State legislature records and news reports

California Governor Signs First-in-the-Nation Law AB 1955 Banning Parental Notification of Student Gender Changes

Jul 15, 2024, 11:54 PM

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1955 into law, which prohibits school districts from adopting policies that require parental notification if a student changes their gender expression or pronouns. This first-in-the-nation law makes California the first state in the U.S. to implement such a measure. The bill, signed on July 15, 2024, aims to protect the privacy and safety of transgender students by preventing forced disclosure of their gender identity to parents, which could potentially put them at risk of violence or homelessness. Newsom's decision has sparked significant debate, with supporters arguing it safeguards students' rights and detractors claiming it undermines parental rights and transparency.