AB-48
Education

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

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a state bond program to fund construction and modernization of California public college facilities.
  • Requires universities to create five-year affordable student housing plans before receiving bond funds.
  • Mandates independent audits and public hearings for all bond-funded projects to ensure transparency.
  • Prioritizes projects addressing student housing affordability, seismic safety, and critical maintenance needs.

Summary

Assembly Member Alvarez's College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 proposes a state general obligation bond measure to fund construction and modernization of California's public higher education facilities, with particular focus on expanding affordable student housing and addressing critical safety needs.

The legislation requires California State University and University of California campuses to develop comprehensive five-year affordable student housing plans before receiving bond funds. These plans must detail current housing capacity, costs relative to local markets, past affordability initiatives, and specific goals for creating additional affordable units. Campuses must also outline their institutional aid policies for helping low-income students afford housing, defined as students qualifying for Cal Grant A or B awards.

The bond measure would fund facility improvements across California's public higher education segments, including community colleges, CSU, and UC campuses. Eligible projects include construction and renovation of academic buildings, student housing developments, safety upgrades, seismic retrofitting, and deferred maintenance. The measure caps administrative costs at 5% and mandates independent performance audits of funded projects.

To ensure public oversight, institutions must conduct public hearings before requesting bond funds for specific projects. They must also maintain detailed project information on their websites, including locations, costs, and completion timelines. The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee would oversee bond issuance, with debt service structured to avoid impacting existing education funding streams. The measure requires voter approval at an upcoming statewide election to take effect.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 48 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Housing And Community Development Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Housing And Community Development Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Housing and Community Development]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 9 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Mike Fong
Mike FongD
California State Assembly Member
Al Muratsuchi
Al MuratsuchiD
California State Assembly Member
Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 4, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
689279PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a state bond program to fund construction and modernization of California public college facilities.
  • Requires universities to create five-year affordable student housing plans before receiving bond funds.
  • Mandates independent audits and public hearings for all bond-funded projects to ensure transparency.
  • Prioritizes projects addressing student housing affordability, seismic safety, and critical maintenance needs.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Mike Fong
Mike FongD
California State Assembly Member
Al Muratsuchi
Al MuratsuchiD
California State Assembly Member
Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Alvarez's College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2026 proposes a state general obligation bond measure to fund construction and modernization of California's public higher education facilities, with particular focus on expanding affordable student housing and addressing critical safety needs.

The legislation requires California State University and University of California campuses to develop comprehensive five-year affordable student housing plans before receiving bond funds. These plans must detail current housing capacity, costs relative to local markets, past affordability initiatives, and specific goals for creating additional affordable units. Campuses must also outline their institutional aid policies for helping low-income students afford housing, defined as students qualifying for Cal Grant A or B awards.

The bond measure would fund facility improvements across California's public higher education segments, including community colleges, CSU, and UC campuses. Eligible projects include construction and renovation of academic buildings, student housing developments, safety upgrades, seismic retrofitting, and deferred maintenance. The measure caps administrative costs at 5% and mandates independent performance audits of funded projects.

To ensure public oversight, institutions must conduct public hearings before requesting bond funds for specific projects. They must also maintain detailed project information on their websites, including locations, costs, and completion timelines. The Higher Education Facilities Finance Committee would oversee bond issuance, with debt service structured to avoid impacting existing education funding streams. The measure requires voter approval at an upcoming statewide election to take effect.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/4/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 48 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Housing And Community Development Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Housing And Community Development Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Higher Education Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Housing and Community Development]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

June 4, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
689279PASS

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 9 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author