Joint Coalition Letter AB 2301-(Soria) BSN Pilot Program

August 3, 2026

The Honorable Sabrina Cervantes

Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations

State Capitol, Room 412

Sacramento, CA 95814

AB 2301_Coalition SUPPORT Ltr_Sen Approps.pdf

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RE: SUPPORT - Assembly Bill 2301 (Soria) Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program

Dear Chair Cervantes,

The undersigned organizations strongly support AB 2301 (Soria) and urge your “Aye” vote. This bill will authorize 10 Community College Districts (CCD) across the state to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, prioritizing underserved regions of the state that are experiencing nursing shortages, such

as the Central Valley and Inland Empire. AB 2301 is a clearly defined, targeted approach that helps address California’s nursing shortage while

strengthening collaboration across higher education. This bill creates a limited-term pilot program that tests whether allowing select community colleges to offer local BSN degrees improves nursing program graduation rates, provides more program accessibility, and increases nursing program retention rates.

Importantly, it builds on existing CSU and UC partnerships, aligning curriculum, faculty, and clinical placements – not replacing them. Communities with the fewest resources are bearing the brunt of our severe nursing shortage. AB 2301

offers a way to expand capacity where it’s most needed while ensuring the state doesn’t have to choose between higher education segments. The goal is simple: more BSN-prepared nurses, trained faster. Current transfer and dual-enrollment pathways are valuable, but they’re often costly, complex, and geographically inaccessible, especially for rural and low-income students. AB 2301 fills those gaps by creating affordable, local BSN options in areas where they don’t already exist today.

Finally, AB 2301 advances equity. Latino Californians make up nearly 40% of the population but only 15% of nurses. Black Californians represent 6.5% of the population but just 4% of nurses. Many AAPI students study at community colleges in regions with limited access to four-year programs. By eliminating barriers and expanding local pathways, AB 2301 will also ensure that more nurses reflect the diversity, language, and culture of the communities they serve.

For these reasons, we urge you to vote “Aye” on AB 2301. It is a prudent, collaborative, and urgently needed step to assist prospective nursing students and, more importantly, the communities they will serve.

Sincerely,

( See coalition signatures in attached document)