AB-1400 • 2026

Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.

Education

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: Soria
Last action: 2026-01-22
Official status: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the criteria for selecting eligible community college districts to participate in the pilot program.

Community Colleges: Nursing Degree Pilot Program

This bill creates a pilot program for community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Chancellor's office to create a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.
Limits the program to ten community college districts across California.
Sets criteria for selecting eligible community college districts to participate.
Prioritizes enrollment for students who have an associate degree in nursing from that district.
Requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to evaluate the pilot program's effectiveness.

Who It Names or Affects

Community colleges and their governing boards
Students with associate degrees in nursing

Terms To Know

Baccalaureate Degree: A bachelor’s degree, typically requiring four years of study.
Pilot Program: A small-scale test run to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a new program before full implementation.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was vetoed by the governor, but lawmakers could still override this veto.
The pilot program will end on January 1, 2035.

Bill History

2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Vetoed by Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 3364.).
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2746.).
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
2025-08-25 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-08-13 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 1995.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1400, Soria.
Community colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate. Existing law establishes a statewide baccalaureate degree program that authorizes up to a total of 30 baccalaureate degree programs at community college districts to be approved per academic year, as provided.
This bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program that authorizes select community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
degree. The bill would limit the pilot program to 10 community college districts statewide and would require the chancellor’s office to identify and select eligible community college districts based on specified criteria. The bill would require the chancellor’s office to develop a process designed to assist community college districts with nursing programs that are applying for national accreditation for the purpose of qualifying for the pilot program, as provided. The bill would require each participating community college district to give priority registration for enrollment in the pilot program to students with an associate degree in nursing from that community college district. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of
the program and the need to continue or expand the program, as specified, to be submitted to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2033. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2035.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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