AB 2121: Community colleges: current expense of education: exclusions.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at community college campuses.

Existing law requires the expenditure, during each fiscal year, for the payment of salaries of classroom instructors by a community college district, of 50% of the district’s current expense of education. Existing law defines “current expense of education” as the gross total expended for certain expenses that include academic salaries, classified salaries, employee benefits, and books, supplies, and equipment replacement, but that generally exclude expenses for student transportation, food services, and community services.

This bill, notwithstanding the above-described provisions, would authorize a community college district, for a period of 5 fiscal years following the 2025–26 fiscal year, or until specified federal funding is fully restored to every community college district, whichever occurs first, to exclude from its current expense of education any local unrestricted expenditures from the community college district’s unrestricted general fund, as provided, and not to exceed a specified amount, that maintain student support functions that were previously funded though federal discretionary grants that have been terminated, nonrenewed, or defunded due to federal action on or after September 10, 2025. If a community college district exercises its authority pursuant to these provisions, the bill would require the community college district to annually certify eligibility to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, as specified, and would require the chancellor’s office to maintain documentation and include as part of another specified report, any certifications it receives, as provided. The bill would require the above-described action to exclude local unrestricted expenditures from a community college district’s current expense of education to be taken at a regular public meeting of the governing board of the community college district, as specified. The bill would make its provisions inoperative on July 1, 2031, or on the first day of the fiscal year following the full restoration of specified federal funding to every community college district, whichever occurs first, and would repeal them on January 1 of the year following the inoperative date.

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. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 580, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 1. Page 6916.).
5. August 30, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 30, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 0.).
7. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 5, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 4, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. June 23, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. June 22, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.