A bill that would make the first two years of school free for many of California's 2 million community college students has passed its first legislative hurdle.
The state Assembly Committee on Higher Education passed AB-2 by an 11-1 margin on March 19. The bill is an extension of the California College Promise, a program established in 2017 that allowed community colleges to waive fees for the first year. This new bill would waive fees for a second year as well.
"When college degrees are unaffordable, our economy suffers," Santiago said. "If we're going to tackle income inequality and empower the next generation to succeed, we need to release the pressure on young people to take out loans they can't afford."