Bill Commons

CA SB 790

in committee

Postsecondary education: interstate reciprocity agreements for distance education: out-of-state postsecondary educational institutions.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper

Quick answers

Did CA SB 790 pass?

Not yet. CA SB 790 is in committee as of 2025-08-29 and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2025-08-29): August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

What is CA SB 790 about?

(1) Existing federal law requires a postsecondary educational institution that offers distance education to students located in a state in which the postsecondary educational institution is not physically located to meet any of that state's requirements for it to offer distance education in that state. Existing federal law authorizes a state to participate in an interstate reciprocity agreement to comply with this requirement. This bill would authorize the Governor, on or before January 1, 2028, to enter into one or more interstate reciprocity agreements for distance education through a compact on behalf of the state upon issuing certain written findings and after certain committees of the Legislature hold a joint hearing on the agreement, as provided. This bill would require the Governor to designate a state agency, department, or office for the implementation of an interstate reciprocity agreement for distance education if the Governor enters into such an agreement, as provided. The bill would authorize postsecondary educational institutions to apply to the designated entity for approval to operate under an interstate reciprocity agreement, as specified. (2) The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 provides, among other things, for student protections and regulatory oversight of private postsecondary institutions in the state. The act is enforced by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act requires an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution to register with the bureau, pay a fee, and comply with additional delineated requirements. Existing law provides exemptions from the act for, among others, accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, higher education institutions and degree-granting public higher education institutions. If the Governor enters into an interstate reciprocity agreement, this bill would subject any accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, higher education institutions and degree-granting public higher education institutions to the act unless the entity is approved pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement.

Who sponsors CA SB 790?

Cabaldon is the primary sponsor of CA SB 790, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

(1) Existing federal law requires a postsecondary educational institution that offers distance education to students located in a state in which the postsecondary educational institution is not physically located to meet any of that state's requirements for it to offer distance education in that state. Existing federal law authorizes a state to participate in an interstate reciprocity agreement to comply with this requirement. This bill would authorize the Governor, on or before January 1, 2028, to enter into one or more interstate reciprocity agreements for distance education through a compact on behalf of the state upon issuing certain written findings and after certain committees of the Legislature hold a joint hearing on the agreement, as provided. This bill would require the Governor to designate a state agency, department, or office for the implementation of an interstate reciprocity agreement for distance education if the Governor enters into such an agreement, as provided. The bill would authorize postsecondary educational institutions to apply to the designated entity for approval to operate under an interstate reciprocity agreement, as specified. (2) The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 provides, among other things, for student protections and regulatory oversight of private postsecondary institutions in the state. The act is enforced by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The act requires an out-of-state private postsecondary educational institution to register with the bureau, pay a fee, and comply with additional delineated requirements. Existing law provides exemptions from the act for, among others, accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, higher education institutions and degree-granting public higher education institutions. If the Governor enters into an interstate reciprocity agreement, this bill would subject any accredited, degree-granting, nonprofit, higher education institutions and degree-granting public higher education institutions to the act unless the entity is approved pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement.

Introduced
2025-02-21
Latest action
2025-08-29 — August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Cabaldonauthor
  • Fongcoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-21

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    introduction,referral-committee

  2. 2025-02-24

    Read first time.

    reading-1

  3. 2025-02-24

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  4. 2025-03-12

    Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and ED.

    referral-committee

  5. 2025-03-18

    Set for hearing April 21.

  6. 2025-04-10

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  7. 2025-04-21

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 809.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  8. 2025-04-23

    Set for hearing April 30.

  9. 2025-05-05

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 962.) (April 30).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  10. 2025-05-06

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  11. 2025-05-09

    Set for hearing May 19.

  12. 2025-05-19

    May 19 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  13. 2025-05-20

    Set for hearing May 23.

  14. 2025-05-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1214.) (May 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  15. 2025-05-23

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  16. 2025-06-02

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1398.) Ordered to the Assembly.

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  17. 2025-06-03

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

    reading-1

  18. 2025-06-09

    Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and B. & P.

    referral-committee

  19. 2025-06-25

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (June 24).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  20. 2025-06-26

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  21. 2025-07-08

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 8).

    amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  22. 2025-07-09

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  23. 2025-08-20

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  24. 2025-08-29

    August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

Versions

  • 02/21/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-21Compare
  • 04/10/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-04-10Compare
  • 05/06/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-05-06Compare
  • 06/26/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-26Compare
  • 07/09/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-07-09Compare
  • SB790Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]

    2025-04-21 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (11)
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Niello: yes

  • Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-04-30 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Cortese: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Gonzalez: other

  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-05-19 · pass · 5-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Wahab: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Cabaldon: other
    • Dahle: other

  • Do pass

    2025-05-23 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Caballero: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Dahle: other

  • 3rd Reading

    2025-06-02 · pass · 34-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Niello: yes
    • Pérez: yes
    • Rubio: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Alvarado-Gil: yes
    • Cervantes: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Choi: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Jones: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Ashby: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Archuleta: yes
    • Umberg: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Blakespear: yes
    • McNerney: yes
    • Limón: yes
    • Allen: yes
    • Valladares: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Grove: yes
    • Strickland: yes
    • Stern: yes
    • Weber Pierson: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Menjivar: other
    • Reyes: other
    • Gonzalez: other
    • Hurtado: other
    • Smallwood-Cuevas: other
    • Durazo: other

  • Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Business and Professions]

    2025-06-24 · pass · 9-1

    Member-level votes (10)
    • DeMaio: no
    • Tangipa: yes
    • Boerner: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Jeff Gonzalez: yes
    • Celeste Rodriguez: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes

  • Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-07-08 · pass · 17-0

    Member-level votes (18)
    • Caloza: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Macedo: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Irwin: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB790

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

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