California Senate Bill SB135

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/25
• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Engrossed: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/24/25
• Chaptered/Vetoed: 7/13/26

Caption

An act to amend Sections 17201, 66014.6, 66292, 66292.1, 66292.2, 69432, 69436, 69439, 70022, 76140, 78261, 78261.5, 78263.1, 84321.65, 84750.4, 87861, and 88826.5 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 87766 and 88193 of, to add Sections 10875, 66023.9, 75013, 84750.8, and 89526 to, to add Article 17 (commencing with Section 69870 to Chapter 2 of Part 42 of Division 5 of Title 3 of, to add Article 9 (commencing with Section 78093) to Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7 of Title 3 of, and to add Part 46.3 (commencing with Section 74500) to Division 7 of Title 3 of, the Education Code, to amend Sections 8014 and 8016 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Section 1095 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, to amend the Budget Act of 2025 by amending Item 6870-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of that act, and to amend Sections 22 and 27 of Chapter 9 of the Statutes of 2025, relating to postsecondary education, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

Summary

SB 135 is the California Budget Act trailer bill for the 2025-26 session. As introduced, the bill itself is largely a placeholder measure that expresses the Legislature’s intent to enact statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2025. The bill text provided contains no substantive policy provisions beyond that intent statement. The broader caption and legislative context show that SB 135 ultimately became a major budget-related education and postsecondary education measure. The enrolled bill description indicates it amended numerous sections of the Education Code, the Health and Safety Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, the Budget Act of 2025, and several 2025 statutes, and that it included an appropriation and an immediate effective date. Based on that context, the bill functioned as a budget implementation vehicle affecting higher education funding, student aid, institutional governance or finance provisions, and related administrative statutes.

Impact

In its introduced form, SB 135 would not itself change state law; it would simply signal legislative intent to make statutory changes in the Budget Act of 2025. However, the bill’s final enrolled form indicates it was used to make multiple conforming and substantive changes across the Education Code and related statutes, including provisions tied to postsecondary education and budget implementation. It also amended the Budget Act of 2025 and included an appropriation, meaning it had direct fiscal and statutory effects on state programs and agencies once enacted.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests the bill had majority support in the Senate, passing third reading 28-10. That pattern is consistent with a budget trailer bill moving on a largely partisan or coalition basis, with enough support to advance but not unanimous agreement. No committee transcript was provided, so the record here shows support for moving the budget measure forward rather than detailed public debate.

Contention

Because the introduced text is only an intent statement, the main points of contention are not visible in the bill text itself. The likely disputes would have centered on the substantive budget and higher-education provisions that were later added, including funding levels, program changes, and any statutory revisions affecting colleges, student aid, or related state obligations. The 10 no votes on the Senate floor indicate some opposition, but the specific objections are not available in the provided materials.