Assembly BillPassed both housesEducation
AB 2768: Student financial aid: waiver or deferment of fees and costs: foster youth.
What AB 2768 does, verified September 15, 2026
This bill aims to provide financial aid to foster youth and former foster youth by deferring enrollment fees and costs until they receive their initial financial aid award. The bill requires the state university, community colleges, and private postsecondary institutions that receive state financial assistance to defer the unpaid portion of enrollment fees and costs for foster youth or former foster youth upon initial enrollment. The bill also requests the University of California to defer fees and costs for foster youth or former foster youth. The bill would impose a state-mandated local program on community college districts and would require reimbursement for costs mandated by the state if determined by the Commission on State Mandates.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
✓Second ChamberComplete
5GovernorCurrent
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. (2026-09-03)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $15/moUnlockRecent actions21 total · showing 5
| Sep. 03, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6606.). |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Aug. 25, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.). |
| Aug. 17, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, August 30, 2026 · 790 words
| Enrolled August 30, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 25, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 26, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 13, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 15, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2768
| Introduced by Assembly Member Ahrens (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bennett) (Coauthor: Senator Wahab) |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to add Section 69509.7 to the Education Code, relating to student financial aid.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2768, Ahrens. Student financial aid: waiver or deferment of fees and costs: foster youth.
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. Existing law establishes various programs that provide financial aid to students attending institutions in each of the segments.
This bill would require the California State University, community college districts, and private postsecondary educational institutions and independent institutions of higher education that receive state financial assistance to, and would request the University of California to, for a student who has submitted a specified financial aid application and is a foster youth or former foster youth, as defined, upon the student’s initial enrollment at the postsecondary educational institution, either (1) waive the unpaid portion of enrollment fees and costs, or (2) defer the unpaid portion of enrollment fees and costs until the student has received an initial disbursement of the student’s financial aid award, as provided. If the postsecondary educational institution is unable to waive or defer costs related to books, supplies, materials, or equipment, the bill would require the institution to provide the student with clear information regarding available campus resources, institutional programs, or community-based assistance to help the student cover those costs. By imposing new duties on 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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 69509.7 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 69509.6, to read:69509.7.
(a) (1) Commencing with the 2027–28 academic year, the California State University, each community college district, and private postsecondary educational institutions and independent institutions of higher education that receive state financial assistance shall, and the University of California is requested to, for a student who has submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act Application, if applicable, and is a foster youth or former foster youth, as defined pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 66025.9, and as verified by a financial aid administrator for the postsecondary educational institution, upon the student’s initial enrollment at the postsecondary educational institution, do either of the following:(A) Waive the unpaid portion of enrollment fees and costs.
(B) Defer the unpaid portion of enrollment fees and costs until the student has received an initial disbursement of the student’s financial aid award.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), enrollment fees and costs include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) Registration fees, including a statement of intent to register.
(B) Mandatory campus fees.
(C) Campus housing and meals, including any required deposits.
(D) Health insurance.
(E) Books, supplies, materials, and equipment that may be required for enrolled courses, except as provided in subdivision (b).
(F) Any associated costs of a summer course or program required to be taken for the student’s chosen major.
(b) If a postsecondary educational institution is unable to waive or defer the costs described in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the institution shall provide the student with clear information regarding available campus resources, institutional programs, or community-based assistance to help the student cover those costs.
(c) Community college districts are encouraged to use existing funding sources to implement this section, including, but not limited to, funding received pursuant to the NextUp program established pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 79220) of Chapter 9 of Part 48 of Division 7 and funding received pursuant to the Student Equity and Achievement Program established pursuant to Section 78222.
SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.Text of AB 2768 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions