Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 2203
Session 20252026
Public postsecondary education: priority registration: veterans and dependents of veterans: federal GI Bill.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Sep 28, 2026
First Action
Feb 19, 2026
Latest Action
Sep 28, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
2203
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Author
Assembly Votes (4)
Senate Votes (5)
Summary
Existing law establishes the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act prohibits the campuses of those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor and who is no more than 27 years of age, if certain requirements are satisfied. This bill would require the California State University and each community college district, and would request the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, commencing with the 2028–29 academic year, to grant priority for registration for enrollment to (1) a student who receives a fee waiver pursuant to the above-described provisions, and (2) a student who is using any federal GI Bill benefits. By requiring students to receive priority registration at community college districts, 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.
09/28/2026
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 730, Statutes of 2026.
09/28/2026
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
08/27/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
08/20/2026
Assembly
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
08/20/2026
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).
08/18/2026
Senate
Ordered to special consent calendar.
08/13/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/13/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
08/03/2026
Senate
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
06/23/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
06/10/2026
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
05/27/2026
Senate
Referred to Coms. on ED. and M. & V.A.
05/14/2026
Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
05/14/2026
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 5055.)
05/07/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
05/06/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
04/15/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/08/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
03/09/2026
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and M. & V.A.
02/20/2026
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
02/19/2026
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 20, 2026 8:42:40 AM
Record Updated
Sep 30, 2026 9:11:59 AM