Committee hears ACA 18 to add a second voting student regent; measure moved to suspense

Assemblymember Khaloza presented ACA 18 to the Senate Appropriations Committee, saying the amendment would add a second voting student regent to the University of California Board of Regents to provide separate undergraduate and graduate representation. Khaloza said ACA 18 is bipartisan and that the fiscal costs described by the UC Office of the President are modest relative to the system's size.

Alexis Zaragoza, a former student regent, described how students on the board have influenced student‑facing policies in the past and said a second voting seat would strengthen student representation and diversity of perspectives. Aditi Hariharan, president of the UC Student Association, argued the UC lacks parity with the California State University and California Community College systems, which have multiple student voting representatives, and said a second student regent would better reflect growing enrollment and distinct undergraduate and graduate concerns.

No witnesses registered in opposition at the hearing and the committee moved ACA 18 to the suspense file. The author said she would take author amendments to generalize certain references and continue to work with staff on language before moving the measure forward. No final vote or implementation language was adopted at the hearing.