AB 1861 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Special education: public complaint database.

Summary

Existing law requires that every individual with exceptional needs, as defined, who is eligible, be provided with educational instruction, services, or both, at no cost to their parent or guardian or, as appropriate, to them. Under existing law, a free appropriate public education is required to be made available to individuals with exceptional needs in accordance with specified federal regulations adopted pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to investigate a complaint alleging a violation of the act and to issue a written decision within 60 days of the complaint being filed, as provided. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2030, to create, or contract to create, and maintain a publicly available online aggregate database of all complaints that the department receives on and after July 1, 2027, that allege a violation of the federal law described above. The bill would require the database to include specified data for each complaint, including, among other things, the total number of complaints the department investigated disaggregated by school district, county office of education, or charter school. After the database has been created, the bill would require the department to ensure that the data required to be included in the database is updated and published on or before December 31 of each year.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

03/23/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/09/26 - Amended Assembly · 9 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MAJOR

The April 9 amendment significantly restructured AB 1861's special education complaint database requirement. The deadline was extended from 2028 to 2030, the database was redefined as a publicly available aggregate database focused on statistics rather than individual case records, and a new start date of July 1, 2027 was set for which complaints qualify. New provisions added annual update requirements, explicit FERPA privacy protections, and a definition of local educational agency.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed in two ways: it now only covers complaints received on and after July 1, 2027, and it is reframed as an aggregate statistics database rather than a repository of individual case records. The addition of explicit FERPA protections further limits what can be publicly disclosed.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the department to create the database was extended from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2030.

After the database is created, the department must update and publish the aggregate data on or before December 31 of each year.

SCOPE

The database is now limited to complaints received on and after July 1, 2027, that allege a violation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or its implementing regulations (Part 300 of Title 34 CFR).

The database is redefined as a 'publicly available online aggregate database' rather than simply an 'online database,' shifting emphasis from individual case records to aggregated data.

A new provision clarifies that the section does not require public disclosure of individual complaint files, written decisions, or records protected by Section 56504 or the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

REQUIREMENT

The content requirement was narrowed: instead of posting the full record of the hearing and findings of fact, the department now posts the investigation report (summary of allegations, applicable citations, findings of fact, conclusions, and required corrective actions).

New aggregate data requirements were added: total complaints investigated by local educational agency, number of violations found by LEA and federal law violated, and number of corrective actions required versus met within one year, all disaggregated by LEA.

DEFINITION

A definition of 'local educational agency' was added, meaning a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

TECHNICAL

Assembly Members Bryan and Lowenthal were added as coauthors of the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 7).

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 18).

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on ED. and P. & C.P.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors