Updated October 25, 2024
Bill: AB 1955: Bill to Protect Student-Teacher Secrets
Author(s): Assembly Member Ward
Position: Strongly Opposed
Current Status: Governor Newsom Signed Into Law 7/15/24
| AB 1955 was introduced in January as a bill to provide reimbursement for health services. However, on May 22nd, this bill was gutted-and-amended in the Senate becoming “Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act.” Immediately, FPM began taking action marking this bill as urgent and writing opposition letters to deliver to the State Senators before the session voted. Unfortunately, it was too quickly pushed through the legislature. On July 15, 2024, while the news was busy covering the assassination attempt of President Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom unashamedly signed AB 1955. This bill forces teachers to lie to the parents of children struggling with gender identity and students who have changed their name at school. This bill restricts the freedom of parents to know and help their children make decisions about gender identity and establishes the state as the authority allowing the school system to influence the child without the knowledge and permission of the parents. This bill undermines the pillars of freedom (Religious Freedom and Parental Rights) upon which the legal right to enroll children in a private school or homeschool has been established. AB 1955 is another demonstration of California’s continued path towards restricting the freedom of its residents and will set a new precedent for other states to follow. Many people are disappointed and worried about the consequences of this new law. Below is a quick timeline of this bill’s history. |
Timeline
January 2024
AB 1955 Introduced
Introduced as Pupil health: school-based health services and school-based mental health services
February 2024
Referred
Referred to Committee on Education.
March 2024
Re-referred
To Committee on Appropriations.
April 2024
Ordered to Consent Calendar
Read for the first time in the Senate.
July 2024
State Legislator Summer Recess
September 2024
Lawsuit Filed Challenging AB 1955
America First Legal, on behalf of The City of Huntington Beach, sues: Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Robert Bonta, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.