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    AB-791
    Education

    Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program: cost of attendance.

    Introduced
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires colleges to develop accurate cost of attendance policies that reflect true student expenses by 2026.
    • Mandates institutions to adjust cost of attendance budgets within 14 days of student requests.
    • Establishes a minimum housing budget based on local median rent prices for qualifying institutions.
    • Creates an appeals process for students whose expenses exceed standard cost of attendance estimates.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Berman's legislation mandates new cost of attendance policies at California postsecondary institutions participating in the Cal Grant Program, requiring schools to implement comprehensive processes for estimating and adjusting student expenses by the 2026-27 academic year.

    The bill requires qualifying institutions to set off-campus housing budgets at minimum levels tied to local median rents and establish clear procedures for adjusting cost of attendance calculations. Schools must consider adjustments for expenses including housing, transportation, computer purchases, medical costs, and dependent care. The legislation mandates that institutions process adjustment requests within 14 days, accept both electronic and paper submissions, and provide students whose requests are denied with explanations and opportunities for secondary review.

    Under the new requirements, institutions must publicly display their cost of attendance methodology and data sources on their websites. The bill allows students to submit adjustment requests throughout their enrollment without numerical limits, though schools may set submission deadlines no earlier than three weeks before term end. Institutions must waive documentation requirements when records cannot be reasonably obtained, accepting written statements or interviews attesting to expenses. The legislation also requires schools to incorporate information about the adjustment process into financial aid award letters using student-friendly language.

    The changes build upon existing Cal Grant Program eligibility criteria, which include institutional cohort default rates, graduation rates, and annual adjustments to income and asset ceilings based on cost-of-living increases. The bill maintains current provisions allowing schools to appeal eligibility determinations in certain circumstances, such as when small cohort sizes may not represent overall institutional performance.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Joaquin ArambulaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Lisa CalderonD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Mike FongD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Joaquin ArambulaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lisa CalderonD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mike FongD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Diane DixonR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gregg HartD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Blanca PachecoD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tri TaR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jessica CalozaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heather HadwickR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jose SolacheD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Marc Berman
    Marc BermanD
    California State Assembly Member
    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    April 22, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    100010PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Requires colleges to develop accurate cost of attendance policies that reflect true student expenses by 2026.
    • Mandates institutions to adjust cost of attendance budgets within 14 days of student requests.
    • Establishes a minimum housing budget based on local median rent prices for qualifying institutions.
    • Creates an appeals process for students whose expenses exceed standard cost of attendance estimates.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

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

    Introduced By

    Marc Berman
    Marc BermanD
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Berman's legislation mandates new cost of attendance policies at California postsecondary institutions participating in the Cal Grant Program, requiring schools to implement comprehensive processes for estimating and adjusting student expenses by the 2026-27 academic year.

    The bill requires qualifying institutions to set off-campus housing budgets at minimum levels tied to local median rents and establish clear procedures for adjusting cost of attendance calculations. Schools must consider adjustments for expenses including housing, transportation, computer purchases, medical costs, and dependent care. The legislation mandates that institutions process adjustment requests within 14 days, accept both electronic and paper submissions, and provide students whose requests are denied with explanations and opportunities for secondary review.

    Under the new requirements, institutions must publicly display their cost of attendance methodology and data sources on their websites. The bill allows students to submit adjustment requests throughout their enrollment without numerical limits, though schools may set submission deadlines no earlier than three weeks before term end. Institutions must waive documentation requirements when records cannot be reasonably obtained, accepting written statements or interviews attesting to expenses. The legislation also requires schools to incorporate information about the adjustment process into financial aid award letters using student-friendly language.

    The changes build upon existing Cal Grant Program eligibility criteria, which include institutional cohort default rates, graduation rates, and annual adjustments to income and asset ceilings based on cost-of-living increases. The bill maintains current provisions allowing schools to appeal eligibility determinations in certain circumstances, such as when small cohort sizes may not represent overall institutional performance.

    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
    Introduced
    Assembly Floor
    Introduced
    Read first time. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    April 22, 2025
    PASS
    Assembly Committee
    Assembly Higher Education Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    100010PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Joaquin ArambulaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Lisa CalderonD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Mike FongD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Marc BermanD
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Joaquin ArambulaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Lisa CalderonD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mike FongD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Diane DixonR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gregg HartD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Blanca PachecoD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tri TaR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jessica CalozaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Mark GonzalezD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heather HadwickR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Jose SolacheD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Sade ElhawaryD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member