AB 1241: Student financial aid: Pay it Forward, Pay it Back Pilot Program: study.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as the 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education.

This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the Legislative Analyst’s Office, to conduct a study of the effects of enacting, in future legislation, a Pay it Forward, Pay it Back Pilot Program that would allow students to enroll at a California State University or University of California campus without paying upfront tuition, fees, or room and board, and instead would require participating students to pay, upon graduation or disenrollment and employment, a percentage of their annual adjusted gross income to the state for a number of years, as specified. The bill would require the commission to submit a report on the study of the pilot program to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Committee on Education on or before September 30, 2027. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on September 30, 2030, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2031.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2. January 31, 2026Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
3. January 22, 2026In committee: Held under submission.
4. January 22, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
5. January 14, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. January 6, 2026Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
7. January 5, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.
8. April 7, 2025Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
9. April 3, 2025Re-referred to Com. on ED.
10. April 2, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.
11. March 13, 2025Re-referred to Com. on ED.
12. March 12, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.