California Transgender Notification Bill: Gov. Newsom to Decide Amid Parental and Trans Rights Debate

The debate over parental rights and the privacy of transgender students in California has reached a boiling point as lawmakers push to limit the authority of public schools in the state. A bill, AB 1955, has been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom by legislators in Sacramento, which would prevent school districts from informing parents if their child uses different pronouns or identifies with a gender different from what is on school records. The bill is currently in the enrollment process, and once received, Newsom will have 12 days to decide whether to sign it into law.

During a heated hearing on June 27 in the state Democratic-led Assembly floor, Assemblyman Bill Essayli, a Republican, strongly opposed the legislation, while Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Wood, a Democrat, repeatedly reprimanded Essayli for speaking off-topic and even cut off his microphone multiple times. Despite the opposition, the bill passed by a 60-15 vote.