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AB-2693 • 2026

California State University: California Maritime Academy.

California State University: California Maritime Academy.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Alvarez
Last action
2026-05-27
Official status
Referred to Com. on ED.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about how many new doctoral programs CSU campuses can start.

California State University: Doctoral Programs and California Maritime Academy

This bill allows the California State University to award doctoral degrees without certain restrictions, adds new campus names as property of the state, and removes some consultation requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds 'Cal Poly Maritime' and 'Cal Poly Maritime Academy' to the list of campus names that are property of the state, making unauthorized use a misdemeanor.
  • Authorizes CSU campuses to award doctoral degrees statewide without needing approval from other institutions or limiting them to specific types.
  • Revises the information CSU campuses need to submit when proposing new doctoral programs.
  • Removes the requirement for CSU campuses to consult with the University of California's president’s office when planning new doctoral programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • California State University (CSU) and its campuses
  • Independent institutions of higher education that partner with CSU for joint doctoral degrees

Terms To Know

doctoral degree
The highest level of academic degree awarded by universities, typically requiring original research.
state-mandated local program
A program where the state requires local agencies to take action or incur costs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many new doctoral programs CSU campuses can start.
  • It is unclear if this change will lead to more or fewer joint doctoral programs with independent institutions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  2. 2026-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  3. 2026-05-14 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.)

  4. 2026-05-07 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  5. 2026-05-06 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).

  6. 2026-04-27 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  8. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21).

  9. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  10. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  11. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2693, as amended, Alvarez.
California State University:
doctoral programs.
California Maritime Academy.
Existing law establishes the California State University and its various campuses under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University. Existing law provides that the name “California State University” and the names of various campuses of the California State University, and abbreviations of those names, including “Cal Maritime,” are the property of the state, and prohibits the use of any of these names without the permission of the trustees. Under existing law, a violation of this provision is punishable as a misdemeanor.
This bill would add “Cal Poly Maritime” and “Cal Poly Maritime Academy” to the list of abbreviations of campus
names of the California State University that are the property of the state. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would create 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law establishes the California State University (CSU), under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California (UC), under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law provides for the missions and functions of these segments and vests the UC with the sole authority in public higher education to award doctoral degrees in all fields of learning, except that the CSU may award doctoral degrees jointly, with, among others, independent institutions of higher education if the proposed doctoral program is approved by the California Postsecondary Education Commission.
This bill would authorize the CSU to jointly award doctoral degrees with independent institutions of higher education without
the approval of the California Postsecondary Education Commission.
Existing law authorizes the CSU, in consultation with the office of the President of the University of California, to award professional or applied doctoral degrees statewide that do not duplicate UC doctoral degrees and that meet certain requirements. Existing law requires a CSU campus seeking authorization to offer a professional or applied doctoral degree program to submit to the office of the Chancellor of the California State University certain nonduplication documentation, enrollment projections, an administrative plan, and statewide workforce data. Existing law requires the chancellor to notify, in writing, and to send relevant materials on the proposed doctoral program to, the president’s office and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities to allow for consultation on issues of duplication. Existing law prohibits the trustees from approving for
implementation a proposed doctoral program if the president’s office provided written objections on the basis of duplication within 120 days of notice and receipt of materials for the proposed doctoral program unless and until a letter indicating resolution of the objections and a mutual agreement, signed by the chancellor and the president, is submitted to certain legislative committees. Existing law limits the total number of professional or applied doctoral degree programs offered by a CSU campus to 25% of the total number of undergraduate, graduate through the master’s degree, and professional and teacher education programs offered by the CSU campus.
This bill would authorize the CSU to award doctoral degrees statewide without limiting it to professional or applied doctoral degrees that do not duplicate UC doctoral degrees. The bill would revise the information a CSU campus seeking to offer a doctoral degree program is required to submit for review by the
chancellor’s office and approval by the trustees. The bill would repeal the requirements related to consulting with the president’s office and submitting information to the president’s office and the President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities to allow for consultation on issues of duplication. The bill would remove the president’s office’s authority to object to a proposed doctoral program on the basis of duplication. The bill would also repeal the limit on the total number of doctoral degree programs that may be offered by a CSU campus. The bill would also make conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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