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AB 715

Relating to: nonrecourse civil litigation advances, prohibiting certain foreign persons from financing civil litigation, and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tara Johnson and 5 co-sponsors

Expands protections against discrimination in K–12 by banning biased materials/PD, creating an Office of Civil Rights and an antisemitism coordinator, and mandating investigations,

Read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs
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Bill Summary · AB 715

AB 715 (Zbur) — Educational equity: discrimination; antisemitism prevention

Status / Key dates
- Introduced: February 14, 2025
- Major legislative steps: passed both houses (May–Sept 2025), enrolled Sept 24, 2025
- Approved by Governor / Chaptered: October 7, 2025 (Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025)
- Operation of some provisions is expressly made contingent on enactment of SB 48 (2025–26 Regular Session) per the bill text.

Purpose
- To strengthen protections against unlawful discrimination and bias in K–12 public education by (1) expanding prohibitions on materials and activities that create unlawful discrimination (including antisemitism), (2) creating a statewide Office of Civil Rights focused on educational settings, and (3) establishing processes for investigation, remediation, and state oversight.

Major provisions
- Prohibitions on materials and services
- Extends existing prohibitions on textbooks, instructional and supplemental materials, and curricula to also cover professional development (PD) materials and PD services that would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination.
- Prohibits adoption or approval of PD materials or services that promote or endorse discriminatory materials or actions.

  • Investigation and remediation

    • If a local governing board (district, county board, charter body) knows or has reason to know that classroom materials, actions, or PD resulted in unlawful discrimination, the agency must investigate and remediate.
    • The State Department of Education (SDE) can require corrective actions if a local educational agency (LEA) fails to act; corrective measures may include technical assistance, regular reporting to the Office of Civil Rights, and use of alternative instructional materials.
    • Instructional materials found to have resulted in unlawful discrimination may be barred from current and future course offerings.
    • If antisemitism is involved, improvement plans must be developed in consultation with the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator.

  • Office of Civil Rights & Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator

    • Establishes an Office of Civil Rights within the Government Operations Agency, with a Director appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
    • Office duties include providing education/resources to identify/prevent antisemitism and other bias, sharing relevant laws/regulations with state and local education entities, and annual reporting to state leadership and the Legislature.
    • Creates an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator (Governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed) to develop antisemitism training and make legislative recommendations.

  • Complaint, appeals, and enforcement

    • Expands appeal rights to allow parties to appeal to the SDE when a governing board fails to timely issue an investigation report.
    • SDE may use its compliance powers (including requiring reimbursement) if contracted organizations supply violating materials or services; organizations found in violation may be required to reimburse funds received.

  • Scope of discriminatory bias

    • Clarifies that discriminatory bias in instruction or school-sponsored activities does not require proof of direct harm to members of a protected group, nor that members of that group be present when the bias occurs, to be considered discriminatory.

  • Parent notification, resources, and reporting

    • Requires annual parent/guardian notifications to include the bill’s protections and responsibilities.
    • Requires the SDE to issue an annual management bulletin (by October 1) describing applicable protections and duties, and to maintain a dedicated antisemitism resources webpage.

Who is affected
- Local educational agencies (school districts, county offices of education, charter schools) and their governing boards.
- School personnel (teachers, administrators), students (pupils), and parents/guardians.
- Vendors, contractors, and organizations that supply textbooks, instructional materials, supplemental materials, curriculum, or professional development services.
- State agencies: Government Operations Agency, Office of Civil Rights, State Department of Education, and State Board of Education.

Procedural / fiscal notes
- The bill imposes new duties on LEAs; it is identified as a state‑mandated local program and subjects LEAs to potential reimbursement procedures if the Commission on State Mandates finds costs are mandated.
- Annual reporting, management bulletins, and creation of a new state office have implementation and administrative cost implications for the state (not quantified in the digest).
- Operation of the bill’s provisions is contingent on SB 48’s enactment as specified in the bill text; readers should confirm SB 48’s status to determine full operability.

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

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