AB 2203: Public postsecondary education: priority registration: veterans and dependents of veterans: federal GI Bill.

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, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act prohibits the campuses of those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor and who is no more than 27 years of age, if certain requirements are satisfied.

This bill would require the California State University and each community college district, and would request the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, commencing with the 2028–29 academic year, to grant priority for registration for enrollment to (1) a student who receives a fee waiver pursuant to the above-described provisions, and (2) a student who is using any federal GI Bill benefits. By requiring students to receive priority registration at community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 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 28, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 730, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 28, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 730, Statutes of 2026.
3. September 28, 2026Approved by the Governor.
4. September 28, 2026Approved by the Governor.
5. August 27, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
6. August 27, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
7. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
8. August 20, 2026In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
9. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5591.).
10. August 20, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
11. August 18, 2026Ordered to special consent calendar.
12. August 18, 2026Ordered to special consent calendar.