AB-495 (Rodriguez): Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025
AVFCA Commentary:
Legislation Details
Bill Name: Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025
Bill Number: AB-495
Bill Author(s): Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez
Legislative Session / Year: 2025
State: California
AVFCA Position: Oppose
Bill Synopsis: **PLEASE NOTE: AVFCA is no longer opposing this bill. Our amendments were accepted**
AB-495 seeks to expand who can submit a caregiver affidavit, allowing any adult to enroll a child in school and make certain medical decisions, rather than limiting this authority to close relatives. While the intent is to provide stability during sudden parental absences, the current language lacks critical safeguards to ensure child safety.
AVFCA proposed amendments (such as requiring schools to first contact a child’s listed emergency contacts, and ensuring that adults seeking caregiver authority are legally permitted) were not adopted. Instead, an amendment was added stating that the caregiver affidavit does not need to be notarized, which was not among the amendments AVFCA requested and does not address the core concerns.
Additionally, the California Department of Finance opposed AB-495, citing a projected $5.4 million cost.
AB-495 seeks to expand who can submit a caregiver affidavit, allowing any adult to enroll a child in school and make certain medical decisions, rather than limiting this authority to close relatives. While the intent is to provide stability during sudden parental absences, the current language lacks critical safeguards to ensure child safety.
AVFCA proposed amendments (such as requiring schools to first contact a child’s listed emergency contacts, and ensuring that adults seeking caregiver authority are legally permitted) were not adopted. Instead, an amendment was added stating that the caregiver affidavit does not need to be notarized, which was not among the amendments AVFCA requested and does not address the core concerns.
Additionally, the California Department of Finance opposed AB-495, citing a projected $5.4 million cost.
LegInfo Bill Link: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB495
Most Recent Bill Analysis:
Effective Date if Passed: 01/07/2026
TAKE ACTION
BILL STATUS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Take Action
Contact Your Legislators
Contact Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez, author of AB-495, to take action and request amendments that reinforce parental rights.
Constituents are encouraged to email and call their Assembly Members and Senators to request a No Vote unless the bill is further amended: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers; https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators.
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BILL STATUS
Passed Senate Appropriations Committee
Held in Suspense file in Senate Appropriations Committee
Passed Senate Policy Committee(s)
Referred to Senate Policy Committee(s)
Referred to Senate Rules Committee
Passed Assembly Appropriations Committee
Held in Suspense file in Assembly Appropriations Committee
Passed Assembly Policy Committee(s)
Referred to Assembly Policy Committee(s)
Introduced
BILL STATUS DETAIL
08/29/25: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
08/18/25: In committee: Referred to suspense file.
07/08/25: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
06/18/25: Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.
06/04/25: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
05/23/25: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 23).
05/14/25: In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
04/30/25: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
03/24/25: Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.
02/11/25: From printer. May be heard in committee March 13.
Additional Resources
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