AB 2794: Postsecondary education: nonresident tuition: exemption: 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 uniform residency requirements for purposes of ascertaining the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students of public postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law requires a student classified as a nonresident to pay nonresident tuition, in addition to other fees required by the institution, except as provided. Existing law exempts a student enrolled at a campus of the California Community Colleges or the California State University from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that exclusively applies to nonresident students if the student resides in California, meets the definition of “covered individual” under federal law, and is eligible for education benefits under 4 specified federal GI Bill programs, as the federal law read on January 5, 2022.

This bill would add, for purposes of that exemption, the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal GI Bill programs and specify that federal law as it read on January 5, 2026, applies. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts to determine eligibility for an exemption from paying nonresident tuition or fees, 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

“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. August 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 144, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 18, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
4. August 11, 2026In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
5. August 10, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5325.).
6. August 4, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
7. August 3, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. June 25, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. June 1, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
10. May 27, 2026Referred to Com. on ED.
11. May 14, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
12. May 14, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5057.)