As the clock struck midnight on Sept. 30, it signaled the traditional end of the two-year 2022–24 Legislative Session. Over the previous 30 days, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed or vetoed 990 bills that reached his desk. Of those, Newsom vetoed 183 for a rate of about 18 percent. This is a higher than in past years, where he vetoed 15 percent in 2023 and 2022.

Most notably, among the measures acted upon by the Governor were three CSBA priority bills. Two co-sponsored legislative measures, which were signed into law in late September, and a bill CSBA vehemently opposed, which was vetoed.

Together, CSBA’s two co-sponsored bills will help reduce administrative workloads associated with the substantial number of reports required of local educational agencies and help improve the delivery of dual enrollment courses for high school students.

Senate Bill 1315 (Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera) was driven by school district and county board member input and co-sponsored by the California Association of School Business Officials. It is an important measure that requires the California Department of Education (CDE), by March 1, 2025, to report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI), the Governor, and the Legislature on the number and types of reports that school districts, county offices of education and charter schools are required to annually submit. Euphemistically referred to as the “Report on Reports” bill, it requires the inclusion of the purpose of each report and recommendations for which reports can be consolidated, eliminated or truncated — freeing up valuable time and resources for LEAs to support students. It also encourages the Legislature to hold a hearing to allow the SSPI to present the report within 30 days of its release. These efforts will help state lawmakers be informed about what reports are most helpful to policy development while dispensing with others that may have no real benefit.

SB 1244 (Newman, D-Fullerton) will help to improve dual enrollment opportunities for high school students. Specifically, this bill will facilitate greater access to community college dual enrollment programs for high school students across California by enhancing the ability of school districts to collaborate with community colleges through College and Career Access Pathway programs.

Co-sponsored with the California High School District Coalition, SB 1244 creates a process for school districts to initiate dual enrollment programs with a neighboring community college district when an agreement cannot be reached with a home community college district, thereby fostering greater collaboration and flexibility in meeting the educational needs of students statewide.

CSBA took an immediate Oppose position to Assembly Bill 2088 (McCarty, D-Sacramento), which was a re-introduction of the same policy proposal from last year in AB 1699, and worked throughout the year to secure its defeat. This one-size-fits-all approach to education labor policies would override local control, which would have forced LEAs to hire internal classified staff based upon seniority before considering an outside candidate, no matter the qualifications or past job performance of the existing employee.

Nearly 700 local education leaders voiced their opposition to AB 2088 via CSBA’s action alert when the bill landed on the Governor’s desk. Ultimately, their voices were heard loud and clear and the bill was vetoed with 10 days left in the signing period — a demonstration of what CSBA’s collective advocacy can do when district and county board members speak with one voice.

The Governor wrote in his veto message:

“This bill is significantly similar to Assembly Bill 1699 of 2023, which I vetoed, and several of the same concerns remain. In particular, like Assembly Bill 1699, this bill may have unintended consequences that are not in the best interest of students. As noted previously, this issue is already bargainable and several local bargaining agreements have such provisions in place. Placing specific requirements in statute — as this bill does — may make it more difficult for local processes to develop an alternative that best meets the needs of the district, employees, and students.”

The Legislature will formally adjourn the 2023–24 Legislative Session on Nov. 30 with the 2025–26 session beginning on Dec. 2. As new and returning proposals surface, CSBA will continue to keep members informed of the most important developments.