Pupil instruction: digital wellness.
Summary
This California bill requires school districts, county offices of education, state special schools, and charter schools that offer health education courses in middle and high school to include instruction on digital wellness alongside existing mental health instruction. Digital wellness instruction must cover core principles connecting technology use to mental health, and may include topics such as healthy screen time habits, online safety, recognizing AI-generated content, and evaluating digital content credibility. The bill also directs the State Department of Education to develop a plan by January 1, 2028, to expand digital wellness instruction statewide, including curriculum frameworks, strategies for keeping content current with technology changes, and professional development for educators.
Sponsor
Last action
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
May 20, 2026
Topics
Legislative history
Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading.
From Consent Calendar.
Ordered to third reading.
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Read second time and amended.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 8).
Referred to Com. on ED.
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
Read first time. To print.