State Policy & Advocacy

AB 2160 (Rodriguez) – This bill would require the department to, by July 1, 2027, issue updated Medi-Cal guidance that clarifies Medi-Cal coverage for lactation services. The bill would also require the guidance to, among other things, clarify Medi-Cal coverage policies for a continuum of lactation services, including health education related to lactation, basic lactation support, and lactation consultation. The bill would require the department to seek stakeholder input on draft guidance prior to issuing the guidance. The bill would make the implementation of these provisions contingent to the extent that federal financial participation is available and any necessary federal approvals are obtained.

CWA Position: Co-Sponsor

AB-1618 (Rogers): This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to annually conduct a statewide survey to assess food insecurity in the state, modeled after a specified federal survey. The bill would require the first statewide food insecurity survey to be completed on or before July 1, 2027. The bill would require the department, on or before October 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to make the results of the statewide food insecurity survey publicly available on its internet website. The bill would prohibit the department from conducting a statewide food insecurity survey during a year in which a federal food security survey is conducted, as specified.

CWA Position: Support

AB 1655 (Bryan) would ensure that a child or other household member unlawfully detained in federal immigration detention is treated as temporarily absent for CalWORKs purposes, so the family’s aid is not reduced during detention. Counties would assist families, upon request, with submitting a misconduct report to the Attorney General to establish unlawful detention. The bill creates a state-mandated local program and provides for county reimbursement if costs are determined to be state-mandated.

CWA Position: Support

AB 65 (Aguiar-Curry): This bill instead would require a public school (primary, secondary or community college) employer to provide up to 14 weeks of a leave of absence with specified pay benefits for an employee who is required to be absent from duty because of pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from those conditions, as provided.

CWA Position: Support

AB 2302 (Rodriguez) This bill would require a manufacturer of infant formula for sale or distribution in this state, among other things, to test its final infant formula product for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury at least once per month and provide those test results to the department, upon request. The bill also would require a manufacturer to provide information to consumers on its internet website or package label regarding specific information about its infant formula that includes, among other things, certain test results for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The bill would specifically prohibit a person from selling in the state or manufacturing, delivering, holding, or offering for sale in the state any infant formula that does not comply with these requirements.

CWA Position: Support

AB 2765 (Ahrens) protects foster youth and families from increased hunger following recent federal SNAP changes that narrow exemptions from CalFresh time limits. The bill requires California to seek a federal waiver to shield vulnerable foster youth from benefit cuts and increases the CalWORKs recurring special needs allowance from $10 to $15 per eligible family member, with the option to provide the support as a food benefit. Overall, it aims to prevent immediate child hunger and long-term harm caused by reduced nutrition assistance.

CWA Position: Support

AB 1049 (Rodriguez): Proposes changes to the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides nutrition benefits to households ineligible for CalFresh due to immigration status. The bill removes the requirement for CFAP to follow federal deeming rules for income and resources, particularly those related to sponsors’ income.

CWA Position: Support