Thanks to the relentless advocacy of our ALL IN for Safe Schools community, we have navigated a complex and challenging legislative year. Together, we fought to secure welcoming, inclusive, and affirming learning environments for California’s immigrant families and LGBTQ+ students.
As the 2026 legislative session closes, we want to share a comprehensive update on the status of our coalition’s core agenda. While we celebrated historic victories, some critical measures were held or vetoed, drawing a clear map for our continued advocacy next year under a new governor.
Major Victories Signed into Law & Funded
- Establishing California New Americans in Schools (CalNAS) Program Funding: In a monumental win for newcomer students, the final 2026-27 state budget allocated $100 million for the California New Americans in Schools program. Similar to the CalNEW program, this funding is dedicated to immigrant students and English learners and will dramatically expand resources for specialized English language development, mental health services, educator training, and partnerships with immigration services in schools.
- Historic $36 Million Secured to Protect Transgender Health Care: In one of the most critical defensive victories of the year, Equality California successfully secured a historic $36 million one-time General Fund investment in the final state budget.
- 988 LGBTQ+ Crisis Support Restored: While the standalone bill AB 1540 (M. González) faced administrative shifts, its core provisions were successfully absorbed into the health budget trailer bill AB 173, which was signed into law. This officially reinstates the crucial 988 "Press 3" option to connect vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth with life-saving specialists.
- AB 2555 (Patel) – Signed into Law: This milestone eliminates fragmented local barriers and establishes a unified statewide standard for reclassifying English learners. Learn more about this critical change from Californians Together and read a comprehensive explainer by GO Public Schools. With an urgency clause, the phased-in implementation process has already begun and schools may start reclassifying students now, including those who scored a Level 4 on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) in Spring 2026.
Partner-Led Wins We Proudly Supported
- AB 1807 (Gabriel) – Signed into Law: Strictly bars the use of state-owned property, including schools, keeping unauthorized federal activity off state land.
- AB 1159 (Addis) – Signed into Law: Establishes guardrails that bar companies from collecting, keeping, or sharing a student’s immigration status, reproductive health information, or sexual orientation and gender identity.
- AB 2332 (M. González) – Signed into Law: Creates a dedicated Dual Language Immersion Coordinator position at the California Department of Education.
- AB 2429 (Rubio) – Signed into Law: Updates and expands the relationship-based framework for early childhood mental health consultation services in child care settings.
Disappointments & Vetoes
- $20M EWIG Funding (Bonta, Ochoa Bogh) – Not Renewed
- SB 608 (Menjivar) – Vetoed
- AB 2201 (Boerner) – Held in committee
- AB 908 (Solache) – Held in committee
- SB 1257 (Arreguín) – Held in committee
- AB 2092 (Bonta) – Held in committee
- AB 2379 (Solache, Carrillo) – Moved to inactive
- SB 1422 (Durazo) – Moved to inactive
The Road Ahead
These outcomes prove that our coalition’s voice is stronger than ever, but our work is far from finished. We are incredibly grateful to our core team members and to all of you for showing unity as we advocate for safe schools for all.