While many of California’s 2026 education laws focus on student safety, rights and wellbeing, a second set of measures addresses the systems that support schools and students every day. These laws affect school governance, public transparency, funding and emergency preparedness, shaping how schools plan, manage resources and respond to crises.

Below are some significant governance- and operations-focused laws and their impact on local educational agencies and their school communities.

Strengthening Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery

Recent wildfires and other emergencies underscored the need for stronger coordination and support for schools.

• AB 642 (Muratsuchi), Emergencies: School Employee Catastrophic Leave

School employees may now donate leave credits to colleagues impacted by Governor-declared emergencies. This provides meaningful support for affected staff while requiring LEAs to manage program administration and staffing continuity.

• ABX1 4, Disaster Response: Wildfire Emergency Appropriations

This measure appropriates up to $1.5 billion in one-time funding to support emergency response and recovery activities in areas affected by Governor-declared wildfires. Allowable uses include evacuations, sheltering, hazardous materials cleanup, environmental testing and other actions to protect public health and safety. For schools, the funding supports emergency coordination, continuity of operations and recovery efforts in wildfire-impacted communities.

• SBX1 3, Wildfire Response and Recovery: Housing, School Facilities and Emergency Operations

This bill provides targeted funding to support rebuilding and recovery following the January 2025 wildfires, including assistance for damaged school facilities and local planning and inspection capacity. For LEAs, it helps restore safe learning environments and supports continuity of educational services during recovery.

Improving School Governance and Fiscal Oversight

As fiscal pressures grow, new laws emphasize informed decision-making and transparency.

• AB 640 (Muratsuchi), Local Educational Agencies: Governance Training

School board members must complete training in K–12 public education finance laws. This promotes responsible stewardship of limited resources, strengthens collaboration with administrators and builds public trust in budget decisions.

• AB 927 (Sharp-Collins), County Superintendent of Schools: School Inspections

County superintendent inspection requirements are adjusted to prioritize schools with reported textbook or facility safety concerns. This flexibility allows oversight efforts to focus where needs are most urgent.

Expanding Transparency and Public Access to Meetings

SB 707 (Durazo), Open Meetings: Meeting and Teleconference Requirements

Updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act expand public access to meetings through enhanced teleconferencing, agenda translation and expanded public comment opportunities. Schools must also adopt policies addressing service disruptions and clarify rules for online communications and meeting conduct.

For families and community members, these changes improve access and engagement. For LEAs, they require thoughtful planning, technology investments and updated procedures to remain compliant.

Major Education Investments in the 2025–26 Budget

SB 101 (Budget), Budget Act of 2025

The Budget Act includes significant education-related investments affecting students, educators and school systems statewide.

Key highlights include expanded support for early learning and transitional kindergarten, continued funding for universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, increased stipends and grants to strengthen the teacher workforce, flexible student support and discretionary block grants, targeted funding for career technical education and dedicated investments in youth behavioral health services.

For schools, these funds support staffing stability, student wellness and expanded learning opportunities while also addressing inequities and recovery needs.

Statewide Legal and Immigration Infrastructure

• SBX1 1, State Litigation: Federal Government Actions

This measure authorizes additional funding for the state Department of Justice to defend against federal enforcement actions and pursue litigation challenging federal policies. While indirect, this support helps protect state and local education programs from federal actions that could disrupt school operations or funding.

• SBX1 2, Immigration Services: Legal Assistance Funding

This bill provides one-time funding for immigration-related legal services through state agencies and nonprofit providers. By supporting immigrant families and reducing legal instability, the measure helps stabilize school communities and supports student attendance and wellbeing.

These laws improve emergency preparedness, accountability and transparency while investing in the long-term stability of California’s schools. They help ensure school systems can respond effectively to challenges while continuing to support students and communities.