CFER’s late January analysis of 12 new state bills was a preview of the California Legislature’s devotion to identity-politics-infused public policies. Since then, progressive state legislators have ramped up their efforts by introducing over a dozen of new bills intended for more reparations, more discrimination and more indoctrination. Just take a look!

Reparations as “new ladders of opportunity for Black Californians”

In response to the federal government’s crackdown on racial preferences, the California Legislative Black Caucus announced its “Road to Repair 2025 Priority Bill Package” on February 20. Rather than providing government assistance to individuals and families on the basis of need, the package advances “policies that promote equity, economic opportunity, and justice for Black Californians.” Among these reparations-themed policies, there are:

● ACA 7: to amend Prop. 209 to include only "public employment, higher education enrollment, and public contracting” in the state’s ban on race-based affirmative action.

● AB 742: to mandate the Department of Consumer Affairs to prioritize license applicants who are descendants of slaves.

● SB 510: to incorporate "racial history education that covers the impact of segregation, slavery, and systemic discrimination."

● ACA 6: to amend the State Constitution to “prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude.”

● SB 518: to establish the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to be comprised of a Genealogy Division, a Property Reclamation Division, an Education and Outreach Division, and a Legal Affairs Division.

● SB 437: to allocate $6,000,000 for the purpose of enabling the California State University to conduct research in furtherance of the recommendations of the Task Force.

Icing on the cake: more DEI and racial preferences

Democratic state lawmakers are not just promoting reparations. They are also interested in perpetuating the unhealthy obsession with race in areas such as state governance, criminal procedures and data collection.

● SB 515: to require public agencies to “include the additional collection categories and tabulations for specified Black or African American groups” when collecting demographic data.

● AB 766: to mandate all state agencies and departments to develop and update DEI strategic plans and racial equity analyses.

● AB 1071: to make legislative declarations about the permeating role of “White Supremacy” and “systemic racism” in criminal convictions.

Indoctrination in schools

As if California’s failing public education doesn’t need reforms to bring back excellence, rigor and high standards, union-backed legislators propose the following bills to further the disastrous ideological programming:

● AB 860: to require county superintendents to help school districts better address equity concerns in local control and accountability plans.

● AB 727: to provide state support (including a hotline for the Trevor Project) to students subjected to "school-based discrimination” against LGBTQ+ identities and expressions.

● AB 1468: to mandate the State Board of Education to "develop and adopt academically rigorous content standards for ethnic studies instruction in high school.”

I know the constant drumbeat of racial discrimination and indoctrination in state lawmaking must be infuriating. But please don’t be discouraged. Nothing worth having comes easy. CFER will closely monitor all these bills, especially those in violation of Prop. 209 (notably the new ACA 7). All these proposals have yet to be assigned to a committee. Some may become active. At any rate, we will keep you posted.

We have also submitted position letters against AB 4, AB 7, AB 57, AB 62, AB 73, SB 21 and letters in support of SB 64 and SCA 1. You can read a summary of these bills here. These bills are in active committee process and CFER has registered our official positions. We hope that our work will make an impact on persuading the Legislature to look closely into these proposals and dial down on discrimination/indoctrination.

If you are interested in some of these policy developments, I encourage you to contact your State Senators and Assemblymembers to make your voice heard. As always, CFER defends equality and merit through proactively monitoring legislation. You can support us with a contribution so that we can keep following state policies while keeping you informed.

Thank you!