AB 48: Education finance: postsecondary education facilities: College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Assembly

Current Status:

In Progress

(2025-06-05: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

(1)Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school district or community college district to order an election and submit to the electors of the district the question of whether the bonds of the district shall be issued and sold to raise money for specified purposes. Existing law generally requires, to pass a school bond measure, that either at least ²/₃ of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing bonds be in favor of issuing the bonds to pass the measure, or, if certain conditions are met, at least 55% of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing bonds be in favor of issuing the bonds. Existing law prohibits the total amount of bonds issued by a school district or community college district from exceeding 1.25% of the taxable property of the district, as provided.This bill would raise that limit to 2% for a community college district.(2)Existing law also authorizes a unified school district or community college district to issue bonds receiving at least 55% of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing the bonds that, in aggregation with bonds issued with a ²/₃ favorable vote, do not exceed 2.5% of the taxable property of the district, as provided.This bill would raise that limit to 4% for a community college district.(3)

(1)The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from creating a debt or liability that singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities exceeds the sum of $300,000, except by an act that (A) authorizes the debt for a single object or work specified in the act, (B) has been passed by a 2/3 ²/₃ vote of all the Members elected to each house of the Legislature, (C) has been submitted to the people at a statewide general or primary election, and (D) has received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at that election.

This bill would set forth the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 as a state general obligation bond act that would provide $____ to construct and modernize education facilities, as specified. This bond act would become operative only if approved by the voters at an undefined statewide election. The bill would also provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at that election.

(4)

(2)Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state.

This bill would require the Trustees and the Regents to comply with certain conditions, as provided, before receiving funds from the 2026 University Capital Outlay Bond Fund established pursuant to the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026.

(5)

(3)This bill, except for the provision making the provisions of the bill severable, would become operative upon the adoption of the College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 by the voters at an undefined statewide election.

Discussed in Hearing