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Bill

AB 2651

Informed Parents, Healthy Schools Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dawn Addis and 10 co-sponsors

AB 2651 mandates California schools notify parents of significant changes to student health, mental health services, or records, balancing parental involvement against student privacy protections.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 2651

Legislative bill overview

AB 2651, the Informed Parents, Healthy Schools Act, requires California schools to notify parents about significant changes to their children's health, mental health services, or school records. The bill aims to ensure parental involvement in decisions affecting student wellbeing while establishing specific timelines and procedures for these notifications.

Why is this important

This legislation directly impacts the balance between parental rights and student privacy—a recurring tension in education policy. Schools currently operate under various state and federal privacy laws that sometimes limit parental access to student information, particularly regarding sensitive health or mental health matters. The bill addresses whether parents should have automatic notification rights or whether student confidentiality protections should take precedence in certain circumstances.

Potential points of contention

  • Student privacy vs. parental authority: Defining what constitutes "significant changes" and whether mandatory parental notification could discourage students from seeking mental health support or reporting abuse
  • LGBTQ+ student protections: Concerns that mandatory parental notification policies could force involuntary "outing" of LGBTQ+ students to unsupportive families, potentially creating safety risks
  • School resource burden: Implementation costs and administrative complexity of establishing notification systems, especially in under-resourced districts
  • Existing legal frameworks: Potential conflicts with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), California Education Code provisions protecting student privacy, and confidentiality laws in healthcare and mental health services

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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