CaliforniaCalifornia adds a GI Bill program to tuition exemption
California community college and CSU students who live in the state and qualify for the Selected Reserve GI Bill can avoid nonresident tuition and fees.
What it does
Students who live in California and qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve program can also receive an exemption from nonresident tuition and fees at community colleges and CSU campuses.
If the state mandates costs under this law, local agencies and school districts must be reimbursed under existing state procedures, but only if a state commission confirms the costs qualify.
Argument forCalifornia reservists who qualify for the Selected Reserve GI Bill may avoid nonresident tuition and fees at community colleges or CSU campuses.
Argument againstCommunity college districts may face extra work checking eligibility, while state repayment depends on a commission finding that costs are mandated.
More detail
California Community Colleges and CSU campuses must exempt qualifying students from nonresident tuition and fees. The exemption applies to students at California Community Colleges and California State University campuses. Students must live in California, meet the federal definition of a covered individual, and qualify for one of the listed GI Bill programs. The exemption applies to academic terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021; the bill does not state a separate effective date for this change.
The state must reimburse local agencies and school districts for mandated costs if the Commission on State Mandates finds that the law creates them. This applies to local agencies and school districts with costs the commission determines are mandated by the state. Reimbursement applies only if the commission makes that determination.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 144, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Aug 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 18Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 11In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Aug 10Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5325.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd AB2794 HIGHER ED. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 24
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 1In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- May 27Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- May 14In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2794 Higher Education Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 14Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5057.)Passed Assembly
- May 7Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- May 6From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 23Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Minor
- Mar 19From printer. May be heard in committee April 18.
- Mar 18Read first time. To print.Introduced
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