Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 640, creating a statewide direct‑admission program that will automatically admit qualifying California high‑school seniors to California State University campuses beginning in 2026–27. The law expands a Riverside County pilot and directs campuses to send admission offers based on capacity and academic records. Lawmakers pitched the measure as a way to lower application barriers and reverse enrollment declines at several Cal State campuses. Backers cite Idaho’s earlier direct‑admission results—small but measurable enrollment gains—while critics note the policy may have limited impact on low‑income and Pell‑eligible students unless paired with targeted supports. Campus leaders will need to coordinate capacity, financial aid messaging, and outreach to convert admitted students into enrollees and to assess effects on yield and diversity across the 23‑campus system.