CaliforniaCalifornia law creates a 5-year designation for colleges that serve Asian American and Pacific Islander students
Under this law, signed September 29, 2026, California campuses can apply to be named Asian American- and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, a recognition valid for five years.
What it does
California now has a five-year designation for campuses that serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students well. A governing board awards it by a two-thirds vote.
Campuses must apply with goals, plans, and student data, posted publicly. The Chancellor's office of the California Community Colleges runs the process and sets one yearly deadline.
A nine-member board would award the designation at open meetings held at least yearly. Decisions would need a two-thirds vote of the members present.
Argument forA state designation with clear goals could encourage campuses to set targets and plans to help Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students stay and graduate.
Argument againstCampuses must prepare detailed applications and data reports, which could take staff time and money, and the law does not say how that work would be paid for.
More detail
The law creates a state designation to recognize colleges and universities that excel at providing academic resources to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges campuses, and independent colleges, may apply. A designation is awarded only by a two-thirds vote of the governing board. Applicants must meet the application requirements. An initial designation lasts five academic years. A renewal lasts five years.
Campuses must apply with goals, a strategic plan, and student data, and the Chancellor's office of the California Community Colleges would run the application process. Applications include goals for retention, time to degree, and graduation rates, plans to close equity gaps, support services, and data on student outcomes and subgroups. Applications must be posted on the campus website. Renewal applications must show progress and add five years of data. The Chancellor's office sets one application deadline each year.
A nine-member governing board would decide which campuses get the designation. Members include the Lieutenant Governor or a designee, two public members, designees of the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, and independent colleges, the chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus, and a commission designee. The board must follow the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, so its meetings are open to the public. All decisions need a two-thirds vote of members present. The board must meet at least once a year.
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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 29Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 760, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 29Approved 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 60. Noes 14. Page 6644.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2374 Fong Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2374 Fong et al. By Reyes. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 34. Noes 5.).Passed Senate
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 25From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (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]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.Major
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on ED.Minor
- Jun 1In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 58. Noes 16. Page 5528.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2374 Fong Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 22Coauthors revised.
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.Minor
- Apr 13From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.Major
- 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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