CaliforniaPublic colleges prioritize housing and enrollment for foster and homeless youth
California public colleges must prioritize eligible foster and homeless youth for enrollment and campus housing, while delaying certain initial housing charges until financial aid arrives.
What it does
Foster youth older than 25 can receive enrollment priority at public colleges when they are enrolled in the NextUp program.
Public college campuses with housing must prioritize foster and homeless youth, identify potentially eligible applicants, and explain these housing benefits online.
Eligible students who apply for financial aid cannot be required to prepay initial housing charges before aid arrives, but they may still owe charges later.
Argument forDelaying initial housing charges could help eligible students move into campus housing before receiving financial aid.
Argument againstStudents who do not receive aid may still face the full deferred housing bill after notice and at least 30 days to pay.
More detail
Public colleges must give enrollment priority to eligible foster youth who are older than 25 and enrolled in NextUp. This covers current and former foster youth whose court-ordered dependency began or continued on or after their 13th birthday, including those over age 25 who are enrolled in NextUp. The California State University and community colleges must provide this priority. University of California campuses are requested to provide it.
Campuses with student housing must prioritize current and former foster youth and homeless youth and take additional steps to help eligible students obtain housing. The requirements cover community colleges and California State University campuses with student housing. They cover University of California campuses only if the Regents approve the law by resolution. Campuses must ask housing applicants questions that may identify eligible students and post information about housing priority and eligibility. Campuses with housing open during breaks or year-round must give first priority to these students for uninterrupted year-round housing, without extra cost during academic or campus breaks. Community colleges and California State University campuses must provide these housing priorities; University of California campuses are subject to Regents approval. Campuses are requested to create plans for housing resources between academic terms, including breaks.
Campuses must delay or waive initial housing-related charges for eligible students until their financial aid is paid and may collect deferred charges later under stated safeguards. The rules cover eligible foster and homeless youth at community colleges, California State University campuses, and University of California campuses approved by the Regents, when those campuses maintain student housing. The student must submit a FAFSA or, when applicable, a California Dream Act application for the academic year. Before financial aid is paid, a campus may not deny housing, cancel the assignment, or require prepayment because of these charges. If aid is not paid, the campus must give written notice and at least 30 days to pay before adding late fees, penalties, or interest. The law delays payment but does not forgive housing costs that were not waived. The deferral or waiver applies until the student receives financial aid for the applicable academic term.
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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
- Sep 14Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 216, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 27Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 20Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6330.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2766 Ahrens Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 19In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2766 Ahrens et al. By Wahab. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5548.).Passed Senate
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jun 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.Major
- May 27Referred to Coms. on ED. and HUMAN S.Minor
- May 14In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2766 Ahrens 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 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Coauthors revised.
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Minor
- Apr 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and HUM. S.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
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