20250AB__155297AMD INTRODUCED 2026-01-07 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-10 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-19 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Jackson

An act to add and repeal

Section of the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education. public postsecondary education Public postsecondary education: civic engagement: recommendations report. Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the public segments of postsecondary education in the state.

Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that public institutions of higher education in California shall provide a collegiate experience which gives each student the skills of communication and problem solving, the ideas and principles underlying the major areas of modern knowledge, the ability to consider ethical issues thoughtfully, the understanding that learning is a continuous lifelong process, and the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship.

This bill would require the Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and would request the President of the University of California, before the commencement of the 2028–29 academic year, to report to the Legislature recommendations on how to facilitate greater knowledge of American democracy and meaningful civic engagement opportunities for students on campuses, and any necessary support from the Legislature to achieve those recommendations. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2033.

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.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>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.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section is added to the Education Code , immediately following

Section 66053 , to read: <caml:Num>66054.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_FB3BE2F5-FB3B-4130-ADA7-FCEECC3C76C7"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Each campus of the California State University and each community college of a community college district shall, and each campus of the University of California is requested to, before the commencement of the 2029–30 academic year and in consultation with each of their respective academic senates, review and update, if necessary, its relevant American Institutions and Ideals courses, including, but not limited to, the courses described in

Section of Title of the California Code of Regulations, to ensure that those courses include an emphasis on civic engagement, civic discord, and the key components of preserving democracy and its vital institutions, including, but not limited to, the free press, free access to libraries, compulsory education, and the federalist system.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection>"?> 66054. (

a) The Legislature finds and declares that an essential element of public higher education is to build the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship. (

b) It is the intent of the Legislature that public institutions of higher education in California, when delivering courses that build the knowledge of democracy necessary for good citizenship, give consideration to the importance of civic engagement, civic discord, and the key components of preserving democracy and its vital institutions, including, but not limited to, the free press, free access to libraries, compulsory education, and the federalist system. (b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Each campus of</xhtml:p>"?> (

c) The Chancellor of the California State University and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges shall, and the President of the University of California is requested to, before the commencement of the 2028–29 academic year and in consultation with each of their respective academic senates, report to the Legislature, consistent with

Section of the Government Code, recommendations on how to facilitate greater knowledge of American democracy and meaningful civic engagement opportunities for students on campuses, and any necessary support from the Legislature to achieve those recommendations. (c)</xhtml:p>"?> (

d) This

section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, and as of that date is repealed. <caml:Num>SEC. 2.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>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 of Title of the Government Code.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:BillSection>"?>