SB-1006 • 2026

Student financial aid: Cal Grant B access costs award.

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Padilla
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: April 13 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how the increased funding is allocated or if there are limits on maximum awards.

Cal Grant B Access Costs Award Increase

This legislation sets a new minimum award amount of $1,600 for access costs in the Cal Grant B program starting from the 2027-28 academic year and requires annual adjustments based on inflation.

What This Bill Does

Sets a new minimum award amount of at least $1,600 for access costs under the Cal Grant B program starting with the 2027-28 academic year.
Requires that this award amount be adjusted annually by the percentage increase in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.

Who It Names or Affects

Students who receive financial aid through the Cal Grant B program.
The Student Aid Commission, which administers the Cal Grant Program.

Terms To Know

Cal Grant B: A part of California's financial aid program that helps students pay for college or vocational training.
Access Costs: Expenses related to attending a postsecondary educational institution, such as tuition and fees.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the increased funding will be allocated.
It is unclear if there are any limits on the maximum amount that can be awarded for access costs under this program.

Bill History

2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
April 13 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-03-27 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 13.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-03-12 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
2026-03-12 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 25.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
2026-02-10 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12.
2026-02-09 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1006, as amended, Padilla.
Student financial aid: Cal Grant B access costs award.
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. Existing law limits an award for access costs, as defined, under the Cal Grant B Program to no more than $1,551, except as specified, but allows this amount to be adjusted in the annual Budget Act.
This bill, commencing with the 2027–28 award year, would instead require the award for
access costs under the Cal Grant B program to be at least
$1,600
the maximum per-student amount provided in the 2025–26 award year
and
include
would require that award amount to be increased annually by the amount of
the percentage increase, if any, in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF