Sacramento, Calif. – On Thursday, August 15 2024, Senate Bill 1182 the Climate Resilient Schools Act by Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is now advancing to the Assembly Floor for a vote. The bill directs the California Energy Commission to lead the coordination of state agencies in creating a comprehensive master plan to align funding for school facilities with California’s decarbonization, climate adaptation, and extreme heat mitigation goals. 

As climate-related threats—such as extreme heat, flooding, wildfire smoke, and other acute impacts—intensify, it is crucial for California to develop a strategic plan to make schools climate-resilient. This will ensure that schools are better equipped to serve families and protect students' ability to learn and stay healthy.

With billions of dollars of federal monies currently available for California schools through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the potential approval of a School Facilities Bond this November, California can seize the moment and utilize these funds to ensure a healthy and safe learning environment for the students of the future.

“Students and their families deserve schools that offer a quality learning environment. With severe weather becoming more frequent in recent years due to climate change that also means updating our school facilities to handle these growing challenges.” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “I am thankful to the incredible organizations and community leaders who have helped us get this far, and I urge my Assembly colleagues for their support on the Assembly Floor for the Climate Resilient Schools Act so that we can help prepare our schools for the future.”

“The same week as many of our children head back to school, I’m glad to see SB 1182 come off suspense,” said Jonathan Klein, Co-Founder and CEO, UndauntedK12. “Children deserve to attend schools that prioritize their health, safety, learning, and wellbeing amidst the climate emergency we are facing, and schools shouldn’t be left behind in California’s efforts to decarbonize and adapt to extreme weather.”

“We need a plan to ensure our schools are better prepared for smoke days, extreme heat, potential airborne illness, and other environmental challenges we are experiencing. I’m glad to see SB 1182 come off suspense and head to the Assembly Floor,” said Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers union.

“A Master Plan for Climate-Resilient Schools is a wise investment for California schools, and protects the health and safety of the students they serve, and the teachers and staff who make learning possible,” said Tracey Brieger, Deputy Director, Jobs with Justice San Francisco. We already invest many billions of dollars in school infrastructure each year—this plan will ensure that these dollars will be wisely, efficiently, and equitably spent where they are needed most in the years and decades to come.”

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Majority Leader Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. Majority Leader Gonzalez also serves as Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more about Majority Leader Gonzalez, visit her website at www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez.

UndauntedK12 is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support America's K-12 public schools to make an equitable transition to zero carbon emissions while preparing youth to build a sustainable future in a rapidly changing climate. UndauntedK12 provides backbone support for the Climate Ready Schools Coalition. Website of UndauntedK12: https://www.undauntedk12.org/