K-12 schools under fire: California enacts stricter sexual abuse laws amid $3 billion legal fallout

California has enacted Senate Bill 848, a sweeping law to curb sexual abuse in K-12 schools, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The law mandates stricter training, expands reporting duties, and creates a statewide teacher misconduct database. Following $3 billion in abuse settlements under AB 218, the reforms aim to enhance transparency while districts struggle with severe financial fallout.