AB328 creates interim education subcommittee and Juneteenth commission to study African American educational/economic issues — hearing drew both support and out
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Summary
AB328 would create an interim study subcommittee on education policy for African American communities and adds a Juneteenth educational and economic commission; sponsors said moving the study into the interim legislative committee removed an NSHE fiscal note.
Assemblymember Ruben De Silva introduced Assembly Bill 328 to create a subcommittee of the joint interim standing committee on education to study and develop policy recommendations focused on African American students and communities during the 2025–26 interim. Senator Neal explained a later amendment adding a Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission that would coordinate with existing local Juneteenth celebrations to identify annual funding options; sponsor said the added section does not create a fiscal impact for the state.
The sponsor said the original bill had carried a fiscal note of $594,968 from NSHE when NSHE conducted the study; the fiscal note was removed after amending the bill to make the work part of an interim legislative committee study (LCB has budgeted studies in the LCB budget). Committee members asked about per diem and compensation for nonlegislative members; the sponsor said LCB funding would cover study staffing needs and that removing NSHE as the lead alleviated the fiscal note.
Public callers included supporters who framed the bill as a way to preserve and teach history and to address systemic inequities; callers in opposition argued the bill was unnecessary or duplicative and raised fiscal concerns about per diems and potential restitution recommendations. The committee received written and oral testimony on both sides. The hearing closed with sponsor remarks emphasizing historical preservation and education needs; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.