Episode 97 Mahmoud v. Taylor: A Practical Discussion on the Supreme Court’s Opt-Out Opinion

In this episode, host Sloan Simmons joins Partners Chelsea Olson-Murphy and Kyle A. Raney for a practical discussion of the holding, impact, and resulting best practices following the Supreme Court’s opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor regarding the ability of parents to opt their children out of certain curriculum based upon sincerely held religious beliefs.

Show Notes & References

• 1:50 – Opt-out statutes in other states and how California can prepare for these changes
• 3:08 – Case background: Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025) 606 U.S. 522 (Client News Brief – July 2025)
• 9:31 – Wisconsin vs. Yoder (1972) 406 U.S. 205
• 9:59 – Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist. (2022) 597 U.S. 507  (Client News Brief – August 2023)
• 11:11 – What the Supreme Court held in Mahmoud
• 15:56 – Why the Mahmoud decision matters for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
• 20:20 – Employment Div., Dept. of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith (1988) 485 U.S. 660
• 21:56 – Practical considerations
• 27:42 – Interactions with California law
• 27:51 – The FAIR Act (Client News Brief – October 2025)
• 28:38 – Best practices and recommendations for LEAs
• 36:16 – Template opt-out forms and three prongs of information to gather
• 41:16 – Takeaways and final thoughts

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast

Disclaimer: As the information contained herein is necessarily general, its application to a particular set of facts and circumstances may vary. For this reason, this podcast episode does not constitute legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your counsel prior to acting on the information contained herein.