The author of AB 1224, Assemblymember Valencia, his staff, and the bill’s co-sponsors. From left: Chris Reefe (CSBA), Assemblymember Valencia’s Legislative Director Nathaly Terran, Mishaal Gill (CASBO) Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, Serette Kaminski (ACSA), and Brianna Bruns (California County Superintendents).

We’re excited to share that Assembly Bill 1224 (Valencia)—co-sponsored by CASBO—has successfully passed the Senate Education Committee with unanimous bipartisan support (7-0)!

This critical legislation helps address California’s ongoing teacher shortage by allowing an authorized substitute teacher to serve in a single general, special, or career technical education classroom for up to 60 days—doubling the current 30-day limit—until January 1, 2029. It provides much-needed flexibility for districts and county offices of education struggling to fill teaching positions and cover absences, while still prioritizing efforts to recruit fully credentialed educators.

AB 1224 is a practical, urgent solution to ensure our students experience continuity and stability in their classrooms, especially in high-need areas like special education and rural schools. CASBO is proud to co-sponsor this bill alongside our education partners: the California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators, and the California County Superintendents.

Read the full bill text

Dr. Dawn Hubble (left), Assemblymember Valencia (center) and Kristen Wright (right). Dawn and Kristen provided lead witness testimony in support of AB 1224.

A huge thank-you to our members who responded to CASBO’s Call-To-Action!

Your advocacy played a direct role in this unanimous committee outcome. Your voice matters—and our students benefit when school business professionals engage in the legislative process.

Stay tuned for more updates as AB 1224 advances through the Legislature. Together, we’re building smarter systems and stronger schools.