Assembly education subcommittee advances package of K–12 bills, including AI restriction for educators and English‑learner reforms

A California State Assembly education subcommittee on the agenda advanced a package of K–12 bills that the author and supporting witnesses said aim to protect classroom jobs, improve services for English learners and expand supports for inclusive and outdoor learning.

Assemblymember Marucci introduced AB 2148, a bill that would prohibit artificial intelligence from replacing education workers. The author accepted committee amendments and called witnesses from the California Federation of Teachers and the California School Employees Association. Jeff Reyes, who identified himself as president of the California Federation of Teachers, told the committee: "AI in education is moving at lightning speed. It is unproven...and without legislative guardrails, it is already causing harm to children." The committee voted to pass AB 2148 as amended (recorded in the transcript as "the bill has 5 votes, and it is out").

The subcommittee also advanced a coordinated package of bills aimed at closing the achievement gap. AB 2202 would create a Closing the Achievement Gap Commission to advise the State Board of Education; Carlos Machado of the California School Board Association and Tristan Brown of the California Federation of Teachers testified in support, arguing the commission would create a structured feedback loop between local leaders and state policymakers. AB 2514 would create a State of the Achievement Gap dashboard to provide coherent statewide data on progress; AB 2149 would direct the Legislative Analyst's Office to assess the state's process for closing achievement gaps; and AB 2225…