AB 1851 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pupil health: social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports.

Summary

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for this purpose. Existing law requires a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to notify pupils and parents or guardians of pupils no less than twice during the school year on how to initiate access to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both, as provided. This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the State Department of Education to enter into a contract with one or more local educational agencies with capacity and established expertise, as provided, to serve as lead entities in providing support for the implementation of integrated, universal social-emotional learning, behavioral health, and restorative practices for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2028, the lead entities, selected pursuant to a competitive process, to make available guidance, resources, and technical assistance to local educational agencies to expand the statewide implementation of integrated, universal social-emotional learning, behavioral health, and restorative practices, as provided. The bill would make the implementation of these provisions contingent upon an appropriation, as provided.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Aug 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/06/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/27/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Apr 27, 2026

MODERATE

The April 27 amendment to AB 1851 makes several significant changes: it removes the bill's appropriation of previously allocated Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative funds, replaces that with a requirement that implementation be contingent on future appropriations; it adds a new Section 41491 requiring the State Department of Education to contract with lead entities (local educational agencies with established expertise) to provide statewide technical assistance by January 2028; and it downgrades charter schools from mandatory to permissive implementers. The bill is no longer classified as making an appropriation or imposing a state-mandated local program.

FISCAL

Implementation funding shifted from using specific previously-appropriated Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative funds (Budget Act of 2025) to being contingent on future appropriations in the annual Budget Act or another statute, including the Behavioral Health Services Act or other ongoing funding sources.

SCOPE

The bill is no longer classified as making an appropriation (changed from 'yes' to 'no') and is no longer a state-mandated local program (changed from 'yes' to 'no'). The state mandates reimbursement section was removed entirely.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 41491 requires the State Department of Education to enter into a contract with one or more local educational agencies that have capacity and established expertise to serve as 'lead entities' providing guidance, resources, and technical assistance statewide. These lead entities must be selected through a competitive process and must make their resources available by January 1, 2028.

ELIGIBILITY

Charter schools changed from being required to implement the guidance (alongside school districts and county offices of education) to having only permissive authority ('may implement'). School districts and county offices of education remain required to implement, but only 'to the extent of available funding.'

TECHNICAL

The article title was shortened from 'Shaw-Scott Children and Youth Behavioral Health and Social Emotional Learning Program Guidance' to 'Shaw-Scott Children and Youth Behavioral Health and Social Emotional Learning Guidance' (removed the word 'Program'). The bill's legislative title also dropped the phrase 'and making an appropriation therefor.'

ENFORCEMENT

The state mandates reimbursement provision (Section 4 of the old version, referencing Government Code Part 7) was removed, consistent with the bill no longer being classified as a state-mandated local program.

02/11/26 - Introduced → 04/06/26 - Amended Assembly · 10 edits · Apr 6, 2026

MAJOR

The amended version of AB 1851 shifts the state's role from establishing a mandatory statewide Tier 1 social-emotional learning program to developing and publishing guidance, resources, and technical assistance by July 1, 2027. Implementation by local agencies is now explicitly contingent on available funding and phased in over at least three years, with charter schools given only permissive (not mandatory) authority to participate. The amendment also adds professional development requirements, a departmental monitoring and data-collection role, and requires the guidance to integrate with existing Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and PBIS frameworks rather than creating stand-alone programs.

SCOPE

The State Department of Education's role changed from establishing a statewide Tier 1 program to developing and publishing guidance, resources, and technical assistance. The article title was changed from 'Program' to 'Program Guidance.'

Alignment requirements were expanded to include the department's 'Transformative Social and Emotional Learning Competencies and Conditions for Thriving,' instructional continuity plans under SB 153 (2024), and culturally responsive practices supporting pupil identity, agency, and belonging.

TIMELINE

A new deadline of July 1, 2027 was added for the department to develop and publish the guidance. Local agencies are encouraged to begin implementation in the 2027-28 school year, with full implementation phased in over no less than three years.

ELIGIBILITY

Charter schools changed from mandatory implementers to permissive participants ('may implement'). School districts and county offices of education remain required to implement but only 'to the extent of available funding.'

REQUIREMENT

A new professional development requirement was added: school districts and county offices of education must provide professional development to certificated and classified staff covering SEL integration, trauma-informed practices, child development, restorative approaches, and culturally responsive practices. At least 60 percent of schoolsite staff must participate over the course of implementation.

The department must now identify, monitor, and support existing SEL implementation sites and learning hubs, establish metrics to assess school climate shifts, integration into school culture, adult development capacity, and pupil life skills, and guide continuous improvement and statewide scaling.

New consultation requirements mandate that guidance be developed in consultation with experts, California's statewide community of practice, the statewide SEL network of all 58 counties, and CalHOPE.

A new encouragement provision allows local educational agencies to assess school climate and Tier 1 effectiveness using existing tools such as the California Healthy Kids Survey or other validated measures to inform continuous improvement.

FISCAL

Implementation is now explicitly contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute (including the Behavioral Health Services Act), rather than being supported solely by funds from the 2025 Budget Act. The legislative counsel's digest changed the appropriation and state-mandated local program designations from 'yes' to 'no.'

DEFINITION

The guidance must now be developed as part of a comprehensive Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and fit within existing school systems including MTSS and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), rather than creating discrete or stand-alone programs.

Floor votes · Assembly May 27, 2026

How they voted

73–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 79

May 27, 2026

D Democratic59

58 Yea 1

98% Yea

R Republican20

15 Yea 5

75% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

upper

Aug 3, 2026

Committee

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

upper

Jul 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on ED.

upper

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.)

lower

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 14).

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 22).

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on ED.

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on ED.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors