The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, echoed lawmakers’ concerns about the rushed handling of AB 715 following today’s Assembly Education Committee hearing and urged legislators to vote NO, warning the bill would censor classrooms and chill discussion—especially regarding Palestine.
Key Process Concerns
In the final days of session, AB 715 was substantially rewritten and advanced under late procedural waivers that curtailed public input and short-circuited normal committee review. Today’s Assembly Education Committee hearing allowed discussion only; members were not permitted to vote even as they said they lacked sufficient time to evaluate the new language. Meanwhile, the bill continues to move forward despite steep public opposition from major education and civil rights organizations.
What AB 715 Would Do
As drafted, AB 715 would:
- Create a new state Office of Civil Rights within GovOps and an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator.
- Anchor implementation to the contested International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of Antisemitism in ways that blur the line between religion and political ideology.
- Impose vague “factual accuracy” and “no advocacy/opinion” standards that invite politicized complaints.
- Trigger investigations and corrective actions when districts “know or have reason to know” materials were used in violation of anti-discrimination laws, including immediate removal of contested instructional materials.
Together, these provisions would pressure teachers to self-censor, mislabel protected political expression—including criticism of Israeli government policies—as discrimination, and erase the lived experiences of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. California already prohibits harassment and discrimination and provides enforcement tools without policing lawful speech.
Lawmakers’ Statements
Reflecting widespread frustration with the process and substance, Committee Chair Al Muratsuchi stated during the hearing: “I support the goal of fighting antisemitism, but I have serious concerns about the impact this will have on public education. So, I will not be able to support this bill when it comes for a vote.”
Assemblymember Mia Bonta said, “We’ve been robbed of the opportunity to demonstrate that people can trust us in this process,” and warned of “the kind of chilling effect that I believe will happen for our educators as they try to engage in supporting our children in finding their language, and being able to comment on civil society.”
Broad Opposition
Every major statewide education association opposes AB 715, including the California Teachers Association (CTA), California Faculty Association (CFA), Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), California County Superintendents, the California School Boards Association (CSBA), and the Council of UC Faculty Associations (CUCFA). They are joined by more than 100 teachers’ organizations, parent groups, civil rights organizations, religious congregations, racial justice organizations, and community advocacy groups represented by the CA Coalition to Defend Public Education.
CAIR-CA Statement
In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:
“AB 715 is a censorship bill dressed up as safety. A late rewrite, waived procedures, and a hearing without a vote are not how you make durable education policy. By tying implementation to a politicized definition of antisemitism and layering vague ‘accuracy’ tests with complaint-driven enforcement, the bill will chill honest instruction—especially about Palestine—invite partisan harassment of educators, and make students feel erased.
California already has the tools to address real harassment without policing speech. Lawmakers should vote NO on AB 715 and focus on proven solutions that protect every student while upholding academic freedom and due process.”
About CAIR-CA
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, 714.851.4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Contact Tasneem Manjra, 916.441.6469, tmanjra@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, 760.201.7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com