Laws and Policy

We implement policy advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. Our work includes policy development, lobbying, coalition building, and community organizing.

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California AB 1886: Ending Endless Probation for All Youth (2026)

California Assembly Bill 1886 will ensure that all youth on non-custodial wardship probation, regardless of their housing status or placement type, benefit from the clear timelines, individualized conditions, and developmentally appropriate standards established by AB 1376 (2025).

Active

California AB 1230: Expulsion Rehabilitation Plan Reform (2025)

Bill will ensure that students facing expulsion receive the support they need to return to their home schools.

California Assembly Bill 1230, titled Expulsion Rehabilitation Plan Reform, strengthens procedures and requirements to ensure that expelled students — some of California's most vulnerable — receive the support they need to successfully return to school.

Enacted

California AB 1376: Ending Endless Probation

Bill will ensure that youth do not unnecessarily languish on probation

California Assembly Bill 1376, titled Ending Endless Probation, will protect youth who have been sentenced to probation in the community by creating statutory guidelines ensuring that youth do not unnecessarily languish on probation.

Enacted

Hawai’i HB900: Relating to Child Welfare Services (2025)

Bill will create a working group — which will include lived experts in the state foster system — to design a pilot for legal representation of foster youth

The National Center for Youth Law has worked closely with current and former foster youth in Hawai’i, as well as local advocates and service providers, to develop and advance HB900, a bill that advances the right to legal counsel for youth in the Hawai'i foster system.

Active

California SB 531: Student Mental Health Education (2025)

Bill will expand mental health education access to all California students

SB 531 will help empower young Californians and destigmatize mental health challenges by requiring all California students in grades 1-12 be provided with an age-appropriate mental health education.

Active

Children’s Safe Welcome Act (2024)

The Children's Safe Welcome Act prioritizes family unity, minimizes the time children spend in immigration custody, and increases the protections for children throughout the process. NCYL provided expert guidance in developing this landmark legislation.

Active

End School-Based Ticketing (2024)

HB 3413 (Ford)

A recent investigation by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune found thousands of Illinois students were receiving tickets at school for minor behavior such as littering, in violation of state law. NCYL advocates for the passage of the End School-Based Ticketing Act to end the unjust practice of referring students to be ticketed for an incident that can be pursued through the school district’s discipline policy.

Active

Justice for Survivors (2024)

AB 2354 (Bonta)

AB 2354 is a law intended to expand protections and remedies for all survivors of intimate partner violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence including those charged and convicted of violent felonies. Protections and remedies would include an affirmative defense and vacatur relief. Bill was held in an Appropriations Committee.

Inactive

Supporting Students in the Foster System and Students Experiencing Homelessness (2024)

AB 2137 (Quirk-Silva)

Assembly Bill (AB) 2137 that would increase direct support for students, streamline services through better collaboration, and reduce gaps in financial aid application completion.

Active