Stanford Law School professor Ralph Richard Banks predicted the bill would set off an intense legal fight if it is passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“On one side, you’ll have people saying, ‘Oh, an admissions preference for descendants of slavery — that’s just a transparent proxy for race,” Banks said. “And the other side of the argument will say, ‘Well, actually, there are reasons that we might be concerned about slavery and rectifying and responding to the damage and the harm done by slavery, which is distinct from any concern with race per se.’”

Banks said the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling is likely to suppress race-conscious policies beyond college admissions.

“The greater significance is that it would naturally be extended to all other sectors of life,” he said. “Not only college admissions, but employment and government policymaking related to housing … so the implications are dramatic and they’re still playing out.”