medical records if ordered by a California court, even if other states request the information through legal means. It also blocks providers from honoring court orders from other states unless they go through a strict California legal process. Additionally, the bill bans the sale or marketing use of medical information, even if a patient gives permission. These changes increase government control over health data, restrict parental access to children’s medical records, and create legal protections that may shield controversial medical procedures from oversight.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Assembly Appropriation Committee 5/14 at 9am.


SB 418 (Menjivar) - (OPPOSE) mandates that healthcare insurance companies cover surgeries and hormone therapies for individuals seeking to change their sex, applying the same treatment standards to both adults and minors based on gender identity. Healthcare providers are required to offer gender-affirming care, even if it goes against their values or medical practices, with penalties for non-compliance. This law concerns parents, as it overrides their ability to make healthcare decisions for their children, potentially forcing them into situations where their personal beliefs are disregarded, and they may be powerless to prevent treatments they strongly oppose

STATUS:

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.


SB 497 (Weiner) - (OPPOSE) This bill builds upon SB 107. Blocks other states from prosecuting or investigating people who seek or provide gender-affirming care, especially for minors, by preventing the release of medical information related to such care. It stops California health providers, employers, and state agencies from sharing medical records or cooperating with investigations from other states that try to enforce laws against gender-affirming health services. The bill also restricts how prescription drug data (from the CURES system) can be shared with out-of-state agencies, especially if it could be used against individuals seeking or providing legal health care in California.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Senate Appropriations Committee 5/12 at 10am


SB 608 (Menjivar) - (OPPOSE) Will require the State Department of Education to monitor school compliance with the California Healthy Youth Act, ensuring that all students in grades 7-12 receive comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education. Must allow school-based health centers to provide internal and external condoms to students as part of educational or public health programs and cannot restrict access to condoms at these centers. The bill prohibits retail establishments from refusing to sell nonprescription contraception based on a person's age and ensures customers cannot be required to show ID to purchase these products, with certain exceptions.

STATUS:

Placed on APPR. suspense file.


AB 1084 (Zbur) - (OPPOSE) Focuses on simplifying and speeding up the process for adults and minors to change their names or self-identifying gender in legal documents, like birth certificates or marriage licenses.

STATUS:

Read second time and amended.


AB 86 (Boerner) - (OPPOSE) Requires the adoption of instructional materials for health education in kindergarten through 8th grade, though it doesn't mandate teaching health education or change current curriculum standards. The bill allows publishers to create health curricula for K-8 that aligns with the 2019 state framework, which was originally designed for grades 9-12. However, some 9-12 grade health curricula have faced criticism from parents for containing overly sexual content.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.


AB 82 (Ward) - (OPPOSE) would allow minors to seek gender-affirming or reproductive services in California without their parents’ knowledge and blocks the sharing of related medical information—even with law enforcement or courts from other states. The bill also protects providers from having to disclose details of these treatments, shields their identities if they face public criticism, and prevents prescription tracking for drugs like testosterone and abortion pills. Ultimately, this bill undermines parental rights, hides critical medical information, and creates a legal shield around controversial procedures that many families believe should involve full transparency and consent.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee 5/14 at 9am


AB 322 (Ward) - (OPPOSE) this bill would expand the role of schools in managing student health—both physical and mental—by encouraging them to host “Health Days” with screenings and health education, and by promoting participation in state and federal reimbursement programs like Medi-Cal. While it claims to help, it essentially invites outside medical professionals, mental health providers, and even volunteers into schools to interact with children—without requiring parental involvement or consent at every step. It shifts more responsibility from parents to schools when it comes to children's health and opens the door to government-funded programs influencing what kind of care and information students receive.

STATUS:

In Senate. Referred to Senate Education Committee


SB 528 (Weber) - (OPPOSE) this would allow the state to use its own funds to continue offering certain health care services—such as abortion, birth control and gender-affirming treatments—even if the federal government reduces or cuts off funding for them. It would expand state-only health programs, like the State-Only Family Planning Program, and could make these services available not just to Medi-Cal recipients, but to the general public. SB 528 raises serious concerns for parents by using public funds to support controversial procedures, with little oversight or requirement for parental involvement. It shifts more control to the state over sensitive medical decisions, which this decisions should remain in the hands of families.

STATUS:

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. 5/19 at 10am


AB 281 (Gallagher) - (SUPPORT) Would require public and charter schools that provide sexual health and HIV prevention education to students in grades 7–12 to notify parents not only of the date of instruction, but also of the name and affiliation of any outside group or consultant delivering the instruction. This bill aims to increase transparency and ensure parents are fully informed about who is educating their children on these sensitive topics. Parents more transparency and information about who is teaching their children.

STATUS:

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.


AB 579 (Castillo) - (SUPPORT) or Yaeli’s Law, protects parents and guardians from being investigated or punished for using their child’s legal name, calling them by their birth pronoun, or not providing gender-affirming healthcare. It ensures these actions are not considered abuse, neglect, or harm. Parents falsely investigated or facing child removal can take legal action and may receive compensation for legal costs. This law upholds family values and protects parents' rights to make decisions for their children without fear of unjust consequences.

STATUS:

This bill does not have any committee assignments.


AB 600 (Castillo) - (SUPPORT) Will allow parents or guardians to ask for their child to be excused from any school lessons, activities, or surveys that talk about transgender topics if it goes against their religious beliefs. The school can’t punish the student for this, and they must provide something else for the student to do while the lesson or survey happens. Schools also must tell parents about this right. If the student's rights are not respected, they can take legal action and might even get money for court costs.

Parents are the most important teachers in their children's lives. Children belong to their parents, not the government.

STATUS:

This bill does not have any committee assignments.

AB 38 (Lackey) - (SUPPORT) Would classify rape or sexual assault of a minor with a developmental disability as a violent felony, leading to tougher penalties and longer prison sentences, especially for repeat offenders. The bill aims to protect vulnerable children by ensuring harsher consequences for those who commit such serious crimes.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.


AB 379 (Schultz) - (SUPPORT) Strengthens penalties for soliciting sex from anyone under 18 and makes it a crime to loiter in public with the intent to buy sex. First- and second-time offenders selling sex would be offered diversion programs instead of immediate punishment. The bill also adds a $1,000 fine for certain offenses, with the money going to a new Survivor Support Fund to help victims of sex trafficking through community-based organizations

STATUS:

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.


SB 19 (Rubio) - (SUPPORT) makes it a crime to threaten death or serious harm to anyone on school or place of worship grounds. It strengthens penalties for threats that cause fear for safety, making them punishable by jail time, either as a misdemeanor or felony. If the person making the threat is under 18, they would face only a misdemeanor. This bill aims to increase safety at schools and places of worship by imposing stricter consequences for such threats.

STATUS:

April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.


AB 63 (Rodriguez) - (SUPPORT) Aims to reinstate the law that makes it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to engage in prostitution. The bill also ensures that law enforcement cannot arrest someone based solely on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Before making an arrest, police are required to document their efforts to offer services to the individual.

STATUS:

In committee: Hearing for testimony only.

AB 1487 (Addis) - (OPPOSE) provides grants for hospitals and clinics to partner with transgender advocacy groups, funding gender reassignment surgeries, hormone treatments, and non-religious spiritual care, such as meditation and therapy, for both minors and adults.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Com. on APPR. 5/14 at 9am


SB 59 (Wiener) - (OPPOSE) Changes the law to make records about gender or name changes more private. Right now, if someone under 18 wants to change their gender or name, the court keeps their records secret. This bill expands that protection to everyone, no matter how old they are. It ensures that no one can publicly access or share these records, including on the Internet.

STATUS:

Placed on APPR. suspense file.

AB 1464 (Macedo) - (SUPPORT) This bill is crucial because it focuses on safety for everyone in the correctional system. The bill makes sure that transgender, nonbinary, or intersex individuals who have committed serious crimes, like rape, human trafficking, or murder, are housed based on their anatomy. This prevents dangerous individuals from being placed in facilities where they could cause harm, especially if the crime was against someone of the opposite gender.

STATUS:

May be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee

SB 403 (Blakespear) - (OPPOSE) "End of Life Option Act" will allow certain adults who are terminally ill to request a drug that helps them end their life. To qualify, the person must meet specific conditions, such as being a California resident and having a terminal disease diagnosed by their doctor. The current law is set to expire on January 1, 2031, but this bill proposes to remove that expiration date, allowing the law to continue indefinitely.

STATUS: Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. 5/12 at 10am

AB 392 (Dixon) - (SUPPORT) Would require pornographic websites to verify that all individuals in uploaded content are adults who gave full consent to be filmed and to have the content posted online. Uploaders must submit a sworn statement confirming this. If someone later claims they didn’t consent or were underage, the website must remove the content within 48 hours. Victims and prosecutors would also be able to take legal action if the site fails to comply. This bill aims to prevent exploitation and protect people—especially minors—online.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.


AB 621 (Bauer-Kahan) - (SUPPORT) Strengthens protections against deepfake pornography by allowing individuals—especially minors—to sue anyone who creates or shares fake sexual content without their consent. It also holds companies accountable if they knowingly support deepfake porn sites and don’t stop after being notified. The bill increases penalties up to $250,000 for malicious violations and lets prosecutors take legal action to enforce these protections.

STATUS:

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

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