By the California State PTA Legislative Advocacy Team
The 2025–26 school year was one of the most active in recent memory for California State PTA advocacy.
We started the 2025-2027 term by expanding the Legislative Advocacy Team with two new advocates focusing on climate and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). The Legislative Advocacy Team also developed a new position statement “Democracy in Practice” to ensure California State PTA had clear organizational authority to respond to an unprecedented pace of federal action. From the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education to threats to SNAP benefits to the 2025 rescission of longstanding protections for immigrant families near schools and other sensitive locations
In the 2025 California Legislative Session, California State PTA co-sponsored two landmark bills to protect students and families from immigration enforcement near schools. AB 49 is the Safe Haven Schools Act, which prohibits enforcement on school sites without a valid court order. SB 98 is the SAFE Act, which requires school districts to update their Safety Plans and notify families when enforcement occurs on campus. As the 2025 session wrapped up in August and September, our advocates pushed hard for both bills, and they are now California law. We also supported AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, which gives families new legal tools to ensure their children are cared for if a parent is detained. California State PTA’s safe schools resources are available at capta.org, including member training and presentations, a multi-page guide to help PTAs support their communities when federal immigration enforcement happens near schools, and multilingual materials for local distribution.
In February, over 150 advocates traveled to Sacramento for LegCon26, where they heard from legislators, policy experts, and agency leaders on everything from the state budget to AI in classrooms, then they walked to the Capitol to make the case personally for California’s children. Among the highlights was a presentation by Sharon Balmer Cartagena of Public Counsel on AB 495 and family preparedness planning, recorded and available alongside the full safe schools resource library at capta.org. Planning for LegCon27 is already in the works.
The 2026 California legislative session brought a new slate of priorities. California State PTA is co-sponsoring three bills – SB 1048 (California Seal of Climate Literacy), SB 747 (constitutional rights enforcement), and AB 2651 (school vaccination transparency) – see the Legislation Action Committee (LAC) Report tracking all of our positions at capta.org. Since our first meeting in February, the LAC has taken positions on more than 50 bills. Our advocates have delivered testimony at the state Capitol, participated in town halls, and met with education partners and state and federal legislators (and their staff) across California, ensuring the voices of PTA families are part of every conversation that matters.
California State PTA has also been a strong voice within the statewide Education Coalition, opposing the Governor’s repeated use of budget maneuvers to withhold constitutionally guaranteed Prop 98 school funding. When the January budget proposed withholding $5.6 billion, the education community pushed back hard. The governor’s May Revise proposed to reduce that number but did not fully restore funding. If it stands, $3.9 billion in guaranteed education funding will still remain withheld. California State PTA issued a Take Action alert urging the Legislature to fully restore the Prop 98 guarantee – and PTA leaders across the state rose to the moment, connecting with members and their communities as the school year came to an end. At the time of this publication, the June 15 legislative deadline was still ahead. The fight for our children’s guaranteed funding continues; find the latest information on our Prop 98 advocacy page.
At California State PTA’s Convention in May, the Legislation Advocacy Team offered workshops on civic engagement, local advocacy tools, and the hottest state and federal issues facing California’s children, youth, and families. We’re thrilled to share our Student Advocacy Voices webinar series, a new initiative that gives student advocates a platform to share their priorities directly with the PTA community. We are continuing to explore meaningful ways to broaden and deepen that engagement, and we can’t wait to share what’s next.
This summer, California State PTA is launching the District & Council PTA Advocacy Leadership Guide, A Train-the-Trainer Resource for Local PTA Advocacy Leaders. We are so grateful for the thoughtful feedback members shared during our Convention workshop. Look for virtual meetings this summer to walk district and council advocacy leaders through the new guide; details will be provided in the Summer Mailer.
With the November 2026 general election on the horizon, now is the time to get your community ready. Visit California State PTA’s Ballot Measure page for our positions on statewide measures, and our Civic Engagement page for tools and resources to host voter registration drives, as well as information on your PTA’s role in elections. The state 2026 legislative session continues through next September; visit capta.org for updates on our legislative positions. One more thing to look forward to: as we head into the 2027 legislative cycle, California State PTA will have an advocate focused exclusively on special education legislation, a long-overdue and exciting opportunity to improve the lives of all children, youth, and families.
Everything you just read happened because of you. State-level advocacy sets the stage, but local PTA advocates bring it to life- in school board meetings, community conversations, and everywhere families gather. That local work is not secondary to what you see in this year in review: It is the work. The California State PTA Legislative Advocacy Team is deeply grateful for your time, your voice, and your commitment to California’s children. It is a privilege to stand alongside you.