State Policy & Advocacy
State Policy Priorities
CalCAPA’s state priorities focus on policy that strengthens the California Community Action network’s ability to build strong infrastructure for delivering results, support flexible funding for local solutions, and promote stability opportunities and economic mobility for low-income communities and families.
As Community Action Agencies respond to rising needs and increasing uncertainty for families, our network upholds the importance of impactful state legislation and budget priorities that drive economic mobility, opportunities for low-income communities, and agency capacity building.
Submit your state policy priorities here for our network’s consideration:
Current State Advocacy Actions
- 05-29-2026 CalCAPA CalCAPA Response to Governor Newsom’s May Revision
- 02-02-2026 CalCAPA Response to Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2026-2027 Budget
- 01-27-2026 Request for Information to Director Wimbley on LIHEAP to Leverage IIJA Weatherization Funding
- 01-06-2026 Request to Governor Newsom for State Investment in LIHEAP to Leverage IIJA Weatherization Funding
- 11-14-2025 Request to Governor Newsom for Urgent Need for State Support for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
2026 State Legislation
PRIORITY BILLS
SB 1240 (McNerney) “Office of Nonprofit Empowerment” – SUPPORT
Summary: This bill would create the Office of Nonprofit Empowerment with the primary responsibility of overseeing and coordinating state policy in support of California’s nonprofit organizations.
Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations
AB 2348 (Bonta) “Medi-Cal: Community Supports” – SUPPORT
Summary: Requires the DHCS to publish model managed care coverage standards and policy for the CalAIM initiative’s community supports (CS) benefits, submit information to the Legislature on the feasibility of transitioning the CS benefits to permanent Medi-Cal benefits, and makes other technical changes to the CS and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) benefits.
Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations
AB 1832 (Ransom) “2-1-1 Information and Referral Response System” – SUPPORT
Summary: Creates the 211 Fund (Fund) in the State Treasury for the 211 system and related purposes, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, and directs the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to allocate the funds as specified.
Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB 924 (Hurtado) “Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs” – SUPPORT
Summary: Modifies the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP) by expanding the types of home upgrades eligible for program funding.
Status: Hearing postponed in Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee
SB 881 (McNerney) “Income Taxation: Credits: Voluntary Contributions: Food Bank Donations” – SUPPORT
Summary: Extends the sunset dates of the Donated Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Credit and Emergency Food for Families Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund
Status: Referred to Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee – hearing date 06/29/2026
SB 1422 (Durazo) “Medi-Cal: Eligibility: Immigration Status” – SUPPORT
Summary: This bill would delete provisions of existing state law that freeze program enrollment in full-scope Medi-Cal coverage for individuals who do not have satisfactory immigration status, to ensure that all immigrant adults age 19 and older are able enroll in Medi-Cal.
Status: Did not pass the Senate floor by deadline
MONITORING BILLS
SB 902 (Grayson) “Childcare: Electronic Signatures” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Assembly Education Committee – hearing date 07/01/2026
AB 1907 (Addis) “California Health Benefit Exchange: Automatic Health Care Coverage Enrollment.” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations – hearing date 06/29/2026
AB 1165 (Gipson) “California Housing Justice Act of 2025” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations
AB 1709 (Lowenthal) “Covered Platforms: Age Restriction: e-Safety Advisory Commission” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary – hearing date 06/30/2026
AB 2162 (Bryan) “Housing: County Funding Allocations: Nonminor Dependents and Young Adults” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Senate Human Services – hearing date 06/29/2026
AB 2221 (Irwin) “Supervision of Trustees and Fundraisers for Charitable Purposes Act.” – SUPPORT
Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations
SB 1110 (Becker) “Early Learning and Care: Rates.” – SUPPORT
Status: Held in suspense in Senate Appropriations
AB 2470 (Arambula) “Public Social Services: Domestic Violence Services” – SUPPORT
Status: Held in suspense in the Assembly Appropriations
AB 1690 (Ahrens) “Personal Income Tax Law: Young Child Tax Credit” – SUPPORT
Status: Held in suspense in the Assembly Appropriations
AB 1618 (Rogers) “Food Insecurity Survey” – SUPPORT
Status: Held in suspense in the Assembly Appropriations
2025 State Legislation
AB 1318 (Bonta) – SUPPORT
Summary: This new law expands the definition of a “qualified nonprofit organization” for state grants and contracts to include either federal or state tax-exempt status
Status: Signed by Governor and Chaptered 10/07/2025
AB 339 (Ortega) – OPPOSE
Summary: Public agencies must now provide no less than 45 days written notice to the recognized employee organization before Issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Quotes (RFQ), or renewing or extending an existing contract for services.
Status: Signed by Governor and Chaptered 10/13/2025
SB 647 (Hurtado) – SUPPORT
Summary: The bill would have required the Energy Commission to notify applicants to its building decarbonization program about additional related incentives authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission and would have added an Energy Commission–selected member to the Low-Income Oversight Board.
Status: Vetoed by Governor 10/03/2025
SB 324 (Menjivar) – SUPPORT
Summary: This bill was related to the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative and would have required Medi-Cal managed care plans to contract with qualified community providers for enhanced care management (ECM) and community supports when available and made other improvements to the programs.
Status: Held in suspense 08/29/2025
AB 13 (Ransom) – SUPPORT
Summary: This bill would have made changes to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), including requiring specified geographic representation of commissioners and specified reporting to the Legislature concerning utility rate-setting cases at the CPUC.
Status: Held in suspense 08/29/2025
Opportunities to Advocate at the State
Join Community Action leaders and state partners for information-sharing, relationship-building, and dialogue around policies that affect low-income Californians and the programs designed to assist them.
CalCAPA 2026 Advocacy Day
When: May 14, 2026, 10:00AM-4:00PM
Where: California State Capitol, West Side, Sacramento, CA