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Committee moves AB 1159 to extend student data privacy protections into higher education
Summary
AB 1159, the California Learner Personal Information Protection Act (CALPIPA), passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee as amended to appropriations. Sponsors say it closes gaps in EdTech regulation for higher ed and adds a limited private right of action with a 45‑day notice and cure provision.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted to advance AB 1159 (CALPIPA), a bill to expand California’s student data privacy protections to higher education and to provide a narrowly tailored private right of action for students harmed by violations.
Author Assemblymember Addis and sponsor Becca Kramer of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse said the bill builds on COPIPA (California’s Student Online Personal Information Protection Act) and extends protections to older students who must use EdTech tools. Kramer said the measure mirrors earlier limited private‑action models and requires 45 days written notice and a right to cure before litigation proceeds, and that class actions face a higher bar if operators remedy the issue.
Opponents included Chibunda Ennake of the College Board, who warned the bill’s private right of action and AI‑related language could invite a litigation‑first model and chill innovation. Ennake argued plaintiffs need only allege harm to sue and that the bill’s remedies could be exploited to extract settlements. Jose Torres of TechNet also opposed the bill, saying the AI prohibition is overly broad and would discourage responsible development of education‑focused AI tools.
Committee members pressed the author on which entities the bill governs (EdTech operators rather than schools), how consent will function for mandatory classroom tools, and enforcement tradeoffs between AG actions and private suits. The author and sponsors said the bill is intentionally limited, focused on operators’ obligations, and includes business‑friendly provisions to reduce frivolous litigation.
The committee recorded the bill as passed as amended to appropriations. Supporters and opponents said they will continue negotiating targeted language on AI and the private right of action.
What happens next: AB 1159 goes to the appropriations committee for further review.
