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.

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.

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.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 2794

Author: Committee on Higher Education

Introduced: 3/18/26

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 6/24/26

AYES: Pérez, Ochoa Bogh, Cabaldon, Choi, Cortese, Gonzalez, Reyes

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 5/14/26 (Consent) - See last page for vote

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

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program to the list of federal education benefits that qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition and specifies that this program and other federal programs as specified, as they read on January 5, 2026, are also authorized for this exemption. This is the annual higher education omnibus bill.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1) Establishes the University of California (UC) as a public trust to be

administered by the Regents of the UC; and grants the Regents full powers of organization and government, subject only to such legislative control as may be necessary to insure security of its funds, compliance with the terms of its endowments, statutory requirements around competitive bidding and contracts, sales of property and the purchase of materials, goods and services. (California Constitution Article IX, § (9)(a))

2) Establishes the Donahoe Higher Education Act, setting forth the mission of the UC, California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC). (Education Code (EC) § 66010, et seq.)

3) Confers upon the CSU Trustees the powers, duties, and functions with respect to the management, administration, and control of the CSU system and provides that the Trustees are responsible for the rule of government of their appointees and employees. (EC §§ 66606 and 89500, et seq.)

4) Establishes the CCC under the administration of the Board of Governors of the CCC, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The CCC shall be comprised of community college districts. (EC § 70900)

5) Establishes, effective for academic terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021, a student enrolled at a campus of the CCC or the CSU who meets all of the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students:

1. The student resides in California.

b) The student meets the definition of “covered individual,” as specified.

c) The student is eligible for education benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program, as specified, the Veterans Readiness and Employment program, as specified, the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, as specified, or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, as specified, as each read on January 5, 2022. (EC § 68075.7)

This bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal education benefits that qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition, and specifies that this program and other federal programs, as specified, as they read on January 5, 2026, are also authorized for this exemption.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. This bill is the annual higher education omnibus clean-up bill and proposes technical, non-controversial amendments to existing law. By tradition, if any affected agency, stakeholder group, the Department of Finance, or any of the four legislative caucuses objects to a provision in the bill or one that is being considered, that particular provision cannot be included.
2. Rationale for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Federal law, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act 2025, requires that states exempt students using this benefit from paying out-of-state tuition. This requirement goes into effect for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2026, and requires adding the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve program to the list of benefits that provide the Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waiver in California. To maintain compliance with federal law, this bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of benefits that qualify a student for California’s nonresident tuition exemption.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/3/26)

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/3/26)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 5/14/26

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Flora, Celeste Rodriguez

Prepared by: Olgalilia Ramirez / ED. / (916) 651-4105

8/5/26 15:13:01

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: June 24, 2026

Subject: .

SUMMARY

This bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve program to the list of federal education benefits that qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition and specifies that this program and other federal programs as specified, as they read on January 5, 2026, are also authorized for this exemption. This is the annual higher education omnibus bill.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1) Establishes the University of California (UC) as a public trust to be administered

by the Regents of the UC; and, grants the Regents full powers of organization and government, subject only to such legislative control as may be necessary to insure security of its funds, compliance with the terms of its endowments, statutory requirements around competitive bidding and contracts, sales of property and the purchase of materials, goods and services. (California Constitution Article IX, § (9)(a))

2) Establishes the Donahoe Higher Education Act, setting forth the mission of the

UC, California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC). (Education Code (EC) § 66010, et seq.)

3) Confers upon the CSU Trustees the powers, duties, and functions with respect to the management, administration, and control of the CSU system and provides that the Trustees are responsible for the rule of government of their appointees and employees. (EC §§ 66606 and 89500, et seq.)

4) Establishes the CCC under the administration of the Board of Governors of the CCC, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The CCC shall be comprised of community college districts. (EC § 70900)

5) Establishes, effective for academic terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021, a student enrolled at a campus of the CCC or the CSU who meets all of the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students:

1. The student resides in California.

b) The student meets the definition of “covered individual,” as specified.

c) The student is eligible for education benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program, as specified, the Veterans Readiness and Employment program, as specified, the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, as specified, or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, as specified, as each read on January 5, 2022. (EC § 68075.7)

ANALYSIS

This bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of federal education benefits that qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition, and specifies that this program and other federal programs, as specified, as they read on January 5, 2026, are also authorized for this exemption.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. This bill is the annual higher education omnibus clean-up bill and proposes technical, non-controversial amendments to existing law. By tradition, if any affected agency, stakeholder group, the Department of Finance, or any of the four legislative caucuses objects to a provision in the bill or one that is being considered, that particular provision cannot be included.

Rationale for inclusion in the omnibus bill. This omnibus measure makes changes to the EC, below is the rationale for the change:

• 1. Federal law, the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act 2025, requires that states exempt students using this benefit from paying out-of-state tuition. This requirement goes into effect for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2026, and requires adding the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve program to the list of benefits that provide the Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waiver in California. To maintain compliance with federal law, this bill adds the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program to the list of benefits that qualify a student for California’s nonresident tuition exemption.

SUPPORT

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: May 6, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2794

Author:(Committee on Higher Education) – As Introduced Ver:March 18, 2026

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY:

This bill makes technical and conforming changes to the Education Code regarding Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve program federal education benefits and eligibility for in-state resident tuition.

FISCAL EFFECT:

No fiscal effect.

COMMENTS:

Each year, there is typically a higher education omnibus bill that makes various technical, conforming, clarifying, and non-controversial revisions to the Education Code. Typically, staff with the Senate and Assembly education policy, fiscal, and budget committees and their minority consultants, the Department of Finance, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the University of California Office of the President, the Chancellor of the California State University, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and other similarly situated state government offices, identify statutes in existing law that need updating or correcting and propose corrections. Custom and practice provide that if offices or entities object to a proposed provision in the omnibus bill, that particular provision is not included.

Analysis Prepared by: Aaron Heredia / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 21, 2026

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Mike Fong, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2794 (

Author:Committee on Higher Education) – As Introduced Ver:March 18, 2026

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

SUMMARY: Makes non-controversial, technical, and conforming changes to various provisions of the Education Code. Specifically, this bill:

1. Adds the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve program to the list of federal education benefits that qualifies for exemption from paying nonresident tuition, and specifies that this program and other federal programs, as specified, as they read on January 5, 2026, are also authorized for this exemption.
2. Makes non-substantive technical changes.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the University of California (UC) as a public trust to be administered by the Regents of the UC; and, grants the Regents full powers of organization and government, subject only to such legislative control as may be necessary to insure security of its funds, compliance with the terms of its endowments, statutory requirements around competitive bidding and contracts, sales of property and the purchase of materials, goods and services. (Article IX, Section (9)(a) of the California Constitution)
2. Establishes the Donahoe Higher Education Act, setting forth the mission of the UC, California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges. (Education Code (EDC) Section 66010, et seq.)
3. Confers upon the CSU Trustees the powers, duties, and functions with respect to the management, administration, control of the CSU system and provides that the Trustees are responsible for the rule of government of their appointees and employees. (EDC Sections 66606 and 89500, et seq.)
4. Establishes the CCC under the administration of the Board of Governors of the CCC, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The CCC shall be comprised of community college districts. (EDC Section 70900)
5. Establishes, effective for academic terms beginning on or after August 1, 2021, a student enrolled at a campus of the CCC or the CSU who meets all of the following requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students:
   1. The student resides in California.
   2. The student meets the definition of “covered individual,” as specified.
   3. The student is eligible for education benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program, as specified, the Veterans Readiness and Employment program, as specified, the Post-9/11 GI Bill program, as specified, or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, as specified, as each read on January 5, 2022. (EDC Section 68075.7)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: This bill is the annual higher education omnibus clean-up bill and proposes technical, non-controversial amendments to existing law. By tradition, if any affected agency, stakeholder group, the Department of Finance, or any of the four legislative caucuses objects to a provision in this bill or one that is being considered, that particular provision cannot be included.

Rationale for inclusion in the omnibus bill. This omnibus measure makes changes to the EDC, and below is the rationale for that change:

1. Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025. Federal law, Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025, requires that states exempt students using this benefit from paying out-of-state tuition. This requirement goes into effect for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2026, and requires adding the Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve program to the list of benefits that provide the Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waiver in California.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Kevin J. Powers / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960