California lawmakers returned to Sacramento today, commencing the final month of the 2026 legislative session with several education bills still awaiting action, according to newsroom.ocde.us. The Legislature faces an August 31 deadline to pass bills before they are sent to Governor Gavin Newsom, who then has until September 30 to sign or veto new measures.
While the state has already approved a new budget and enacted several new school laws, a number of additional proposals remain under consideration. These include legislation affecting school finance, substitute teachers, employee misconduct reporting, charter school facilities, and early mathematics screening.
Governor Newsom has already signed the 2026-27 state budget, which allocates a record $128.1 billion Proposition 98 guarantee for TK-12 schools and community colleges. This budget includes a 4.31 percent increase to the Local Control Funding Formula, often referred to as the “super COLA.” This increase combines a 2.87 percent statutory cost-of-living adjustment with an additional 1.44 percent discretionary increase. This flexible funding aims to assist districts in addressing rising operating costs, such as new paid pregnancy disability leave requirements.
The spending plan also features a $2.4 billion ongoing investment in special education, a $5 billion one-time Student Support and Professional Development Block Grant, and continued funding for community schools, expanded learning, and literacy initiatives.
One budget matter continues to draw attention: the state’s strategy to repay nearly $3.94 billion in education funding deferred from the previous fiscal year. Rather than immediate repayment of the full amount, the budget commits to making these payments over time if future state revenues surpass current projections through the 2027 May Revision. Supporters of this approach state it allows the state to meet its funding commitment while maintaining budget flexibility. Critics, however, argue that this delays funds schools had anticipated receiving.
Several education measures have already been signed into law, with most taking effect in 2027. Assembly Bill 181, authored by Assemblymembers David Alvarez and Darshana Patel, restructures California’s education leadership. It establishes a governor-appointed education commissioner to oversee the California Department of Education, while retaining the elected state superintendent of public instruction as a constitutional officer. This measure modifies state-level administration but does not alter local governance responsibilities.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 2148, by Al Muratsuchi, clarifies that public school employees and contractors providing services in public schools must be natural persons, not artificial intelligence. The law does not prohibit schools from using AI as a classroom or administrative tool but affirms that AI cannot replace educators or other school employees.
Assembly Bill 2003, authored by Marc Berman, expands statewide suicide prevention resources. It creates free online training for educators, students, and families and establishes annual reporting requirements for districts that already conduct suicide risk screenings. The law does not mandate schools to begin conducting such screenings.
Lawmakers must clear several procedural milestones before the August 31 deadline, including final fiscal committee action on August 14 and the last day to amend bills on the floor on August 21, according to newsroom.ocde.us.
