SAN ANTONIO — The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has officially called upon California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign Senate Bill 1255 into law. The legislation, known as the Designation of California Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act, successfully establishes a formal state-level framework to designate and administratively recognize Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) throughout the state.
Authored by Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, who represents the 29th Senate District, and coauthored by Assemblymember Mike Fong of the 49th Assembly District, SB 1255 represents a major milestone for higher education policy in California. The state currently plays host to the largest concentration of HSIs in the nation, boasting 179 such institutions according to the latest HACU data for the 2024–2025 academic year. Proponents of the bill argue that creating a statewide designation will allow California to better support, monitor, and elevate the institutions that educate hundreds of thousands of Latino students every year.
Senator Gómez Reyes emphasized the profound impact that these colleges and universities have on the broader community and the state’s economic future.
"California’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions open doors of opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students and help build the educated, skilled workforce our state depends on," said Senator Gómez Reyes. "SB 1255 gives California the opportunity to recognize these institutions not simply for who they enroll, but for their commitment to helping Latino students thrive, graduate and build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. I am proud of the broad coalition that helped move this legislation forward, and I look forward to Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 1255 so we can continue building a higher education system where every student has the opportunity to succeed."
The legislative push behind SB 1255 is the result of years of coordination, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy. HACU, operating through its Western Regional Office located in Sacramento, played a central role in conceptualizing the state designation framework. The organization convened key higher education leaders, institutional representatives, and policy stakeholders to collaborate closely with California’s various higher education systems. This extensive cooperative effort ultimately culminated in the bill’s passage through the state legislature, demonstrating a unified front within the California academic community.
Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO of HACU, underscored the historic nature of the legislation and echoed the call for swift executive action from the Governor’s office.
"HACU respectfully urges Governor Newsom to sign SB 1255 establishing California’s Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, a landmark moment for California’s HSIs," said Flores. "This bill recognizes the critical role these institutions play in educational attainment, economic mobility and development of the state’s future workforce. The Association is also urging all stakeholders in the state’s future prosperity to join their voices with ours to ensure this next step is taken."
Flores noted that the legislative journey of SB 1255 highlights the power of collaboration across the state’s sprawling higher education landscape.
"This legislation demonstrates what is possible when California’s higher education community speaks collectively," Flores added. "Legislative passage represents an important collective milestone, but enactment requires the Governor’s signature."
Beyond the initial administrative recognition, leaders within the higher education community view SB 1255 as a crucial stepping stone toward deeper institutional accountability and student support. While federal definitions of HSIs have long relied primarily on undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment thresholds—typically requiring an undergraduate student body that is at least 25 percent Hispanic—state-level advocates emphasize that true institutional transformation goes far beyond enrollment numbers.
David A. Ortiz, HACU Executive Vice President for Programs and Operations, elaborated on the philosophical transition from basic demographic recognition to active institutional practice.
"Designation is the starting point, with ‘servingness’ the destination, connecting HSIs more intentionally with student success, workforce development and the state’s long-term economic priorities," Ortiz said.
In this context, "servingness" refers to the comprehensive ways in which colleges and universities adapt their academic programs, support services, cultural environments, and leadership structures to actively foster the success, retention, and graduation of Latino and historically underrepresented students. By establishing a dedicated state framework, SB 1255 lays the groundwork for a broader, ongoing conversation about how institutions measure and improve student completion rates, facilitate seamless academic transfers, and align educational outcomes with workforce preparation.
Should Governor Newsom sign the legislation into law, HACU has pledged to maintain an active role in its rollout and integration. The association plans to continue working hand-in-hand with California’s higher education systems, individual institutions, and state policymakers to ensure thoughtful implementation of the framework. This ongoing collaboration will focus heavily on sustaining the broader dialogue around student achievement, targeted workforce preparation, and the enhancement of economic mobility for all students across the state.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, established in 1986, operates as a leading voice for higher education institutions serving Hispanic populations. Representing more than 400 colleges and universities across the United States, Latin America, Spain, and various U.S. school districts, HACU provides a wide array of programs and services designed to benefit students, faculty, and staff at member institutions. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the association maintains regional and national presence through offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California, where it actively engages with policymakers to advance educational equity and opportunity.
