Postsecondary education: nonresident tuition: exemption: federal GI Bill.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact date of January 5, 2026, as mentioned in the candidate explanation. The bill summary text mentions January 5, 2022.

Postsecondary Education: Nonresident Tuition Exemption

This law adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal GI Bill programs that allow non-California residents to pay resident tuition rates at California's community colleges and state universities.

What This Bill Does

• Adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal GI Bill programs that exempt students from paying nonresident tuition if they are eligible for education benefits under this program.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students who qualify under the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve or other federal GI Bill programs and attend California's community colleges or state universities.
• Community college districts that must determine if students are eligible for nonresident tuition exemptions.

Terms To Know

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve

A program that provides education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves who meet certain requirements.

Nonresident Tuition

Higher tuition rates charged by public colleges and universities for students who do not live in the state where they attend school.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how community college districts will determine eligibility or what resources they will use to implement this change.
• It is unclear if there are additional costs that might be imposed on local agencies beyond those already covered by state reimbursement procedures.

Official Summary Text

AB 2794, as introduced, Committee on Higher Education.
Postsecondary education: nonresident tuition: exemption: federal GI Bill.
Existing law establishes uniform residency requirements for purposes of ascertaining the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students of public postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law requires a student classified as a nonresident to pay nonresident tuition, in addition to other fees required by the institution, except as provided. Existing law exempts a student enrolled at a campus of the California Community Colleges or the California State University from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that exclusively applies to nonresident students if the student resides in California, meets the definition of “covered individual” under federal law, and is eligible for education benefits under 4 specified federal GI Bill programs, as the federal law read on January 5, 2022.
This bill would add, for purposes of that exemption,
the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal GI Bill programs and specify that federal law as it read on January 5, 2026, applies. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts to determine eligibility for an exemption from paying nonresident tuition or fees, the bill would impose 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF