AB 2540 ACTION TOOLKIT: Community College Student Right to Access Act

Who is URGE?

URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity is a state-driven national Reproductive Justice organization powered by and for young people (18–30 years old) in the South, Midwest, and California. We particularly center young people who are BIPoC and LGBTQIA+ and organize for a future where everyone has the power, resources, and freedom to make decisions about their bodies and lives.

What is AB 2540?

AB 2540, the Community College Student Right to Access Act, would close a gap in accessing medication abortion across the state. This bill will require California Community Colleges with existing student health centers to offer access to medication abortion beginning January 1, 2029, upon appropriation and allow for campuses without that infrastructure to also support students in navigating accessing medication abortion. Students could access care through campus providers, telehealth, community providers, and other referral and support options. 

California already requires UC and CSU campuses to provide medication abortion through SB 24 (2019), but community college students were left out. Today, California’s community college system is the largest educational system in the country, serving more than 2.2 million students across 116 colleges, with 93 campuses (nearly 80%!) having student health centers. AB 2540 helps close that gap and expand access to abortion care for community college students statewide.

Why is URGE engaging on this issue?

At URGE, we believe Reproductive Justice means having the rights, resources, and support to make decisions about our bodies, lives, and futures. AB 2540 is a Reproductive Justice issue because abortion access is not meaningful if students cannot realistically reach care. 

Community college students are often balancing school with work, parenting, caregiving, transportation challenges, and financial stress. Where you go to college should not determine whether you can access reproductive healthcare. AB 2540 is an important step toward making abortion care more accessible and responsive to the realities of young people’s lives.

How can we take action?

We encourage our members, partners, and communities to call on Governor Newsom to sign AB 2540 into law, talk with their networks about the importance of student reproductive healthcare access, and use their own experiences and voices to urge the Governor to support this critical step toward reproductive justice. Below, you will find a script guide, talking points, myth-busting, and resources to support your outreach. 

More links to take action & share into your networks:

• AB 2540 Fact Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TOLdwBLbLILgbleTq5EcYeUMW8_mv53e/view?usp=share_link
• AB 2540 Bill Information: https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2540
• AB 2540 Resources from Assemblymember Stefani: [Insert bill page]

General Phone/Email Script Components for Advocacy 

• Introduce yourself to the governor’s office and your connection to California or your community
  • Ex: “Hello, my name is [Name], and I am a [constituent/student/community member] from [City/Town, Zip Code]. I’m also a [position or affiliation] with [Organization Name].”
• Explain why you are reaching out about AB 2540/ why it is important to you and your community.
  • Ex: “I’m reaching out to urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 2540, the Community College Student Right to Access Act, into law.”
• Share a personal story or connection to reproductive healthcare, if you feel comfortable.
  • Ex: AB 2540 is important to me because community college students are often balancing school with work, parenting, caregiving, transportation challenges, and financial stress. Accessing abortion care should not add another barrier. [Add your own experience or connection to reproductive healthcare here, if you feel comfortable sharing it.]
• Share a fact about AB 2540 that you think is important for the Governor and his office to know.
  • Ex: “California already requires UC and CSU campuses to provide medication abortion through SB 24, but community college students were left out. AB 2540 would expand access for more than 2.2 million community college students across 116 campuses.”
• Make your ask clear.
  • Ex: That is why I’m asking Governor Newsom to sign AB 2540 into law and stand with California’s community college students and their right to access the reproductive healthcare they need. Students deserve to have the support and resources they need to make decisions about their bodies and their futures.”
• Thank the person for their time. 

Additional Potential Messages

• Community college students deserve equitable access to reproductive healthcare regardless of which public college they attend.
• California’s community college system serves 2.2 million students across 116 colleges, making AB 2540 relevant to one of the largest and most diverse student populations in the country.
• 93 of California’s 116 community colleges have student health centers, meaning nearly 80% already have infrastructure that can support expanded reproductive healthcare access.
• AB 2540 allows medication abortion services to be provided through campus providers, telehealth, or contracted external providers.
• Students should not have to travel long distances, miss work, find childcare, or overcome unnecessary logistical barriers to access abortion care.
• Where someone goes to college should not determine whether they can access reproductive healthcare. Young people deserve to make decisions about their bodies and futures without stigma, shame, or unnecessary barriers.
• Access to reproductive healthcare is an economic justice issue. Students balancing work, school, caregiving, and financial insecurity can face greater consequences when care is difficult to reach.
• Information is part of access. Students need clear, accurate information about what healthcare services are available and how to access them.
• AB 2540 builds on California’s existing campus-based medication abortion model established through SB 24.

Myth Busting on AB 2540

“California Community Colleges can’t provide medication abortion because not all of them have health centers.”

Reality: AB 2540 applies to community colleges with existing student health centers. According to the bill materials, 93 of California’s 116 community colleges have student health centers (that’s 80%). The bill also allows services to be provided through telehealth or contracted providers.

“Community college health centers are too small to provide medication abortion.”

Reality: Medication abortion does not routinely require an ultrasound. The World Health Organization states that ultrasound scanning is not routinely required for medication abortion; clinical assessment can determine whether additional evaluation is needed.

“We need a pilot program because we don’t know whether campus-based medication abortion will work.”

Reality: California already has experience providing medication abortion through UC and CSU student health centers under SB 24. AB 2540 builds on that existing model and expands access to community college students.

“Students don’t need campuses to promote these services.”

Reality: Students cannot access services they do not know exist. AB 2540 recognizes that information and transparency are part of meaningful healthcare access by requiring campuses to publish information about available medication abortion services.

Resources & Contact

If you write a letter, make a call, have a conversation with a legislator, or hear back from your representative, email fchinnapong@urge.org and let us know! We are happy to support continued follow-up and relationship building.