California sends law killing legacy admissions for elite universities to Newsom

Democratic California lawmakers voted to stop legacy college admissions, sending their landmark bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom ’s (D-CA) desk for final approval.

Assembly Bill 1780 passed largely along party lines in the state’s Senate on Tuesday. The California State Assembly then received the bill for a concurring vote. The bill seeks to keep private colleges in California, such as Stanford University or the University of Southern California, from giving preferential treatment to children of alumni or donors. Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto the legislation.

Democratic state Assemblyman Phil Ting, who introduced the legislation in the Assembly, claimed his measure will “level the playing field,” and he celebrated the bill’s movement on Wednesday.

“My bill to end donor & legacy preferences in the college admissions process is headed to the Gov! Applicants w/ family ties or wealth should not be let in the side door, taking spots from qualified students. Fairness & equity must be prioritized,” he declared in a post to X.

While public colleges and universities across California have already banned legacy admissions, Ting's legislation allows the state to conduct an investigation into private colleges suspected of violating the ban. Republican state Sens. Marie Alvarado-Gil, Brian Jones, Roger Niello, Kelly Seyarto, and Scott Wilk opposed the measure.

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As Newsom considers signing the policy into law, some states across the country have already banned legacy admissions.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) signed a law banning preferential treatment based on alumni status at the state’s public colleges this spring. The Old Dominion’s move came after Colorado became the first state to do so in 2021. Maryland followed suit, banning legacy admissions at both private and public colleges this April.