Assembly Higher Education Committee advances student-housing parity, donor outreach, campus audits and other higher-education measures

The Assembly Higher Education Committee advanced a package of bills affecting student housing, financial aid, transparency and campus services during a multi-hour hearing. The committee voted to move multiple measures to the next stage of review, including AB 648 to give California Community Colleges the same land-use authority as the University of California and California State University to build student and staff housing; AB 466 to require campuses to provide Donate Life California materials during student orientation; and bills aimed at auditing and financial transparency for the CSU system.

AB 648 — community college housing parity

Assembly bill AB 648, presented by the bill’s author as "author, Seminar Rigsaber," would authorize community college districts to pursue student and staff housing on property they own or lease without having to undergo local rezoning processes that can delay projects. The bill would not exempt projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and would still require consultation with local planning departments and compliance with other applicable regulations, witnesses said.

Don Gerard, identified in the hearing as representing Santa Monica College, told the committee the problem is urgent on many campuses: "Housing insecurity is a crisis for California's community college students," he said, adding that Santa Monica College is prepared to build housing and that a 2022 local bond included funding for affordable housing. Allison Chan, organizing director for the Student Homes Coalition and a bill cosponsor, described data showing high rates of housing insecurity among community college students and urged the committee to give community colleges the same land-use authority as four‑year institutions.

Committee members raised concerns about local controls, coastal height limits, agricultural land and traffic impacts; the author and witnesses said the bill would treat housing projects like other educational buildings for land-use purposes, while retaining CEQA and building code obligations. The committee voted to pass AB 648 to the Local Government Committee (motion passed; tally recorded in committee roll as 5 yes, 2 no; roll kept open for additional members to add on). The committee transcript records substantive back-and-forth on local zoning, CEQA, and how the bill parallels existing UC/CSU authority.

Other measures advanced

AB 466 (Donate Life outreach): The committee passed AB 466 to the Appropriations Committee. The bill would require California Community College and CSU campuses to provide incoming students with information and enrollment opportunities for Donate Life California, the state's organ, eye and tissue donor…