AB-791 • 2026

Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program: cost of attendance.

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Berman
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the adjustment process or disclosure requirements beyond being consistent with federal standards.

Cal Grant Program: Cost of Attendance

This law requires schools participating in the Cal Grant Program to develop and follow rules for figuring out how much it costs to attend their school, based on federal standards.

What This Bill Does

Requires schools that want to be part of the Cal Grant Program to make a cost of attendance policy.

Who It Names or Affects

Schools that want to be part of the Cal Grant Program

Terms To Know

Cal Grant Program: A program in California that gives money to students for college or other postsecondary education.
Cost of Attendance: The total amount it costs a student to go to school, including tuition, books, and living expenses.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be given out.
Does not say when the new rules must start being used by schools.
Does not change eligibility requirements for students receiving Cal Grants.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-28 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2025-03-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 791, as amended, Berman.
Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program: cost of attendance.
Existing law, the Cal Grant Program, establishes the Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards, the Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Expanded Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards, the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission. Existing law establishes eligibility requirements for awards under the Cal Grant Program for participating students attending qualifying postsecondary educational institutions, and prescribes requirements that postsecondary educational institutions must comply with in order to be a qualifying postsecondary educational institution for purposes of the Cal Grant Program, including, among others, certain disclosure requirements.
This bill would require, as part
of the criteria to be a qualifying institution under the Cal Grant Program, an institution to develop and implement a cost of attendance policy and adjustment process to estimate and adjust cost of attendance information in a manner that is consistent with federal standards, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF