SB-249
Education

County boards of education: elections: consolidation.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires all county board of education elections to align with statewide general elections starting 2026.
  • Extends terms of current board members to match the new election schedule.
  • Mandates county committees to establish staggered terms for board members.
  • Requires board of supervisors to approve election consolidation requests within 60 days.

Summary

Senator Umberg's proposal to consolidate county board of education elections with statewide general elections would establish a uniform election schedule across California beginning January 1, 2026. The measure requires all county boards of education to conduct their elections concurrent with statewide general elections, departing from the current system that allows varying election dates.

The legislation outlines procedures for implementing this change, including extending terms for incumbent board members to align with the new schedule. County committees on school district organization would determine how to stagger board member terms to maintain continuity of governance. The bill requires boards of supervisors to approve consolidation resolutions within 60 days of submission, provided local election systems can accommodate the changes.

Under the measure, county election officials must notify registered voters of approved consolidations by mail, with costs borne by the school districts. The bill classifies these new requirements as a state-mandated local program, making local agencies eligible for state reimbursement of associated costs pending determination by the Commission on State Mandates.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1100
Assembly Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Education Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB249 Umberg
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Elections and Constitutional Amendments]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Tom Umberg
Tom UmbergD
California State Senator
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 16, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Education Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7209PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires all county board of education elections to align with statewide general elections starting 2026.
  • Extends terms of current board members to match the new election schedule.
  • Mandates county committees to establish staggered terms for board members.
  • Requires board of supervisors to approve election consolidation requests within 60 days.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Tom Umberg
Tom UmbergD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Umberg's proposal to consolidate county board of education elections with statewide general elections would establish a uniform election schedule across California beginning January 1, 2026. The measure requires all county boards of education to conduct their elections concurrent with statewide general elections, departing from the current system that allows varying election dates.

The legislation outlines procedures for implementing this change, including extending terms for incumbent board members to align with the new schedule. County committees on school district organization would determine how to stagger board member terms to maintain continuity of governance. The bill requires boards of supervisors to approve consolidation resolutions within 60 days of submission, provided local election systems can accommodate the changes.

Under the measure, county election officials must notify registered voters of approved consolidations by mail, with costs borne by the school districts. The bill classifies these new requirements as a state-mandated local program, making local agencies eligible for state reimbursement of associated costs pending determination by the Commission on State Mandates.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 1100
Assembly Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Education Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Elections Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Elections Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Vote on Senate Floor
Senate 3rd Reading SB249 Umberg
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Education Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Education Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Elections and Constitutional Amendments]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 16, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Education Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
7209PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 16 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member