On July 14, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 784, amending Education Code section 56031.  Individualized education program (IEP) teams can now provide deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) services as stand-alone supports to students who do not require additional specialized instruction.

On October 7, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1412, enhancing educational continuity for students with disabilities who transfer into California schools from out-of-state, with a particular focus on students of military families.

On June 12, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in A.J.T. by and through A.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279 (U.S., June 12, 2025, No. 24-249) 605 U.S. __, holding that students bringing disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 cannot be held to a higher legal standar

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published new guidance, “Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting how schools’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to civil rights violations related to racial, sexual, and disability discrimination.