For CAFB’s full 2024 Policy Agenda and state budget priorities, go to our Policy Page.
Anti-Hunger Bills (2024):
AB 2150 (Arambula) – Public Benefits & Higher Education County Liaisons
This bill will require the California Department of Social Services to develop trainings and convene county human services agency staff liaisons to improve enrollment in public benefits programs for college students.
Sponsor(s): CAFB
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill would establish a task force that, for the first time in state history, will develop a strategic master plan to end hunger in CA which would include comprehensive recommendations to prevent hunger & ensure access to healthy, culturally relevant food for all.
Sponsor(s): United Food and Commercial Workers, California Food and Farming Network, GRACE / End Child Poverty CA, CAFB
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations
This bill would require county eligibility workers to regularly contact qualifying individuals who meet the eligibility requirements of the SSI/SSP to notify them of their estimated potential benefit for CalFresh, including through notice by mail.
Sponsor(s): TBD
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
AB 1975 (Bonta) – Medically Supportive Food and Nutrition
This bill will transition medically supportive food and nutrition (MSF&N) interventions from optional services in healthcare through CalAIM to permanent Medi-Cal benefits.
Sponsor(s): Food as Medicine Collaborative, SPUR
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill would require at least one convenience or grocery store located on each campus of the California Community Colleges to accept the use of EBT cards.
Sponsor(s): California Community Colleges Student Senate, Faculty Association of Community Colleges
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill would build on existing CalRecycle grant programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making the transportation of recovered edible food and the purchase or subscription to technology or software that improves the efficiency and tracking of edible food recovery eligible for grant funding.
Sponsor(s): Author sponsored.
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill, among other things, would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with the federal government and other state departments to assist eligible incarcerated people to enroll in Medicaid/Medi-Cal, SSI, CalFresh and other programs as appropriate prior to the person’s release into the community.
Sponsor(s): Amity Foundation
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county jails to enroll eligible CalFresh applicants to ensure they can begin receiving benefits before reentry into the community from the state prison or county jail.
Sponsor(s): Legal Services for Prisoners with Children-All of Us or None, Nourish California
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
This bill would ensure that medically necessary diapers are provided through Medi-Cal as mandated by the federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
Sponsor(s): CAFB, GRACE/End Child Poverty
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
AB 274 (Bryan) – Simplifying CalWORKs/CalFresh for College Students
This bill would exempt any grant, award, scholarship, loan, or fellowship benefit provided for educational purposes from consideration as income or resources for CalWORKs or CalFresh purposes.
Sponsor(s): Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, u*aspire, Western Center on Law & Poverty
Position: Support
Status: Ordered to the Senate Floor (2-Year Bill).
AB 2956 (Boerner) – Protecting Medi-Cal Coverage for Families
This bill would allow people to keep Medi-Cal coverage for a full 12 months, even if their income changes during that period and would direct CA to seek approval to make federal Medi-Cal flexibilities permanent.
Sponsor(s): The Children’s Partnership, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Western Center on Law & Poverty
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations (Hearing: 5/15)
A 2-year bill that would require free period products be offered in all women’s restrooms, all-gender restrooms, and in at least one men’s restroom in all state or state-leased buildings.
This bill would add menstrual products to the schedule of covered benefits under Medi-Cal. It would require the Department of Health Care Services to seek federal waivers to implement coverage for menstrual products under Medi-Cal.
Sponsor(s): Alliance for Period Supplies, IGNITE, What We All Deserve (WWAD)
Position: Support
Status: Referred to Senate Appropriations, In the Suspense File (Hearing: 5/16)
