SB-531 • 2026

Course of study: mental health education.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Rubio
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify how mental health education will be taught or what specific costs might arise from implementing it in school curriculums.

Mental Health Education in Schools

This law requires schools to include mental health education as part of their regular curriculum for students from grades 1 through 6 and also for grades 7 through 12.

What This Bill Does

Requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, to include mental health education within the existing health area of study.
Adds mental health education to the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in grades 1 through 6 who will learn about mental health as part of their health studies.
Students in grades 7 through 12 who will take courses that include mental health education.
Schools and local educational agencies that must follow the new rules.

Terms To Know

state-mandated local program: A program where the state tells schools what to do, but the schools have to pay for it themselves unless the state says otherwise.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact details about how mental health education will be taught are not specified.
It is unclear what specific extra costs might come from adding this requirement to school curriculums.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
April 30 set for second hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 0. Noes 2. Page 961.) Reconsideration granted.
2025-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 30.
2025-04-16 California Legislative Information
April 23 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-04 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 23.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 531, as introduced, Rubio.
Course of study: mental health education.
Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, to include certain areas of study, including, among others, health. Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer courses in specified areas of study, including, among others, English, social sciences, and mathematics.
This bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, would require the health area of study to also include mental health education, as provided. The bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, would add mental health education, as provided, to the adopted course of study. To the extent this bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies or local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF