End Child Poverty California (ECPCA) reported that the final 2026-27 California state budget, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, includes significant new revenue measures to protect low-income families. The organization, however, warned the spending plan still leaves major gaps in health care and food assistance for Californians affected by federal cuts.
Food access advocates have formally urged California state leaders to preserve funding for the California Market Match program. This initiative, which has facilitated fresh food acquisition for low-income families and provided support to small farmers for the past decade, faces potential termination. The call for preservation follows the release of initial budget proposals from both the California Senate and Assembly, neither of which include provisions for the program’s renewal or expansion.
California is taking steps to expand its food assistance infrastructure in response to federal restrictions that threaten to disqualify thousands of immigrants from receiving CalFresh benefits, with legislation aimed at restoring the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Assembly Bill 2214 aims to address food insecurity across California by strengthening agriculture, infrastructure and access to food resources, while Assembly Bill 2213 seeks to combat federal budget cuts and provide direct funding to farmers and residents.
California families and advocates are urging state lawmakers to take bold action to reduce poverty and protect residents from federal funding cuts, by investing in proven anti-poverty tools such as child tax credits, community-building programs, cash aid and child care assistance.
California Senate Majority Leader Angelique Ashby has introduced the CalFresh for Students Act, which aims to streamline access to CalFresh benefits for college students, in order to improve student retention, degree completion, and overall campus well-being.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against the USDA, challenging the Trump administration’s guidance for implementing SNAP eligibility restrictions, arguing that it unlawfully excludes certain lawfully residing noncitizens from receiving food assistance benefits.
The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program has been relaunched with a $36 million investment from Assemblymember Alex Lee, providing financial incentives for CalFresh recipients to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retailers.
Yolo County officials have allocated $225,000 in emergency funds to support residents affected by the delay in federal SNAP payments, while the Trump administration faces criticism for partially defying a federal court order to restore full food aid.
DoorDash has launched an Emergency Food Response through its Project DASH initiative to deliver 1 million free meals and waive delivery fees for 300,000 grocery orders placed by SNAP recipients across the country, in response to the looming federal shutdown that threatens to disrupt SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for unlawfully suspending SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown, which could leave 5.5 million Californians without essential food assistance.
President Trump’s billionaire-backed budget bill, which threatens deep cuts to essential services and would reduce income for the bottom 10% of Americans while boosting income for the top 10%, has been passed and is now headed to the Senate for amendments.
The Tenderloin Linkage Center in San Francisco, which provided a range of services to those experiencing homelessness and struggling with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, was shut down in 2022 but its model could be replicated to help address California’s opioid crisis.
By Ethan Wang LOS ANGELES — KTLA 5 recently reported on a UCLA study which indicated that…
By Vanguard Staff Sacramento, CA – This week, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 396, a bill…
Measure Would Leverage Federal Resources to Address Growing Student Hunger Crisis at California Colleges and Universities By…
SB 285 Streamlines CalFresh enrollment by setting clear and accountable statewide enrollment goals, improving ease of access…
(From Press Release) – Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would ensure low-income college students…
When officials looked at Yolo County’s participation rate in CalFresh – the food assistance program known generically…
by Leanna Sweha Yolo County is getting ready to roll out a three-month pilot program that will…