CaliforniaCal Grant schools must accept cost change requests by the start of 2027–28
By the start of the 2027–28 academic year, schools eligible for Cal Grants must explain how they estimate yearly student costs and let enrolled students request changes to included expenses.
What it does
By the start of the 2027–28 academic year, schools eligible for Cal Grants must follow federal standards when estimating yearly student costs and show online how they calculate each part.
By the start of the 2027–28 academic year, schools eligible for Cal Grants must let enrolled students request changes to expense categories in their cost estimates. Schools must consider certain extra costs, but approval is not guaranteed.
By the start of the 2027–28 academic year, schools eligible for Cal Grants must accept electronic or paper cost change requests and explain the process online. If they publicly describe possible aid from an approved request, they must say it may include grants or loans.
Argument forStudents whose expenses exceed a school’s estimate could request a change, which may make them eligible for more aid if approved.
Argument againstIf an approved request leads to a loan, students who borrow could owe more money later.
More detail
Schools must develop and use a policy for estimating and adjusting yearly student costs. This applies to schools eligible for Cal Grants. The policy and process must follow federal standards. Schools must post the data and assumptions behind each part of their cost estimates online. Schools must have the policy and adjustment process in place no later than the start of the 2027–28 academic year.
Schools must let students request changes to expense categories included in their cost estimates. Enrolled students at schools eligible for Cal Grants may request changes to any expense category included in the school’s cost estimate. Schools must consider housing and utility costs for reasonable living accommodations when those costs exceed the school’s allowance. They must also consider care costs for dependent children and reasonable disability expenses that other agencies do not cover. Schools must consider these costs, but approval is not guaranteed. Schools must have this process in place no later than the start of the 2027–28 academic year.
Schools must accept electronic or paper requests and explain the cost change process online. These rules apply to schools eligible for Cal Grants. Students may submit requests while enrolled. Schools cannot cap the total number of requests a student submits during enrollment. If a school describes possible aid from an approved request in public materials or messages, it must say the aid may include grants or loans. Schools must have these rules in place no later than the start of the 2027–28 academic year. They cannot set a request deadline earlier than three weeks before a term ends.
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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 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 928, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6601.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2251 Celeste Rodriguez Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 26In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2251 Celeste Rodriguez By Reyes. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Jun 29In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 3Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2251 Celeste Rodriguez Assembly Third Reading By BERMAN. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5378.)Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 20Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 16Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 15From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14).Major
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
- Feb 19Read first time. To print.Introduced
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