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Committee advances SB 48 to limit school cooperation with immigration enforcement and protect student records
Summary
SB 48 would limit school cooperation with immigration enforcement by requiring judicial warrants for campus access and protecting student records; the Senate Education Committee advanced the bill to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Senator Gonzales presented SB 48 to the committee as a measure to protect students, families, staff and educators from immigration enforcement actions on or near school campuses. The bill would bar school officials from granting immigration authorities permission to access a campus without a judicial warrant, limit disclosure of student personal information and provide statutory clarity to school staff about handling requests from federal agents.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Dr. Alma Castro, a school board member, testified in support. Thurmond said the bill aims to keep children in school, maintain average daily attendance funding, and not hinder law enforcement’s ability to address serious crimes when warranted. Dr. Castro described community fear and attendance declines associated with immigration enforcement threats.
Supporters, including school administrators, civil-rights groups and education associations, urged passage. Some witnesses urged model policies and minor clarifying amendments (the Association of California School Administrators offered a supportive-amendment position to clarify guidance on exigent circumstances). An unregistered opponent, David Bullock, said he opposed the bill on the grounds he favors stronger federal immigration enforcement and believed school property already requires a warrant in many cases.
Committee members debated legal context and protections. Senator Cortese emphasized the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe guaranteeing access to public education; he said threats of enforcement can suppress attendance and funding. The superintendent and senators underscored that state law already bars schools from collecting immigration status and that SB 48 seeks to limit data-sharing and protect schools as welcoming environments. The committee voted to pass SB 48 to the Senate Public Safety Committee and placed the item on call for absent members; later clerking showed the bill moved out of committee with multiple ayes reported.
