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View the legislative bills report here. (updated April 17, 2026)
April 17, 2026
ACCCA-Supported Bills Clear Assembly Higher Education Committee
On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Assembly Higher Education Committee met and considered over two dozen measures, including two bills that ACCCA supports: Assembly Bill (AB) 2301 (Soria, D-Merced) and AB 2694 (Alvarez, D-San Diego).
AB 2301 would require the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to develop a Bachelor of Science in Nursing pilot program authorizing up to ten community college districts (CCDs) statewide to offer the degree. The CCCCO would be responsible for identifying and selecting participating districts based on specified criteria.
Supporters emphasized the need to expand nursing pathways to address the state’s ongoing workforce shortages, particularly in underserved regions. However, representatives from the California State University (CSU) expressed opposition, raising concerns about potential program duplication and mission creep. CSU representatives argued that expanding community college baccalaureate authority into high-demand fields, like nursing, could overlap with existing CSU programs, strain limited clinical placement opportunities, and create inefficiencies in the state’s higher education system. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining clear differentiation between segments and suggested that investment in existing CSU nursing programs may be a more effective approach to increasing capacity.
AB 2694 would modify the conditions under which CCDs may offer baccalaureate degree programs by replacing the existing prohibition on program duplication with a regional “substantial similarity” standard and streamlining the consultation and objection process for the CSU and University of California.
In opposition, CSU representatives raised similar concerns, cautioning that the proposed “substantial similarity” standard could weaken existing safeguards against duplication and lead to increased overlap between segments. They noted that the bill may limit their ability to effectively review and raise concerns about new programs, potentially resulting in unnecessary competition for students, faculty, and resources. They also reiterated concerns about preserving the Master Plan framework and ensuring that expansion of community college baccalaureate programs does not come at the expense of systemwide coordination and efficiency.
Both bills were approved by the committee and will now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where their fiscal implications will be considered.
