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CaliforniaAB 882025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Student financial aid: Cal Grants: Middle Class Scholarship Program: eligibility: dependents of members of the armed services stationed outside of California.

Sponsored By: Tri Ta (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Middle Class Scholarship award math and part-time caps

Your Middle Class Scholarship equals your cost of attendance minus other grants and a required student share. For 2022–23 and 2023–24, the student share is $7,898. If you are a dependent and your household income is over $100,000, 33% of your parents’ federal contribution is also subtracted. Starting in 2024–25, the student share changes each year with minimum wage. Starting in 2022–23, if you take 6–8 units, your award can be at most 50% of the full‑time amount; 9–11 units, at most 75%.

Easier Cal Grants for military families

You can get a Cal Grant if you are a dependent child, stepchild, adopted child, or spouse of an active‑duty service member stationed outside California, and the service member keeps California as their legal home. You must also meet basic Cal Grant rules, including being a citizen or eligible noncitizen, not being incarcerated, and not being in default on student loans. If you are a California resident who finished high school out of state only because of military orders for you or your parent, you still meet the California high school rule for transfer Cal Grants.

Middle Class Scholarship income and asset limits

Beginning in 2022–23, the program sets income and asset caps for eligibility. Dependent students or independents with dependents have a $201,000 income cap and a $201,000 asset cap. Married independents with no dependents have a $133,000 income cap and a $96,000 asset cap. Single independents with no dependents have a $116,000 income cap and a $96,000 asset cap. Starting in 2023–24, the commission adjusts these limits each year for cost of living.

UC and CSU must boost institutional aid

UC and CSU cannot replace their own grants with Middle Class Scholarship money. Starting in 2022–23, they must keep institutional aid at least at 2021–22 levels relative to enrollment. When systemwide fees go up, at least 33% of the extra fee money goes to aid for resident undergraduates.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tri Ta

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Juan Alanis

    Republican • House

  • Steven Choi

    Republican • Senate

  • Laurie Davies

    Republican • House

  • Mike Gipson

    Democratic • House

  • Jeff Jeff Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Kate Sanchez

    Republican • House

  • Kelly Seyarto

    Republican • Senate

  • Lori Wilson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 166 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/4/2025

Item 429 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 39 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/18/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/14/2025

Vote in CS66

Yes: 5 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/2/2025

Vote in CS44

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 6/4/2025

Item 26 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 78 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 14 • No: 0

legislature vote • 3/18/2025

Vote in CX09

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 608, Statutes of 2025.

    10/11/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/11/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

    9/11/2025legislature

  4. In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

    9/4/2025House

  5. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2520.).

    9/4/2025Senate

  6. Ordered to special consent calendar.

    9/2/2025Senate

  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  8. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025Senate

  9. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    8/18/2025Senate

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/15/2025Senate

  11. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.

    7/2/2025Senate

  12. Referred to Coms. on ED. and M. & V.A.

    6/18/2025Senate

  13. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    6/5/2025Senate

  14. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2055.)

    6/4/2025House

  15. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  16. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  17. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    4/9/2025House

  18. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    3/19/2025House

  19. Coauthors revised.

    3/19/2025House

  20. Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

    2/3/2025House

  21. From printer. May be heard in committee February 6.

    1/7/2025House

  22. Read first time. To print.

    1/6/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/11/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    9/8/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    1/6/2025

    HTML

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