PUBLIC POLICY

The AAUW California Public Policy Committee works tirelessly on our behalf to advocate for equity and to support AAUW core principals. The following article is by Missy Maceyko and Amy Hom, co-chairs Public Policy Committee of AAUW CA.

Public Policy Committee Sets AAUW California 2025 Legislative Agenda

The Public Policy Committee met over a weekend in mid-March for our most important meeting of the year, to set the Legislative Agenda for 2025. Prior to the meeting, our committee collectively evaluated over 60 bills related to AAUW’s mission and Public Policy Priorities. During our two-day marathon session, we carefully considered each bill. We then voted to select and prioritize the top 25 bills, leaving room to add a few more bills that we know will be coming to us in the next few weeks.

Our three “A” priority bills are SB 771 ”Social Media Platforms Endangering Californians”, AB 579 “Yaeli’s Law”, and SB 418 “Ensure Equal Access to Care for All”. All three of the “A” priority bills this year fall under the Social Justice pillar of our Public Policy Priorities.

The first “A” bill, SB 771 “Social Media Platforms Endangering Californians”, is authored by Senator Henry Stern and is sponsored by AAUW California. SB 771 clarifies that a social media platform may be liable for civil penalty under existing law if and when its algorithms or AI aid or abet individual users who are engaging in already unlawful intimidation of others in online spaces. While hateful speech is problematic, it is not illegal. However, it can cross the line into illegal action. When hate speech is “brought to the doorstep” of marginalized communities, for example if someone maliciously posts anti-immigrant messages on the virtual Facebook wall of an immigrant family, they are engaging in unlawful intimidation, terrorism, and threat. While social media platforms are not responsible for the speech of individual users, aspects of their platform such as algorithms or AI can be complicit in the targeting of marginalized groups, which is unlawful. Social media companies have recently intentionally turned away from providing safeguards that they previously provided for targeted vulnerable communities. They should be held accountable for that decision, in light of the real-world impacts of proliferation of online hate and their complicity in unlawful intimidation.

The second “A” bill, to which we are taking an opposition position, is AB 579 “Yaeli’s Law” authored by Assemblymember Leticia Castillo. This bill rests on the premise that denial of support for youth self-identity, including refusal to use a child’s name and pronouns, or refusal to provide or allow their gender-affirming care, is not harmful and therefore should not be considered child abuse under the law, and, accordingly, not be allowed as a basis for custody or removal decisions. This is problematic. Research shows that transgender children are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and are at greater risk of substance abuse and homelessness when they live in households that do not accept their gender identity. We oppose this bill because every child deserves to be protected from emotional and physical abuse, including the right to be removed from a harmful household to a more healthy environment.

The third “A” bill is SB 418 “Ensure Equal Access to Care for All” authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar. This bill would prohibit a health plan or a health insurance provider from denying coverage or denying benefits to a person based upon their race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex – including sex characteristics such as intersex traits, pregnancy, and gender identity. Access to gender-affirming care is a fundamental aspect of health equity and human rights. SB 418 will protect against discrimination on the basis of sex, while also sending a powerful message of support to the LGBTQ+ community, affirming that their needs matter. Creating an environment where all individuals can express their identities without fear is foundational to a strong democracy.

To see the full 2025 Legislative Agenda, please go to the Bill Tracking Report. This report is a living document that will be updated as the bills move through the legislative process, so you will always be able to see the latest status.

BRANCH PUBLIC POLICY

Members of Greater Whittier Area AAUW can participate in the following activities enabled by the AAUW California Public Policy committee.

Lobby Day Interview with Senator Bob Archuleta

 Senator Bob Archuleta met via ZOOM with representatives of GWA-AAUW on April 9, 2025. After our introductions, Paula Ocampo presented the AAUW arguments to support
SB 771 Stern which strengthens laws dealing with Digital Hate Crimes, Harassment, and Intimidation. AAUW is a co-sponsor of this bill. Margo Reeg explained SB 418 Menjivar which prohibits health plans and health insurance in California from denying care to any patient based on sex or sexual orientation or gender identity.  AAUW supports this bill. Sharon Heck then described AB 579 Castillo which AAUW opposes. This bill would declare in law that failure to acknowledge a child’s gender identity by a parent can never be considered a form of child abuse or neglect and therefore could not be investigated by children’s services.

After making our presentations we asked the Senator to vote with AAUW on each bill. He agreed with the AAUW analysis and said that he would support SB 771 and SB 418 and vote against AB 579.

This was a very cordial meeting and we thank Senator Archuleta for his time and support for AAUW policy goals

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 School Board Project Monitors & Observers Training

The School Board Project is now entering a new phase in which we will be encouraging members to monitor and observe their local school boards to ensure they are complying with California law. To this end, AAUW California has entered a collaboration with the Public School Defenders Hub, an organization that provides resources and programs to parents, organizers, activists, and school board members to combat anti-public school extremists. The Defenders Hub will be presenting a customized training for AAUW members on how to be an effective school board observer and monitor. The training will update you on current California laws that address book banning, curriculum censorship, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ students; what to look for in determining compliance; and how to file a complaint when you observe non-compliance. We hope you will join us for this next phase of the School Board Project.

The training is scheduled for April 24, 2025 6:30-8:00pm. Register online at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IH2E9ioXTEWVFJL-RLJ9Rg#/registration