ACA 7 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Section 31 of Article I thereof, relating to government preferences.

Summary

The California Constitution, pursuant to provisions enacted by the Proposition 209, an initiative measure adopted by the voters at the November 5, 1996, statewide general election, prohibits the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting, as specified. This measure, the Closing the Student Opportunity and Achievement Gap Act, would, instead, limit the above prohibition to the operation of public employment, public higher education admissions and enrollment, and public contracting. The measure would require that it appear on the ballot at the November 7, 2028, statewide general election.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Aug 2026

Assembly Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Aug 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Aug 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

06/10/26 - Amended Senate → 08/13/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Aug 13, 2026

MODERATE

The August 13 amendment adds a new Section 2 containing legislative findings that declare a 'compelling governmental interest' in using race-conscious, evidence-based measures to close racial equity gaps in California's TK-12 public schools and community colleges. It also gives the measure a short title ('Closing the Student Opportunity and Achievement Gap Act') and narrows the constitutional prohibition by adding the word 'public' before 'higher education admissions and enrollment.' These changes signal an intent to create a constitutional foundation for race-conscious programs at the K-12 and community college level while maintaining the existing ban on discrimination in public higher education admissions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed in one respect (the constitutional prohibition now explicitly applies only to 'public' higher education rather than all higher education) while simultaneously expanding in another: the new legislative findings section creates an explicit constitutional justification for race-conscious measures in K-12 and community college settings, areas not directly addressed by the Section 31 prohibition.

SCOPE

New Section 2 adds legislative findings declaring that documented racial equity gaps exist in TK-12 public schools and community colleges, that race-neutral alternatives have failed to close those gaps, and that the State has a compelling governmental interest in using race-conscious, evidence-based measures to expand educational opportunity. A caveat states this does not authorize discrimination in violation of state or federal constitutional law.

The phrase 'higher education admissions and enrollment' was changed to 'public higher education admissions and enrollment' in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the amended Section 31, narrowing the constitutional prohibition to public institutions only.

DEFINITION

New Section 1 gives the measure the short title 'Closing the Student Opportunity and Achievement Gap Act.'

TECHNICAL

Assembly Member Gipson was added as a coauthor. A duplicate name ('Richardson Richardson') was corrected to 'Richardson.' A duplicated word in subsection (e) ('establish or maintain maintain or establish') was corrected to 'maintain or establish.'

The amendment date was updated from June 10, 2026 to August 13, 2026, with the earlier date retained as a secondary amendment line.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 27, 2026 · Assembly Feb 19, 2026

How they voted

30–10

Passed

Total votes 40

Aug 27, 2026

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican10

10 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.

lower

Aug 28, 2026

Introduced

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

lower

Aug 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (30-10)

senate

Aug 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Adopted and to Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 10.)

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and be adopted as amended. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 13).

upper

Aug 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

In committee: Reconsideration of a favorable vote granted.

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jun 9, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and be adopted as amended, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 9).

upper

Jun 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Be adopted, and re-refer to Com. on E. & C.A. Re-referred. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 3). Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

upper

May 26, 2026

Introduced

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

upper

May 20, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on ED. and E. & C.A.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Assembly · Passed

Assembly Vote: pass (53-14-12)

assembly

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

In Senate. To Com. on RLS.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted and to Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 14. Page 4036.)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Be adopted. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (January 22).

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

lower

May 14, 2025

Committee

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

lower

May 8, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

May 6, 2025

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and be adopted as amended, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (May 6).

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

From committee: Be adopted, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Re-referred. (Ayes 6. Noes 3.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and JUD.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced. To print.

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors