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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) Sex 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 Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 86.

AB 86

Referred Senate Education Committee 6/25/25

(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 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 Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 727.

AB 727 Referred to Senate Education Committee 7/2

(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 files up to five years prior to the act’s effective date are kept private too. If someone violates these privacy rules, the person who was harmed can take legal action. 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 Assemblymember and urge him or her to vote "No" on SB 59.

SB 59

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

(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 six 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 six 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 Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 1084.

AB 1084

Referred to Senate Judiciary Com. 7/1

(OPPOSE) Forced Gender Coverage in Health Care Plans

SB 418 (Menjivar) would prevent discrimination in health care based on gender identity. It would require health insurance plans including Medi-Cal to cover gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy or surgeries, if that same care would be covered for other medical reasons. Health plans would also be prohibited from treating people differently because of their gender identity.

For minors, if a doctor determines that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, insurance must cover it regardless of the minor’s sex assigned at birth or gender identity. The bill would also require health plans to cover up to a 12-month supply of prescription hormone therapy (such as estrogen or testosterone) in one fill.

Pharmacists would be required to provide this full supply upon request, similar to existing rules for birth control.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Assemblymember and urge him or her to vote "No" on SB 418.

SB 418

Referred to Assembly Health Committee 7/1

(OPPOSE) Protect Chart Schools & Their Funding

AB 84 (Muratsuchi) would divert critical homeschool-friendly charter school dollars away from teaching and learning and into more bureaucracy and unnecessary administration. It would limit new charter schools and flexible learning options.

The bill would also let districts charge higher fees for overseeing charter schools, reducing money for teachers and programs. Flexible learning models like online or independent study could face cuts.

AB 84 limits new and growing charter schools, reducing school choices and affecting students who need personalized education or special support. Overall, it would hurt both schools and families by cutting resources and options.

TAKE ACTION:

Contact your California Senator and urge him or her to vote "No" on AB 84.

AB 84

Referred to Assembly Health Committee 7/1

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 Appropriation Committee 6/30


AB 54 (Krell and/ Aguiar-Curry) - (OPPOSE) this bill would make it legal to send, receive, or use abortion-related drugs—like mifepristone and misoprostol—if the abortion is legal under state law. It also protects anyone involved in providing or using these drugs (like doctors or patients) from being sued, arrested, or punished by medical boards, even for actions that happened after January 1, 2020. 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:

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


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:

In committee: Held under submission.


AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry) - (OPPOSE) would allow California to permit and regulate abortion drugs like mifepristone even without FDA approval, protects providers and pharmacists from legal or professional penalties, and ensures insurance coverage continues. It also expands access through telehealth and limits law enforcement access to related records. While claiming to protect access, AB 260 lowers medical standards and oversight, putting patient safety and legal transparency at risk.

STATUS:

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.


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: Held under submission.


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: Held under submission


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:

Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 6/25.

AB 908 (Solache) - (OPPOSE) this bill would require the state to check if schools are actually teaching students about the contributions of people from all backgrounds—like Latino Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans, people of all genders, and different cultures and religions—during their regular reviews of school districts. Right now, the state already checks schools each year to make sure they aren’t discriminating. This bill adds an extra step to make sure schools are also following the rules about teaching inclusive social science content.

STATUS:

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


AB 727 (Gonzalez) - (OPPOSE) seeks to expand LGBTQ rights across all educational institutions in California, including public and charter schools, as well as public 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 Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.


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:

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.


AB 84 (Muratsuchi) - (OPPOSE) would divert crucial funding from homeschool-friendly charter schools into unnecessary bureaucracy, reducing resources for teaching and learning. It would also limit new charter schools and flexible options cutting choices for families and students who need extra support.

STATUS:

In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.


AB 268 (Patel) - (OPPOSE) this bill would recognize Diwali as a California state holiday, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Public schools, community colleges, and state offices may close for Diwali if approved by their governing boards.
If schools stay open, they may hold classroom activities using existing resources to teach about Diwali’s themes light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, spiritual themes, and its cultural significance. A model curriculum may be provided but is optional.

STATUS:

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

SB 418 (Menjivar) - (OPPOSE) mandates that healthcare insurance companies and Medi-Cal 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. The bill would also, require coverage of up to a 12-month supply of prescription hormone therapy in one fill, and pharmacists would be required to dispense it upon request. 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:

Referred to Assembly Health Committee 7/1


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:

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on Public Safety


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:

May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.


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:

Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 7/1.


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:

Referred Senate Education Committee 6/25/25


AB 82 (Ward) - (OPPOSE) this bill would hide personal information of those minors and adults that have gender-affirming and abortion care, blocks reporting of related prescriptions, limit law enforcement investigations, prevent cooperation with other states enforcing their laws, and eliminate bail for related out-of-state arrests—reducing accountability and potentially increasing risks to public safety.

STATUS:

Referred to Senate Public Safety Committee 7/1


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:

May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.


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:

Ordered to inactive file at the request of Assembly Member Gallagher.


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 302 (Bauer-Kahan) - (SUPPORT) AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 23, 2025. This bill is meant to protect the personal information of certain public officials in California like elected representatives, judges, and their family members by allowing them to request that their private details (like home address or phone number) not be shared, sold, or published. If someone refuses to remove the information or shares it in a way that could seriously harm the person, they could face legal action, fines, or even criminal charges. The goal is to help keep these individuals and their families safe from threats, harassment, or harm.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Com. on RLS.


AB 322 (Ward) - (SUPPORT) AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 23, 2025. This bill would require businesses in California to clearly inform people when they collect precise location data (like exact GPS location), explain why they’re collecting it, and how they’ll use it. It also limits how long companies can keep this data—they must delete it when it’s no longer needed for the service or within one year of the person’s last interaction with the business. The bill builds on California’s existing privacy laws to give people more control and transparency over how their location information is used.

STATUS:

Re-referred to Com. on RLS.


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) would combat sex trafficking in California by re-criminalizing loitering with intent to purchase sex, targeting demand for prostitution. It establishes a Survivor Support Fund to aid sex trade survivors and seeks to reverse the impact of SB 357, which had decriminalized loitering for prostitution. While the bill originally included a provision to make soliciting sex from 16- and 17-year-olds a felony, a Senate Public Safety Committee amendment weakened this by reducing the offense to a misdemeanor. Despite this, AB 379 still pushes for stronger accountability for sex buyers and support for exploited minors and women.

STATUS:

Referred to Senate Appropriation Committee 6/23


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 an infraction. This bill aims to increase safety at schools and places of worship by imposing stricter consequences for such threats.

STATUS:

Referred to Assembly Public Safety Committee 7/1


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.


SB 751 (Becker and Jones) - (OPPOSE) would allow the University of California to run a research program using the illegal psychedelic drug psilocybin (known as “Magic Mashrooms”) to treat veterans and first responders with PTSD and depression. While the goal is to explore its potential benefits, the bill raises concerns about safety, lack of proven effectiveness, risks to vulnerable populations, and limited oversight.

STATUS:

May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission

AB 1487 (Addis) - (OPPOSE) this bill would allow hospitals and clinics to partner with transgender advocacy organizations to apply for grants that fund sex-change surgeries and hormone treatments for both minors and adults.

STATUS:

Referred to Senate Health Committee 7/2


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:

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (June 17).

Asm 2nd Reading File Senate Bills 6/18


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


AB 932 (Irwin) - (OPPOSE) would expand current discrimination laws to include more schools and local government programs, such as charter schools and public parks. It would make it illegal to treat someone unfairly in youth or school sports based on their sex or gender identity. The bill would allow individuals to sue cities, schools, or sports programs if they believe they were discriminated against. It would also require equal access to sports teams and facilities for everyone, regardless of gender identity. However, these new rules would be costly and confusing for local agencies to implement, especially when it comes to decisions about team participation based on gender.

STATUS:

Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 7/1

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:

Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.

AB 392 (Dixon) - (SUPPORT) would require pornographic websites to verify that anyone shown in explicit content is an adult and has given clear consent to be filmed and have the video uploaded. It would also require websites to quickly remove any content if a person shown says they didn’t agree to it or were underage at the time. Uploaders would have to confirm this under penalty of perjury, and people could sue if the rules aren’t followed.

STATUS:

Referred to Coms. on Judiciary and Public Safety


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:

Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee

AB 930 (Ward)- (OPPOSE) this bill would allow mail-in ballots be counted up to 7 days after Election Day, which could delay results. It also makes people who request a recount pay a hidden fee and choose how the recount is done, which could be confusing and costly.

STATUS:

Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee 7/1

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