ACCCA provides California Administrators with timely news and information about legislation, policy and other issues that impact your college and your career. In addition to this up-to-the-minute website, we keep you in the loop with email alerts.
View the legislative bills report here. (updated February 13, 2025)
Click here to view the weekly update archives.
February 21, 2025
Bill Introduction Deadline
Today, Friday, February 21, 2025, is the deadline for legislators to introduce bills to be considered for the first year of the 2025-26 Legislative Session. The Capitol community has been sifting through the more than 1,500 measures that have been introduced for 2025.
Policy bills must be in print for 30 calendar days before they can be heard in a committee. With the introduction deadline passing, bills will be assigned to policy committees, and hearings will begin in March. While the Senate Education Committee has yet to schedule its first hearing of the year, the Assembly Higher Education Committee will host its first hearing on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The following community college-related bills are on the agenda:
- Assembly Bill (AB) 88 (Ta, R-Westminster) would extend Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship Program eligibility to a student who was not a resident of California at the time of high school graduation but meets all other applicable eligibility requirements and is a dependent natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the U.S. stationed outside of California on active duty
- AB 240 (Alanis, R-Modesto) would require the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy to conduct a study evaluating the current state of postsecondary education services in the Counties of Amador, Alpine, Mariposa, Modoc, and Sierra that are not fully included within the territory of a community college district (CCD)
- AB 323 (Fong, D-Alhambra) would require the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, by June 30, 2026, to revise existing policies under the Strong Workforce Program to facilitate paid work-based learning experiences for students and employers
We will monitor the legislative actions over the course of the year and will use subsequent updates to highlight and provide our analysis on legislative issues that impact CCDs.
Senate HELP Committee Advances McMahon’s Nomination
On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 12-11 along partisan lines to advance Linda McMahon’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the Senate floor.
McMahon is expected to be confirmed by the Senate as no Republicans have made any public objections to her nomination. The GOP currently holds 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber, meaning she can afford to lose three Republican votes and still clear the nomination hurdle with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
During her confirmation hearing last week, McMahon agreed with President Donald Trump that the ED should be shut down but also pledged that the Trump Administration is not looking to cut funding from schools and colleges appropriated by Congress. She believes that the department’s critical functions should be moved to other federal agencies. She also acknowledged that the administration would need congressional approval to dismantle the department.
The Senate is expected to vote on her nomination in the coming days.
