AB 2159, is a critical bill to mitigate some of the problems with AB 715 that passed the Legislature hastily last year in an attempt to restrict criticism of Israel and discussion about Palestine or Palestinian rights in public schools.
However, AB 2159 is now being prevented from a fair hearing in the Assembly by Speaker Rivas, while the Israel Lobby is rushing their own bill, AB 2615, through the Assembly Education Committee tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 1pm.
TAKE ACTION RIGHT NOW
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1. SEND AN EMAIL click here.
2. MAKE CALLS to Assembly Education Committee members — tell them to vote NO on AB 2615 and give AB 2159 a fair hearing.
• Dr. Darshana R. Patel: (916) 319-2076
• Josh Hoover: (916) 319-2007
• David A. Alvarez: (916) 319-2080
• Mia Bonta: (916) 319-2018
• Leticia Castillo: (916) 319-2058
• Robert Garcia: (916) 319-2050
• Josh Lowenthal: (916) 319-2069
• Gail Pellerin: (916) 319-2028
• Rick Chavez Zbur: (916) 319-2051
• Speaker Robert Rivas: (916) 319-2029
Call as many as you can.
Sample script: “I’m calling to urge you to vote NO on AB 2615 and to give AB 2159 a fair hearing in the Assembly Education Committee. California’s students and teachers deserve all voices to be heard on this important issue.”
Sample Jewish script: “I’m a member of the Jewish community and I’m calling to urge you to vote NO on AB 2615 and to give AB 2159 a fair hearing in the Assembly Education Committee. California’s students and teachers deserve all voices to be heard on this important issue.”
3. If you can, SHOW UP April 22, 2026 at 1pm at the Assembly Education Committee hearing, Room 126, CA State Capitol, 1315 O Street, Sacramento.
FMI: Sacramento@JewishVoiceforPeace.org
Carpool sign-up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BuyAEC1qd1BiSg4pdPaeRLH9LrH1F3tcyTVaZX5LapY/edit?gid=0#gid=0
4. Call to Support AB 2159 Click here.
More info:
Last year, California passed AB 715 under the banner of addressing antisemitism in K–12 schools, but in practice, it created serious risks for educators and students and faced widespread opposition from teachers, students, labor unions, and civil rights organizations.
AB 2159 removes a definition of antisemitism that conflates protected political speech with discrimination, ensures the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator is selected through a fair, merit-based process, and eliminates vague language that could enable politically motivated complaints against educators. Click here to support AB 2159.
AB 2615 is not a fix — it’s a trap. While it deletes some language around advocacy and personal opinion, it:
• Still references the widely condemned IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticisms of Israel with antisemitism
• Does nothing to ensure a fair hiring process for the antisemitism coordinator
• Actually broadens the “factually accurate” language from AB 715 — further intimidating teachers who try to teach honestly about Palestine and Israel.
Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights 