California education policy changes: new laws, paid leave, misconduct database failure, discipline reforms

10 new laws signed by Newsom taking effect July 2026: smartphone policies (AB3216), AI staffing limits (AB 2148), immigration enforcement restrictions, fentanyl education, truancy decriminalization, all-gender bathrooms, expanded background checks, employee misconduct tracking (SB848), mental health hotline on student IDs. AI laws: CDE model policy, AB 1159 (privacy), AB 1988 (chatbot safety), AB 2023 (children's chatbot safety). Paid leave for teachers signed into law: up to 14 weeks paid leave for pregnant teachers starting Jan 2027. Teacher misconduct database failure: lawmakers failed again to fix warning system; unions blocking searchable database. Discipline policy reforms: willful defiance ban extended to K-5; SB 274 still pending. Pending bills include SB 330 (budget horizon), SB 1083 (misconduct), AB 2490 (subs), AB 2316 (charter facilities), SB 1067 (math screening), CSBA SOS package. Directly impacts Bay Area district policies and family rights.