ACA-7 • 2026

Government preferences.

Education Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Jackson
Last action: 2026-02-19
Official status: In Senate. To Com. on RLS.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on future actions or executive decisions following legislative passage.

Government Preferences

A law that changes how California's government can treat people based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in hiring, college admissions and enrollment, and contracts.

What This Bill Does

Changes a part of the California Constitution about not giving special treatment to anyone because of their race, gender, skin color, ethnic background, or where they come from.
Limits this rule only to how the government hires people, lets students into colleges, and gives out contracts.

Who It Names or Affects

The California state government
People applying for jobs with the state
Students trying to get into college in California
Companies bidding on state contracts

Terms To Know

Proposition 209: A law passed by voters that stops the government from giving special treatment based on race, gender, or ethnicity.
Public employment: Jobs with the state government

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how schools should treat students.
It is unclear what happens next after this passes in the legislature.

Bill History

2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
In Senate. To Com. on RLS.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Adopted and to Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 14.)
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be adopted. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (January 22).
2026-01-22 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.)
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and be adopted as amended, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (May 6).
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be adopted, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Re-referred. (Ayes 6. Noes 3.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and JUD.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2025-02-13 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

ACA 7, as amended, Jackson.
Government preferences.
The California Constitution, pursuant to provisions enacted by the Proposition 209, an initiative measure adopted by the voters at the November 5, 1996, statewide general election, prohibits the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting, as specified.
This measure would, instead, limit the above prohibition to the operation of public employment, higher education
admissions and
enrollment, and public contracting.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF