A UC Merced survey found that five years after California outlawed transcript withholding for unpaid college debts, 24 of 115 community colleges still list transcript holds on their websites. The discrepancy appears to be clerical or communications failures, but it raises questions about compliance and whether students are being misled about their rights. California’s 2020 law barred withholding official transcripts over debts ranging from library fines to unpaid tuition; the rule aimed to remove a barrier to employment and degree mobility. Advocates say misleading policies perpetuate inequities for low‑income students who need transcripts to transfer or seek work. State officials say campuses largely comply operationally but some web pages remain outdated; the findings underscore the need for clearer oversight and proactive outreach to ensure students are not inadvertently blocked from academic or career opportunities.