Following studies and research on how to improve Title IX in California, the state has passed several new laws. There are also pending bills, and these changes mean that anyone accused of a Title IX violation in California may be facing different laws or requirements.

Intended to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination, how these new laws work in practice isn't yet known. Laws that sound good on paper can have unexpected problems in reality, including putting an unfair burden on those accused of sexual misconduct.

The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm stays current on federal and state laws. We help students, faculty members, and staff members in California and throughout the U.S. who have been accused of misconduct. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.

Assessments

Over the past five years, California has funded three separate studies related to Title IX in the University of California (UC), California State University (Cal State or CSU), and California Community College systems. These reports found none of the systems had an effective system in place for Title IX violations.

Other issues include the lack of preventative measures for sexual misconduct and improved reporting requirements. As of March 2025, at least two additional bills on Title IX have been introduced.

New Laws

In 2024, California passed several laws related to Title IX at colleges and universities. These include:

• AB 2047, which has Cal State's support, creates a systemwide Title IX office.
• AB 2407 requires Title IX audits every three years to determine how UC and Cal State handle sexual harassment complaints.
• AB 1790 requires Cal State to implement recommendations made from reports.
• AB 2608 applies to all three postsecondary systems as well as any other college or university that receives funding from California. This law requires schools to update their training on sexual harassment and sexual violence.

What these laws – and any future laws – mean for anyone accused of Title IX misconduct remains to be seen. States cannot do less than what federal law requires. This means that Title IX still applies to faculty and staff members and not just students when a state's laws go above and beyond Title IX requirements, that can potentially make it more difficult to navigate an investigation.

The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm appreciates that Title IX investigations in California may differ from those in other states. This doesn't change our goal of providing individualized support to each client.

Protect Your Future

Facing Title IX allegations or other accusations of sexual misconduct can be overwhelming. People may rush to judgment, negatively affect your reputation, and your education or career.

Preventing sexual misconduct is good. Making sure that a college or university community feels safe is important. At the same time, overly zealous enforcement or too-broad policies don't make anyone safer.

If you're a student, faculty member, or staff member facing misconduct allegations, contact the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm. We assist individuals in California and the U.S. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.