AB-1920 • 2026

Community colleges: California College Promise: fee waiver eligibility.

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Mark González (A) , Ahrens
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how much funding is allocated by the state, nor does it specify if there will be an increase in costs or impact on other students' eligibility.

Community Colleges: Expanding Fee Waiver Eligibility

This law changes the rules so students who get a certificate on their way to an associate degree can still have their fees waived under the California College Promise program.

What This Bill Does

Changes the eligibility requirements for fee waivers in community colleges.
Allows students with certificates from other schools to qualify for fee waivers if those certificates are part of a sequence leading to an associate degree.

Who It Names or Affects

Community college students who have received certificates from postsecondary educational institutions
California Community Colleges and their administrators

Terms To Know

California College Promise: A program that provides funding to community colleges for fee waivers.
Fee waiver: An exemption from paying certain fees at a community college.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided by the state.
It is unclear if this change will increase costs for community colleges or affect other students' eligibility.

Bill History

2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-03-02 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1920, as introduced, Mark González.
Community colleges: California College Promise: fee waiver eligibility.
Existing law establishes the California College Promise, under the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes a community college to use that funding to waive some or all of the fees for 2 academic years for first-time community college students and returning community college students, as defined, who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent, or less for students certified as “full time,” as specified, and who complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application, except that a student who has previously earned a degree or certificate from a postsecondary educational institution is not eligible for this fee waiver.
This bill would prohibit a certificate awarded to a student by a postsecondary educational institution as part of a course sequence leading to an associate degree from making the student ineligible for that fee waiver.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF