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Hunger Legislation Tracker



For CAFB’s full 2026 Policy Agenda and state budget priorities, go to our Policy Page.

Anti-Hunger Bills (2026):

SB 881 (McNerney) – Extending Tax Credits & Assistance Vital to Food Banks

This bill will extend the ability for farmers,growers, and food producers to receive tax credits for donating surplus food to food banks and it will extend the option for California taxpayers to donate to foodbanks on their state tax returns.

Sponsor(s): California Association of Food Banks, Californians Against Waste

Position: Sponsor

Status: Headed to the Senate Floor

Bill Text | Factsheet | Organizational Sign-On Letter

AB 2299 (Calderon) – California Anti-Hunger Response and Employment Training Act

This bill will create state-funded benefits for Californians cut off from federal CalFresh due to the time limits and humanitarian immigrant eligibility changes.

Sponsor(s): California Association of Food Banks, Grace/End Child Poverty California, California Immigrant Policy Center, Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organization, Nourish California, Public Interest Law Project and Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Position: Sponsor

Status: Headed to the Assembly Floor

Bill Text | Factsheet | Organizational Sign-On Letter

AB 1049 (Rodriguez) – California Food Assistance Program – Sponsor Deeming

This bill will remove sponsor deeming from the California Food Assistance Program as part of the Food4All campaign.

Sponsor(s): Nourish California, California Immigrant Policy Center

Position: Support

Status: Referred to Senate Human Services Committee (Hearing 6/1)

Bill Text | Factsheet

AB 1734 (Stefani) – Count Hunger Act

This bill creates a 2-year pilot program to fill the gap left by the federal government’s elimination of the national hunger survey and defunding of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) food security survey. The bill will fund CHIS and expand measurement to include families earning up to 400% of the FPL, ensuring CA can track how federal policy changes, like H.R. 1, impact hunger across income levels, providing critical data as CA advocates for restored federal research capacity.

Sponsor(s): California Association of Food Banks, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

Position: Support

Status: Headed to the Assembly Floor

Bill Text | Factsheet | Letter of Support Template

SB 961 (Ashby) – College Student Eligibility

This bill will reduce barriers college students face to enrolling in CalFresh.

Sponsor(s): Alliance for A Better Community, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, Center for Healthy Communities, Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee, Michelson Center for Public Policy, NextGen California, Southern California College Attainment Network, uAspire, UC Student Association, and Young Invincibles

Position: Support

Status: Held in the Senate Appropriations Committee

Bill Text | Factsheet | Letter of Support Sign-On

Anti-Poverty Bills (2026):

AB 1690 (Ahrens) – Young Child Tax Credit

This bill will provides meaningful cash support to financially struggling families by extending the
California Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). It phases in higher age eligibility annually, ultimately extending the credit to include families with children up to age 18.

Sponsor(s): The Prosper California Coalition

Position: Support

Status: Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee

Bill Text | Factsheet | Template Letter of Support

*This page was last updated on May 15, 2026

Questions? Contact policy@cafoodbanks.org

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