CAIR-CA Denounces Senate Education Committee Vote to Advance AB 715

September 12, 2025 - The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, echoed lawmakers’ concerns about the rushed handling of AB 715 following today’s Assembly Education Committee hearing and urged legislators to vote NO, warning the bill would censor classrooms and chill discussion—especially regarding Palestine.

Key Process Concerns

In the final days of session, AB 715 was substantially rewritten and advanced under late procedural waivers that curtailed public input and short-circuited normal committee review. Today’s Assembly Education Committee hearing allowed discussion only; members were not permitted to vote even as they said they lacked sufficient time to evaluate the new language. Meanwhile, the bill continues to move forward despite steep public opposition from major education and civil rights organizations.

What AB 715 Would Do

As drafted, AB 715 would:

* Create a new state Office of Civil Rights within GovOps and an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator.
* Anchor implementation to the contested International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of Antisemitism in ways that blur the line between religion and political ideology.
* Impose vague “factual accuracy” and “no advocacy/opinion” standards that invite politicized complaints.
* Trigger investigations and corrective actions when districts “know or have reason to know” materials were used in violation of anti-discrimination laws, including immediate removal of contested instructional materials.

Together, these provisions would pressure teachers to self-censor, mislabel protected political expression—including criticism of Israeli government policies—as discrimination, and erase the lived experiences of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. California already prohibits harassment and discrimination and provides enforcement tools without policing lawful speech.

Lawmakers’ Statements

Reflecting widespread frustration with the process and substance, Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi stated during the hearing: “I support the goal of fighting antisemitism, but I have serious concerns about the impact this will have on public education. So, I will not be able to support this bill when it comes for a vote.”

Assemblymember Mia Bonta said, “We’ve been robbed of the opportunity to demonstrate that people can trust us in this process,” and warned of “the kind of chilling effect that I believe will happen for our educators as they try to engage in supporting our children in finding their language, and being able to comment on civil society.”

Broad Opposition

Every major statewide education association opposes AB 715, including the California Teachers Association (CTA), California Faculty Association (CFA), Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), California County Superintendents, the California School Boards Association (CSBA), and the Council of UC Faculty Associations (CUCFA). They are joined by more than 100 teachers’ organizations, parent groups, civil rights organizations, religious congregations, racial justice organizations, and community advocacy groups represented by the CA Coalition to Defend Public Education.

CAIR-CA Statement

In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:

“AB 715 is a censorship bill dressed up as safety. A late rewrite, waived procedures, and a hearing without a vote are not how you make durable education policy. By tying implementation to a politicized definition of antisemitism and layering vague ‘accuracy’ tests with complaint-driven enforcement, the bill will chill honest instruction—especially about Palestine—invite partisan harassment of educators, and make students feel erased.

“California already has the tools to address real harassment without policing speech. Lawmakers should vote NO on AB 715 and focus on proven solutions that protect every student while upholding academic freedom and due process.”


About CAIR-CA

CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.


https://ca.cair.com/press-release/cair-ca-echoes-lawmakers-concerns-over-rushed-handling-of-ab-715-urges-no-vote/

September 13, 2025 - The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed deep disappointment following the passage of AB 715 (Zbur & Addis) in both the State Senate and Assembly. The bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for consideration.

CAIR-CA and a broad coalition of educators, parents, and civil rights advocates warn that AB 715 will:

* Chill classroom instruction by pressuring teachers to avoid discussion of Palestine, Islamophobia, and other contested topics.
* Blur the line between religion and politics by anchoring enforcement to the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israeli government policies with hatred of Jewish people.
* Invite politicized complaints by imposing vague standards against “advocacy” and “personal opinion,” combined with mandatory investigations and “immediate removal” of contested instructional materials.

“Lawmakers heard overwhelming opposition—8 to 1 from public commenters—and warnings from their own colleagues about the bill’s chilling effect on education. Yet they advanced it anyway,” said CAIR-CA Chief Executive Officer Hussam Ayloush. “This is now Governor Newsom’s test. He can either side with educators, civil rights advocates, and students whose voices are at risk of being silenced—or he can greenlight censorship that will make classrooms less free and less inclusive.”

Five senators and nine assemblymembers abstained from the floor vote—reflecting bipartisan concern about a rushed process, manipulated procedure, and vague language that could invite harassment of teachers. CAIR-CA thanks Senators Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Valladares, and Wahab, and Assemblymembers Arambula, Caloza, Elhawary, Garcia, Kalra, Lee, Muratsuchi, Ortega, and Solache for their abstentions and for signaling the need for more thoughtful, inclusive legislation.

Despite those warnings, the bill advanced over the objections of every major statewide education association, including the California Teachers Association, California Faculty Association, California School Boards Association, and California County Superintendents, as well as more than 100 grassroots organizations across the state.

CAIR-CA is now urging Governor Newsom to veto AB 715.

“California has some of the strongest civil rights protections in the country. Real harassment and discrimination must always be addressed—but this bill is not the way,” said Ayloush.

“Governor Newsom should reject this flawed measure and stand with educators and students who deserve classrooms where truth and justice are not censored.”

CAIR-CA is calling on all Californians, from classrooms to communities, to urge the Governor to veto AB 715: https://win.newmode.net/caircalifornia/newsomveto


https://ca.cair.com/press-release/cair-ca-urges-governor-newsom-to-veto-classroom-censorship-bill-ab-715/