Bill
HB 619
Requires K–12 curricula to include age-appropriate units on Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions and experiences in U.S. history.
Status (as provided)
- Bill Number: HB 619
- Title: Learning Asian American and Pacific Islander Contributions in Schools
- Introduced: November 12, 2024
- Current procedural status (from provided actions): Passed 1st Reading (3/4/2025); referred to Public Education / pending committee action.
- Sponsors (provided): Gerald Greene; Alonzo Knox (primary)
Purpose and intent
- The bill requires that the State’s standard course of study (K–12) include age‑appropriate instructional units about the contributions and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in U.S. history. The stated intent is to ensure students learn about AAPI roles and impacts across social, cultural, economic and political life.
Key provisions
- Adds a new statutory section (modeled in the text as §115C‑81.58) requiring elementary through high school courses to include AAPI units.
- Content requirements (units must include, but not be limited to):
1. Early contributions of Asian immigrants (e.g., as farmers, miners, fishermen, factory workers, laborers — including work on the transcontinental railroad).
2. Challenges and struggles AAPI communities have endured and persevered through in U.S. history.
3. Role of Asian Americans in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
4. Recognition of Asian Americans as one of the fastest‑growing minority groups in the U.S.
5. Contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in government, arts and sciences, and economic, cultural, social, and political developments at state and national levels.
- The language is inclusive (“shall include, but not be limited to”), allowing curriculum developers to expand topics.
Who would be affected
- Primary: public school students (grades K–12), who would receive these new age‑appropriate units as part of their courses.
- Secondary: teachers and school districts (curriculum planning and classroom instruction), state and local departments/boards of education (adoption and guidance), textbook/curriculum publishers and teacher training programs.
- Families and communities: potential effects on civic and cultural awareness.
Implementation and timeline
- The bill text (as provided in one version) states the act is effective when enacted and applies to courses beginning with the 2024–2025 school year. Practical implementation would require the state board/department of education to incorporate or develop curriculum guidance, instructional materials, and potentially professional development for teachers.
- No detailed fiscal note was attached in the AAPI education text; costs likely depend on how the state implements curriculum changes (materials, teacher training), but none are specified in the bill language provided.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Educational/representation impact: increases inclusion of AAPI histories and contributions in K–12 education, which may improve cultural competency and historical understanding.
- Operational impact: districts may need to review lesson plans, adopt new materials, and provide teacher training.
- Fiscal impact: not specified; could be minimal if integrated into existing social studies/English curricula, or larger if new materials and training are required.
- Curriculum scope: statutory language provides general topics but leaves pedagogical detail to curriculum authorities, enabling flexibility but requiring state/local guidance for consistent implementation.
Related notes
- The bill text mirrors previously filed proposals in other jurisdictions (similar language appears in earlier H.B. 619 drafts). The legislative action history provided includes multiple procedural entries (committee referrals, readings, and some mixed entries across sessions); the key procedural facts for this version are introduction on November 12, 2024 and passage of the first reading on March 4, 2025, with referral to the Public Education committee.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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