Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed two bills into law that expand the opportunities and incentives for students to serve as pupil members of governing boards.

In the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic,the California Legislature recently passed Melanie's Law in an effort to prevent fentanyl overdoses in California public schools.

Several California school districts are facing legal challenges brought by parents and teachers to district policies favoring student privacy with respect to gender expression and identity. Other school districts are adopting parental notification policies requiring district staff to notify a student’s parents when their child requests to use a different name or pronouns than those assigned

Starting January 1, 2025, officials in school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools must complete ethics training at least once every two years.

On October 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1484 into law. AB 1484 requires public agencies subject to the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), upon the request of a recognized employee organization, to automatically add temporary employees (temps) to the bargaining unit if they are hired to perform the same or similar work performed by permanent bargaining unit employees.

On September 25, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1078, which prohibits school boards from banning books because the books include diverse perspectives.

On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 274, also known as the “Keep Kids in School” bill.

Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 1186, the Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act (Act).

On August 24, 2023, the California Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated opinion in Pico Neighborhood Association et al., v. City of Santa Monica, reversing an unprecedented Court of Appeal decision that had previously favored the City of Santa Monica.