Akilah Weber Pierson
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 39
Author
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the trustees to control and expend all money appropriated for the support and maintenance of the university. Former law, until July 1, 2023, established the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, with a Special Consideration for African Americans Who are Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the United States (Task Force) . Former law required the Task Force, among other things, to identify, compile, and synthesize the relevant corpus of evidentiary documentation of the institution of slavery that existed within the United States and the colonies, as specified, and to recommend the form of compensation that should be awarded, the instrumentalities through which it should be awarded, and who should be eligible for this compensation. This bill would authorize the use of up to $6,000,000, as specified, for the purpose of enabling the California State University to conduct research in furtherance of the recommendations of the Task Force, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would authorize the California State University to partner with other universities or nonprofit institutions in furtherance of the bill. The bill would require, before the start of each fiscal year, the California State University to consult with the California Legislative Black Caucus to propose a list of research components to be addressed through the appropriation, as provided. This bill would require the California State University to explore options to determine how to confirm an individual's status as a descendant of an enslaved person, as defined. The bill would also require the California State University to establish a process for conducting or verifying genealogical research for the purpose of confirming an individual's status as a descendant of an enslaved person for eligibility for reparative claims on or before the start of the 2029–30 academic year and to commence the work of establishing the process on or before the start of the 2026–27 academic year. The bill would authorize the funding described above to be used to support student participation in support of this goal. The bill would require the California State University, on or before October 1 of each year and until funding is exhausted, to submit to the Legislature and Governor a report with a status update of pending research projects, and any research projects that have been completed within the prior year. The bill would require the final report to include research findings, recommendations with options, and timelines for statewide implementation, including costs, developed pursuant to these provisions.
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 755, Statutes of 2025.
Approved by the Governor.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2742.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 61. Noes 17. Page 2993.) Ordered to the Senate.
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
Ordered to third reading.
Read third time and amended.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 29).
July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (June 24).
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 10. Page 1401.) Ordered to the Assembly.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 1200.) (May 23).
Set for hearing May 23.
May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Set for hearing May 5.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2. Page 835.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Set for hearing April 22.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 566.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Set for hearing March 26.
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| SB437 | HTML |
| 02/18/25 - Introduced | |
| 04/08/25 - Amended Senate | |
| 05/23/25 - Amended Senate | |
| 06/09/25 - Amended Assembly | |
| 06/26/25 - Amended Assembly | |
| 09/04/25 - Amended Assembly | |
| 09/12/25 - Enrolled | |
| 10/13/25 - Chaptered |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 03/24/25- Senate Education | |
| 04/18/25- Senate Judiciary | |
| 05/02/25- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/23/25- Senate Appropriations | |
| 05/27/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 06/23/25- Assembly Higher Education | |
| 06/28/25- Assembly Judiciary | |
| 07/14/25- Assembly Appropriations | |
| 09/02/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 09/05/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 09/08/25- Sen. Floor Analyses |
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