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Board adopts set of legislative positions; opposes statewide mandate shifting county election timing
Summary
After hearing from its Sacramento representative the board voted to adopt several legislative positions including support for teacher tax credit and parent opt‑out legislation, and formal opposition to a bill that would force some county boards to move spring elections to November.
The Orange County Board of Education voted April 2 to adopt a set of legislative positions recommended by its legislative committee and contract lobbyists.
After a briefing from SheHe Strategy Group partner Thomas Sheehy about bills of interest in the 2025 legislative session, trustees directed staff to take positions on several priority measures. The positions the board adopted (by roll call) were: - Support AB 600 (Castillo) — a bill that would let parents request that their students be excused from curriculum, lessons or activities that discuss transgender concepts, and prevent schools from punishing students excused from such activities. - Support SB 267 (Sen. John Choi) — a bill proposing a refundable state tax credit of up to $250 for qualified out‑of‑pocket teacher expenses, intended to offset classroom supply purchases. - Support SB 64 (Sen. Shannon Grove) — parent choice proposal previously introduced by the author (board expressed general support for parental choice measures described in the briefing). - Oppose SB 249 (authored by Assemblymember Umberg / variations described in committee briefing) — a bill that would require certain county boards whose trustee elections now take place in spring primary to consolidate those elections with the November general in even‑numbered years. Trustees recorded unanimous opposition to mandated state changes that staff and the board’s lobbyist warned would create new and recurring state general fund liabilities through the Commission on State Mandates.
Board members said they relied on the legislative committee and the board’s Sacramento lobbyists for analysis; several trustees asked for a user‑friendly format for future position lists. The board directed staff to transmit letters of support or opposition and to make those positions public as part of OCDE’s advocacy work in Sacramento.
Why the vote matters The SB 249 opposition signaled the board’s intent to resist state‑level changes that would alter local election timing and potentially trigger significant fiscal claims against the state. The board’s support for teacher credit and the parental‑opt‑out measure reflect trustee priorities on parental rights and teacher support. Staff and the district’s lobbyists will transmit formal letters to legislative offices and may testify where hearings are held.
