Public postsecondary education: California-Mexico Higher Education Development and Academic Exchange Program.

Assembly Member Solache's proposal to establish a bilateral student exchange program between California and Mexico reflects the economic interdependence of these top trading partners, aiming to address what authors describe as minimal academic collaboration between the regions. The California-Mexico Higher Education Development and Academic Exchange Program would facilitate annual exchanges of 400 students each from California public universities and Mexican institutions, beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

The program would operate through one-to-one exchanges between participating institutions, with students receiving up to $15,000 each for travel and living expenses while being exempt from tuition and fees at host universities. To fund these exchanges, the bill creates a dedicated state treasury fund intended to receive $40 million from California and $20 million from Mexico, though Mexican participation is not required for implementation. The program would serve students from the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges systems.

According to the bill's findings, the California-Mexico region encompasses 170 million residents and represents the world's 5th and 12th largest economies respectively. The legislation would remain in effect through January 1, 2032, and requires an appropriation by the Legislature before becoming operational. While establishing the basic exchange framework, the bill leaves specific administrative processes to be determined by the participating educational institutions.