On Jan. 1, 2026, several of the 794 bills signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025 took effect, with various amending pre-existing state laws. California Assembly Bill 715 (AB 715) has raised concern among educators and political activists for expanding the definitions and language used in state laws governing discriminatory conduct. Its companion measure, Senate Bill 48 (SB 48), further addresses issues of educational equity and discrimination.
Governor Newsom issued a signing message on Oct. 7, 2025, a written statement establishing the legislative intent behind AB 715 and SB 48. Governor Newsom noted the two legislations establish an Office of Civil Rights, under which there will be distinct “discrimination prevention coordinators.”
He added that “antisemitism is a historic scourge and needs to be addressed aggressively,” reassuring that his administration has “taken steps to ensure that California protects students from all forms of discrimination, including championing legislation to prohibit book bans so that students can learn about and debate different perspectives in our classrooms.”
In a Nov. 3, 2025 Instagram post, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) said it filed a federal lawsuit challenging AB 715, accusing state lawmakers of “ripping apart the First Amendment” and arguing that the bill hands “control of California classrooms to foreign interests.” The ADC is a community-based organization that advocates for the civil rights of Arab Americans, including through legal support offered pro bono publico or without charge. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include California teachers and parents.
On Dec. 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Noël Wise denied the injunction in a 22-page ruling, asserting, “The court does not find the word antisemitism in AB 715 to be vague,” in response to the plaintiffs’ claims that the statue’s wording was unclear and could infringe on constitutionally protected speech in schools and educational institutions across the state.
