AB 2087 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Trustees of the California State University: members.

Summary

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the 25-member Board of Trustees of the California State University, as one of the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the board to be composed of 5 specified ex officio members, 16 appointive members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate, one representative of the alumni associations, 2 student members appointed by the Governor, and one faculty member appointed by the Governor. Existing law requires members of the board to be selected from outstanding lay citizens of California, as specified. This bill would (1) increase the size of the board to 27 members, (2) reduce the number of appointive members from 16 to 10 and require those members of the board to be selected instead from outstanding citizens of California, as specified, (3) require one faculty member to instead be selected by the Academic Senate of the California State University, (4) require 2 student members from the California State University to instead be selected through a specified election process, and (5) add to the board 4 faculty members and 4 nonfaculty classified staff members from the California State University to be selected through a specified election process. The bill would require the terms of office for the 10 elected members to expire on January 15. The bill would require the board to develop election procedures for those elections and ensure that the results of an election are certified by an independent third party. The bill would authorize the board to require all people who perform election duties to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they properly performed those duties. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/13/26 - Amended Assembly → AB2087 · 2 edits

MINOR

This diff reflects a change in document presentation format rather than substantive policy content. The bill text moved from a formatted legislative document (with line numbers and page breaks) to a web page rendering that includes navigation elements. The underlying provisions of AB 2087 - restructuring the CSU Board of Trustees from 25 to 27 members with new elected seats - remain unchanged between these two versions.

TECHNICAL

Document format changed from a paginated legislative document with line numbers to a web page layout including navigation menus, search tools, and bill tracking features.

The state-mandated local program designation is displayed as 'no yes' in the old version and 'NOYES' in the new version, both reflecting an amendment that changed the designation from 'no' to 'yes' due to the perjury certification provision expanding the crime of perjury.

02/18/26 - Introduced → 04/13/26 - Amended Assembly · 13 edits · Apr 13, 2026

MAJOR

AB 2087 was dramatically expanded from a one-word change (removing 'lay' before 'citizens') into a full restructuring of the California State University Board of Trustees. The amended bill increases the board from 25 to 27 members, reduces governor-appointed seats from 16 to 10, and adds 10 new elected seats for faculty, nonfaculty classified staff, and students selected through campus-wide elections. This represents a significant shift toward democratizing CSU governance by giving university employees and students direct voting power over board composition.

SCOPE

New legislative intent statement declaring the purpose is to 'democratize' the CSU Board of Trustees by increasing representation of students and employees.

Board size increased from 25 to 27 members total.

State-mandated local program designation changed from 'no' to 'yes' due to the perjury certification requirement imposing obligations on local entities.

ELIGIBILITY

Number of governor-appointed (appointive) board members reduced from 16 to 10, still requiring two-thirds Senate confirmation.

Four new board seats for CSU faculty members, elected by CSU faculty for four-year terms through elections administered by the university.

Four new board seats for CSU nonfaculty classified staff members, elected by CSU nonfaculty classified staff for four-year terms through elections administered by the university.

Two student board seats changed from being appointed by the Governor (from lists provided by statewide student organizations) to being elected directly by CSU students for two-year terms. Tuition fee waiver for student members is retained.

REQUIREMENT

The single faculty member seat changed from being appointed by the Governor (from a list provided by the Academic Senate) to being selected directly by the Academic Senate of the California State University.

The board must develop election procedures, ensure ballots are distributed to all eligible voters in advance, ensure return of completed ballots without cost to the voter, and have results certified by an independent third party.

ENFORCEMENT

The board may require all people who perform election duties to certify under penalty of perjury that they properly performed those duties, which expands the crime of perjury and triggers a state-mandated local program finding.

TIMELINE

Terms of office for all elected members (faculty, nonfaculty classified staff, and students) now expire on January 15, replacing the previous July 1 / June 30 term structure for student members.

DEFINITION

Board member eligibility language changed from 'outstanding lay citizens of California' to 'outstanding citizens of California,' removing the word 'lay' which previously excluded professionals and employees.

FISCAL

A reimbursement provision (Section 4) states no state reimbursement is required because the only costs incurred by local agencies or school districts result from creating a new crime or infraction (the perjury certification requirement).

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors