2026 Implementation Fact Sheet: AB 2251

Improving Student Access to Financial Aid

Assembly Bill 2251, authored by Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando), was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2026. The bill improves student access to financial aid by strengthening transparency and consistency in how California colleges and universities establish Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets and process students’ COA adjustment requests.