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SB-744 • 2026

Accrediting agencies.

Accrediting agencies.

Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Cabaldon
Last action
2025-10-06
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 425, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the impact on postsecondary educational institutions and programs beyond July 1, 2029.

Keeping Accrediting Agencies Recognized

This law keeps national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from January 1, 2025, until July 1, 2029, if they continue to operate as usual.

What This Bill Does

  • Keeps national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from January 1, 2025, until July 1, 2029.
  • Requires these agencies to keep operating in substantially the same manner as they did on January 1, 2025, to stay recognized.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as of January 1, 744.
  • Postsecondary educational institutions and programs that need to be accredited to qualify for certain programs or approvals.

Terms To Know

Accrediting agency
An organization that evaluates schools and colleges to make sure they meet certain standards.
U.S. Department of Education
A government department responsible for overseeing education in the United States.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if an accrediting agency changes its operations after January 1, 2025.
  • The law does not say how it will affect educational institutions or programs beyond July 1, 2029.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 425, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-06 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-23 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-13 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 5. Page 3026.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 60. Noes 18. Page 3391.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time and amended.

  9. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).

  11. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  12. 2025-07-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  13. 2025-06-11 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  14. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  15. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  16. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1329.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  17. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  18. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  19. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1211.) (May 23).

  20. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  21. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  22. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 21.

  23. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 736.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  24. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 9.

  25. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ED.

  26. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  27. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  28. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 744, Cabaldon.
Accrediting agencies.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires certain postsecondary educational institutions to be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to qualify as an independent institution of higher education to be eligible for certain programs and to receive an approval to operate.
Existing laws applicable to, among other things, the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by the Department of Consumer Affairs require applicants for licensure or licensees to satisfy educational requirements by completing programs or degrees from
institutions or universities accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency or association recognized by the United States Department of Education, or otherwise impose a requirement that a school or program be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
This bill would require, for purposes of any code or statute, a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as of January 1, 2025, to retain that recognition until
July 1, 2029, provided that the accrediting agency continues to operate in substantially the same manner as it did on January 1, 2025. The bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2030.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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