AB-600
Education

Pupil instruction: transgender concepts: opt out.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
1
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Allows parents to opt their children out of any school instruction or activities related to transgender topics.
  • Requires schools to provide alternative educational activities for students who opt out.
  • Prohibits schools from penalizing students who are excused from transgender-related instruction.
  • Establishes legal recourse for families whose opt-out rights are violated, including damages and attorney fees.

Summary

Assembly Member Castillo's education bill establishes a parental opt-out system for transgender-related content in California public schools. The legislation permits parents and guardians to excuse their children from curricula, lessons, presentations, assemblies, and surveys addressing concepts such as gender identity, gender expression, and gender-affirming healthcare.

Under the proposed framework, schools must provide alternative educational activities for opted-out students and cannot impose academic penalties or disciplinary actions related to non-participation. The bill requires local educational agencies to notify parents of these rights annually and upon student enrollment. It defines "transgender concepts" to include instruction on topics like sex as a social construct, gender identity, gender dysphoria, and related subjects.

The measure creates a private right of action allowing individuals to seek damages and equitable relief, including attorney's fees, if their opt-out rights are violated. As a state-mandated local program, the bill directs the Commission on State Mandates to determine whether schools and districts require reimbursement for implementation costs. The legislation builds upon existing California law that permits parents to excuse children from health instruction that conflicts with religious beliefs.

Key Dates

Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
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Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Leticia Castillo
Leticia CastilloR
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/13/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Allows parents to opt their children out of any school instruction or activities related to transgender topics.
  • Requires schools to provide alternative educational activities for students who opt out.
  • Prohibits schools from penalizing students who are excused from transgender-related instruction.
  • Establishes legal recourse for families whose opt-out rights are violated, including damages and attorney fees.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Leticia Castillo
Leticia CastilloR
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Castillo's education bill establishes a parental opt-out system for transgender-related content in California public schools. The legislation permits parents and guardians to excuse their children from curricula, lessons, presentations, assemblies, and surveys addressing concepts such as gender identity, gender expression, and gender-affirming healthcare.

Under the proposed framework, schools must provide alternative educational activities for opted-out students and cannot impose academic penalties or disciplinary actions related to non-participation. The bill requires local educational agencies to notify parents of these rights annually and upon student enrollment. It defines "transgender concepts" to include instruction on topics like sex as a social construct, gender identity, gender dysphoria, and related subjects.

The measure creates a private right of action allowing individuals to seek damages and equitable relief, including attorney's fees, if their opt-out rights are violated. As a state-mandated local program, the bill directs the Commission on State Mandates to determine whether schools and districts require reimbursement for implementation costs. The legislation builds upon existing California law that permits parents to excuse children from health instruction that conflicts with religious beliefs.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/13/2025)

Key Dates

Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 1 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 1
Select All Legislators
Profile
Leticia CastilloR
Assemblymember
Bill Author