Assembly BillChaptered/SignedEducation
AB 1641: Postsecondary education: segments: tribal colleges and universities.
What AB 1641 does, verified September 27, 2026
This bill aims to add tribal colleges and universities to the segments of postsecondary education in California. The existing system includes community colleges, state universities, the University of California, independent institutions, and private postsecondary educational institutions. The bill would recognize tribal colleges and universities operated by Indian tribal governments in California as a separate segment of postsecondary education.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 452, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-25)Alert me
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| Sep. 25, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 452, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 25, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6686.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, September 1, 2026 · 634 words
| Enrolled September 01, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 26, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 27, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate May 19, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1641
| Introduced by Assembly Members Jackson and Ramos (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Hadwick, Sharp-Collins, Wallis, and Zbur) |
January 27, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 66010 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1641, Jackson. Postsecondary education: segments: tribal colleges and universities.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.
This bill would provide that public higher education additionally consists of tribal colleges and universities geographically located in California that are operated by an Indian tribal government, as defined.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 66010 of the Education Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 425 of the Statutes of 2025, is amended to read:66010.
(a) Public higher education consists of (1) the California Community Colleges, (2) the California State University, and each campus, branch, and function thereof, (3) each campus, branch, and function of the University of California, and (4) tribal colleges and universities geographically located in California that are operated by an Indian tribal government, as defined in Section 7701(a)(40) of Title 26 of the United States Code.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), as used in this part, “independent institutions of higher education” are those nonpublic higher education institutions that grant undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that are formed as nonprofit corporations in this state and accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(2) For purposes of any code or statute, a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as of January 1, 2025, shall retain that recognition until July 1, 2029, provided that the accrediting agency continues to operate in substantially the same manner as it did on January 1, 2025.
(c) No provision of this part is intended to regulate, subsidize, or intrude upon private education, including, but not limited to, independent educational institutions and religious schools, nor to vary existing state law or state constitutional provisions relating to private education.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.
Section 66010 of the Education Code, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 425 of the Statutes of 2025, is amended to read:66010.
(a) Public higher education consists of (1) the California Community Colleges, (2) the California State University, and each campus, branch, and function thereof, (3) each campus, branch, and function of the University of California, and (4) tribal colleges and universities geographically located in California that are operated by an Indian tribal government, as defined in Section 7701(a)(40) of Title 26 of the United States Code.(b) As used in this part, “independent institutions of higher education” are those nonpublic higher education institutions that grant undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that are formed as nonprofit corporations in this state and accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(c) No provision of this part is intended to regulate, subsidize, or intrude upon private education, including, but not limited to, independent educational institutions and religious schools, nor to vary existing state law or state constitutional provisions relating to private education.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2030.
Text of AB 1641 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions