Huntington Beach has filed a lawsuit against the State of California, challenging a recently enacted law that prevents school districts from notifying parents if their child undergoes a gender identity change.
The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in July, made California the first state to prohibit schools from requiring staff to inform parents about a student’s change in gender identity. The lawsuit, filed by the city, names Newsom, California Attorney General Robert Bonta, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond as defendants, and seeks a judicial ruling that the law is unconstitutional.
The lawsuit is being supported by the America First Legal Foundation, a conservative nonprofit organization founded by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller. The group is covering the legal expenses in the case.
In a statement, Huntington Beach Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark criticized the new law, known as AB 1955, stating that it “compels secrecy” and “puts children at risk.” Van Der Mark also argued that the law constitutes an “unconstitutional invasion” of the parent-child relationship by the state.
The Huntington Beach City Council voted in a closed session on Tuesday to approve the lawsuit, according to the Orange County Register. The council also gave final approval to a new ordinance declaring Huntington Beach a “Parents Right to Know City.” Under this ordinance, City Attorney Michael Gates is authorized to file lawsuits on behalf of local parents who allege that their rights under AB 1955 have been violated.
Huntington Beach is not the only entity challenging the law. In July, the Liberty Justice Center, a national litigation firm, also filed a lawsuit against Newsom, Bonta, and Thurmond. This suit was brought on behalf of the Chino Valley Unified School District, which implemented a controversial policy related to parental notification, and parents of children in California’s public schools.
The passage of AB 1955 has ignited significant debate, with both supporters and opponents voicing their views online. Among the notable critics is Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Tesla. After Newsom signed the bill into law, Musk announced plans to relocate the headquarters of his companies from California. In 2021, Musk moved Tesla’s headquarters from Palo Alto to Austin, Texas, although he later signaled an intention to return to California in 2023.
This is not the first time Huntington Beach and the state have clashed in court. In 2023, California sued the city over its refusal to comply with state affordable housing laws.
The legal battle over AB 1955 is just beginning, but it underscores the ongoing tension between state leaders and local governments over issues related to parental rights, education, and housing policies.