California Association of Food Banks Responds to Governor’s January 2025-26 State Budget Proposal

On Friday, Governor Newsom released his proposed 2025-26 State budget. We are grateful that this initial proposal that will guide budget discussions in the months to come protects critical anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs that many people facing food insecurity rely on every day. 

The Californians and Their Economic Well-Being survey conducted by PPIC last month confirms the still shocking levels of financial hardship throughout our state: Based on their current financial situation, about one in five adults say it would be very difficult or nearly impossible to pay for a $1,000 emergency expense. In line with alarming poverty rates, the latest data shows that more than 1 in 5 households in California are facing food insecurity, while over 1 in 4 households with children are food insecure. 

While grocery prices continue to rise and strain household budgets, food banks remain a lifeline in helping families to put food on the table. Currently an estimated 10% of Californians are reporting getting free groceries from a food bank, food pantry, or other place that provides free food in the previous seven days, representing more than 2.6M Californians (this is compared to 7% for the U.S. overall).

We are grateful that this budget proposal continues to include $8M in ongoing baseline for CalFood, to support food banks in purchasing California grown and produced foods. We are looking forward to working with budget stakeholders in the weeks ahead to sustain this program at $60M ongoing, in line with funding levels over the last three years and necessary to continue to meet California’s hunger crisis. (Factsheet)

Additionally, we celebrate the inclusion of several important hunger-fighting programs in the Governor’s budget proposal:

• School Meals for All: We are proud of California’s national leadership in establishing School Meals for All, and celebrate the Governor’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that we continue to nourish all children at school. This budget proposal includes $106M in additional school meal funding to achieve this, as well as $150M for grants to improve kitchen infrastructure.

• Diaper Initiative: Along with our California Diaper Bank partners, we applaud the Governor for recognizing and investing in diapers, especially for families who experience diaper poverty. This budget proposal includes $19.9M over two years to provide a three-month supply of diapers at no cost to California families with newborn babies via hospital systems to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

• CalWORKs Pilots: We appreciate the Governor’s leadership in ensuring that this critical program centers family engagement, removes administrative barriers, and supports robust local implementation by participating in the Fiscal Responsibility Act Pilot. 

Our full public policy agenda can be found here, and we look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature to secure these in the final 2025–26 budget act.