Bill
AB 791
AB 791 requires Cal Grant qualifying colleges to adopt written cost of attendance policies and an objective adjustment process aligned with federal standards to better reflect stud
Status
- Introduced: February 18, 2025
- Most recent action: In committee — Held under submission (May 23, 2025)
- Committee history: Referred to Assembly Higher Education (Mar 3, 2025); amended and passed out of that committee (Apr 22–24, 2025); re‑referred to Assembly Appropriations and placed on suspense (Apr–May 2025).
Summary — purpose and intent
- AB 791 requires postsecondary institutions to adopt formal Cost of Attendance (COA) policies and an adjustment process as a condition of remaining a “qualifying institution” for the California Cal Grant program. The change is intended to ensure COA estimates (which determine student aid amounts) align with federal standards and reflect actual student expenses so that Cal Grant awards better meet students’ needs.
Key provisions
- Adds a requirement (as part of qualifying‑institution criteria under the Cal Grant Program) that each participating institution must:
- Develop and implement a written COA policy and an objective process for estimating COA and making COA adjustments; and
- Ensure those estimates and adjustments are consistent with applicable federal standards (referencing federal Higher Education Act Section 472 standards on COA components).
- Reinforces existing federal expectations that COA budgets include both tuition and nontuition allowances (food and housing, transportation, dependent care, books/supplies/equipment, miscellaneous personal expenses) and that COA components and policies be published and accessible.
- References federal “professional judgment” authority that allows financial aid administrators to adjust COA for individual students with documented extraordinary costs.
Who is affected
- Students receiving Cal Grants: potentially more accurate COA calculations could increase allowable aid or improve access to supplemental adjustments for students with higher-than-average expenses.
- Postsecondary institutions (public and private participating in Cal Grant): required to create, implement, and (implicitly) publish COA policies and adjustment processes; may face administrative workload to revise COA budgets and procedures.
- Student Aid Commission: enforcement/oversight role in ensuring institutions meet qualifying criteria; may adopt implementing regulations or guidance.
- State budget/appropriations: bill was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee and flagged for fiscal review (fiscal committee yes), suggesting possible state or institutional fiscal impacts although no appropriation is requested in the bill text.
Background / rationale
- The bill cites a 2024 report ("College Costs Uncovered") finding many California public colleges understate COA relative to regional costs and fail to publish COA adjustment policies as required by federal law — problems that can leave students with unmet need and force increased work, borrowing, or reduced enrollment.
Limitations / notes
- The text on specific implementation details (e.g., timelines for compliance, enforcement mechanisms, reporting requirements) is truncated in available documents; the bill states COA policies must be consistent with federal standards “as specified.” Final regulatory detail may be set by the Student Aid Commission or subsequent amendments.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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