SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) announced the plenary sessions and workshops for its annual Policy Insights conference, to be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento. The conference will bring together experts, advocates, community leaders, philanthropy, and public sector professionals working to advance equitable public policy and expand opportunity for all Californians.
Through plenary sessions, learning labs, and interactive workshops, attendees will gain actionable tools, policy insight, and deeper connections to support their work. This year’s conference will focus on key issues shaping Californians’ lives — including health care, housing, food assistance, child care, and safety net programs — and examine how state leaders can respond to federal threats and emerging fiscal challenges.
The conference will feature state leaders and policy experts, including Senator Monique Limón, California State Senate President pro Tempore, and other state budget leaders, as well as experts from End Child Poverty California, California Immigrant Policy Center, Health Access, State Revenue Alliance, California State Office of Legislative Affairs, Parent Voices California, California League of Cities, and more. Also joining us will be Vanessa Williamson, author of The Price of Democracy, and Amy Hanauer, Executive Director of ITEP — together offering a range of perspectives on the choices and policy decisions shaping California’s future.
The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., beginning with a networking breakfast, continuing with full-day programming, and concluding with a reception. The conference will take place at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, located at 1400 J Street in Sacramento.
Plenary Sessions
The conference will feature three plenary sessions — morning, afternoon, and closing — highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing California in this critical moment:
The Choices Facing State and Budget Leaders
California’s leaders are navigating a new fiscal and political reality shaped by federal disinvestment, executive overreach, and growing threats to vital programs. This plenary will explore the difficult trade-offs ahead and how state leaders are working to sustain California’s commitment to equity and shared prosperity.
More Powerful Together: Strategies for Advocacy and Organizing
As Californians face mounting challenges, particularly from federal cuts and threats, this plenary will bring together leaders in advocacy, organizing, and policy to discuss how to coordinate, mobilize, and build power to protect communities and advance meaningful change.
The Price of Democracy: Turning Crisis Into Opportunity
Drawing on lessons from history, this closing plenary will examine how moments of crisis can drive transformative public investments and how advocates and policymakers can make the case for equitable tax policy that builds a stronger California.
Workshops
In addition to plenary sessions, the conference will offer a series of workshops. Topics include:
- Breaking Down Silos & Bridging Gaps: Moving Beyond Siloed Policy Solutions to an Integrated Ecosystem That Reduces Poverty and Expands Opportunity
- Protecting Progress: Threats to Immigrants and How State Leaders Can Respond
- Funding Our Future: Making the Case for Equitably Raising Revenue from Profitable Corporations
- Demystifying Publicly Funded Early Care & Education: Imagining Solutions to Ensure Well-Funded ECE in California
- From State Decisions to Local Impact: How the State Budget Shapes County Spending and Service Delivery
- Amplify Advocacy: Crafting a Communications Plan to Win!
- Stronger Together: Aligning Across Sectors to End Homelessness and Protect Communities
To see the full schedule, learn about the speakers, purchase tickets, and more, please visit CalBudgetCenter.org/policy-insights-conference/.
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About the California Budget & Policy Center:
The California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) is a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit advancing public policies that expand opportunities and promote well-being for all Californians.
