When 12-year-old Yahushua Robinson died running during gym class in triple-digit temperatures, his mother couldn't help but feel the tragedy could have been avoided.

More than a year later, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill aimed at ensuring all California students are better protected during heat waves.

Senate Bill 1248 The law, known as “Yahshua's Law,” would require public schools to adopt uniform safety guidelines for physical activity during extreme weather. Robinson's family played a key role in getting the bill to Newsom's desk.

“This legislation represents the embodiment of Yahushua’s values ​​of commitment to child safety and recognizing the common humanity within all students,” said Christina, Robinson Family Advocate.・Mr. Laster said in a statement regarding the bill.

Yahushua died in August 2023 after collapsing during physical education class at Canyon Lake Middle School in Lake Elsinore. The high temperature that day was 107 degrees.

The boy died of a heart defect, and heat and physical exertion were contributing factors, according to a report from the Riverside County Coroner's Office.

His mother, Janie Robinson, is a physical education teacher in the same school district. told ABC7 On that hot day, she kept her students indoors.

“These students shouldn't have been outside, and I couldn't imagine my child dying while my students were outside,” she told police.

Yahushua's Law, which goes into effect in July 2026, would remove discretion from teachers during heat waves by requiring school districts to implement standard guidelines to keep students safe. The bill would also require districts to develop policies for other types of hazardous weather, such as poor air quality and high winds.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield).

“Extreme weather events will never kill a student on campus as long as we have a statewide plan in place to minimize exposure to the most harmful exposure factors and take steps to protect students. “No one should do it,” she said in a statement. “We commend Yahushua Robinson’s family for providing the emotional strength and compassion for other students to ensure that no other student ever loses their life in this way.”