UPDATE: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed A.B. 715 into law on October 7, 2025. The law will take effect January 1, 2026.
Understanding A.B. 715
The California Antisemitism and Civil Rights Bill, or A.B. 715, was introduced in the California state legislature in February 2025 by Assemblymember Rick Zbur amid claims of rising antisemitism. A.B. 715 prohibits the use of “discriminatory instructional material” in public schools. The bill’s text defines “discrimination” as bias against an individual’s race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. In order to combat “discriminatory instructional material” as described, the bill would create new pillars of state-level oversight for educators while maintaining California’s preexisting Uniform Complaint Procedures.
If enacted, A.B. 715 would create a new Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the state’s Government Operations Agency. At the center of the office would be an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator responsible for tracking and reporting incidents of antisemitism in public K–12 schools, as well as supporting districts with prevention strategies and resources. After A.B. 715 was introduced, other democratic lawmakers in California introduced Senate Bill 48, which aims to establish four additional coordinator roles within the OCR focused on the prevention of racial discrimination, religious discrimination, gender discrimination, and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. The provisions outlined in Senate Bill 48 are contingent upon the passage of A.B. 715.
Earlier provisions of A.B. 715 that would have required schools to adopt instructional materials on Jewish history, Israel, or Israel’s actions in the Middle East were removed after facing objections for “enshrin[ing] censorship” by potentially conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
The revised bill does not mandate new curriculum, but rather establishes the frameworks for instruction on antisemitism within existing standards. This means that teachers are not required to adopt new lesson plans or materials, but instead must ensure that their instruction is factually accurate and consistent with what the state has already approved.
Current Controversy
Supporters argue the measure is urgently needed in light of rising antisemitism across California schools. The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) and several legislative caucuses, including the Black, Latino, and Asian American & Pacific Islander caucuses, point to increasing reports of antisemitic incidents as evidence of the need for statewide oversight. They argue that A.B. 715 would strengthen accountability and help ensure that Jewish students and their families feel safe and protected in the classroom.
Critics, however, warn that A.B. 715 risks narrowing classroom speech through censorship. The California Teachers Association, ACLU California Action, and the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)—among other organizations—have all raised concerns. In September 2025, over 120 advocacy organizations released a joint letter that argued the bill could silence discussions on topics such as Palestine. They characterized the legislation as “classroom censorship.” Critics further contend that a new coordinator is unnecessary, as existing complaint processes already address religious discrimination. Additionally, opponents argue A.B. 715 was “rushed” through the legislature without giving the public a meaningful chance to weigh in. They also point to its strategic pairing with S.B. 48, alleging that S.B. 48’s support for students of color and LGBTQ+ students was designed to mitigate criticism of A.B. 715.
Future Implications
The California legislature approved the final version of A.B. 715 on September 13, 2025, sending it to Governor Gavin Newsom for a conclusive decision.
The bill now sits on Newsom’s desk. He has until October 13 to sign or veto the measure, a decision that will determine whether the new Office of Civil Rights becomes a permanent part of the state’s education system. Looking ahead, A.B. 715 could redefine how free speech is interpreted in California’s public schools. If signed, it may lead districts to adopt more cautious approaches to sensitive topics in classrooms. Others suggest it could prompt the governor to bolster funding for ethnic studies, which remains underfunded despite being a newly mandated high school requirement in California public schools.