Resources

Displaying 1-12 of 576 results found

• Report

  H.R. 1 and the Federal Budget: How California Leaders Can Respond to Trump’s Cuts

  key takeaway H.R. 1, the harmful Republican megabill passed in July 2025, will deeply harm Californians by cutting funding for essential programs like health care, food assistance, and education — while providing massive tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. The spending cuts will disproportionately impact families with low incomes, immigrants, and communities of color, … Continued
  
  California Budget

  Federal Policy
• Issue Brief

  H.R. 1 Jeopardizes Californians’ Access to Behavioral Health Care and Key State Reforms

  key takeaway California’s behavioral health system depends on Medi-Cal to serve adults and children. Changes under H.R. 1 threaten Medi-Cal’s core funding and eligibility, putting at risk the state’s investments in behavioral health and housing and leaves more Californians without access to needed care. California has made historic progress in transforming its behavioral health system, … Continued
  Health & Safety Net

  Housing & Homelessness
• Glossary

  California State Budget Terms Defined

  What’s the difference between a trailer bill and a policy bill? A surplus and an operating surplus? Special funds and the General Fund? And what exactly is a “Budget Bill Jr.”? Understanding these and other key budget-related terms is critical to navigating the California state budget process and effectively engaging decision-makers in order to advocate … Continued
  Budget Academy

  California Budget
• 5Facts

  The State of Health Coverage in California: Progress, Disparities, and Policy Threats

  key takeaway California has made major strides in expanding health care access, but new federal and state policy threats risk reversing progress. To protect California health coverage disparities and Medi-Cal policy progress, state leaders must act to preserve affordable care and advance health equity. Affordable health care is essential for every Californian to be healthy … Continued
  Health & Safety Net
• Data Hit

  USDA Refusal to Fund November CalFresh Benefits Threatens Food Security for 5.5 Million Californians

  Over 5.5 million Californians depend on CalFresh — California’s name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — to put food on the table every month. CalFresh provides modest monthly food assistance and, as one of the few means-tested programs that reaches almost all low-income people, is the state’s most important anti-hunger tool. In 2023, … Continued
  CalFresh

  Health & Safety Net
• Fact Sheet

  Preschool-Age Enrollment Trends Across California’s Early Learning Programs

  key takeaway Most of the growth in preschool-age enrollment comes from expanded TK programs, while access for 3-year-olds remains limited due to eligibility and availability constraints. Participation in early childhood education programs supports children’s development and contributes to improved outcomes into adulthood, particularly for children from households with low incomes. Early childhood education programs also … Continued
  Child Care & Preschool
• Topic

  CalWORKs

  The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is the state’s version of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, established in 1997 following the federal program’s creation in 1996. CalWORKs is a monthly cash grant program designed to support children and families with low incomes. CalWORKs aims to address poverty for … Continued
  Health & Safety Net
• Topic

  SSI/SSP

  The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment programs, or SSI/SSP for short, provide income support for eligible individuals in the form of cash assistance. Established in 1974, the programs help older adults with low incomes and people with disabilities pay for housing and other necessities. Who is eligible for SSI/SSP? Eligible Californians are low-income adults who … Continued
  Health & Safety Net
• Topic

  Medi-Cal

  Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program that provides free or low-cost health care to millions of Californians with low incomes. It is designed to provide access to essential health services that support public health and economic stability. Medicaid was established in 1965 as a state-federal partnership to offer coverage to people with low incomes, including children, … Continued
  Health & Safety Net
• Topic

  CalFresh

  CalFresh is California’s state version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides modest monthly assistance to Californians with low incomes to purchase food. Established in its modern form in 1977, CalFresh aims to fight hunger and keep Californians out of poverty, and it has expanded to provide food assistance to over 5 … Continued
  Health & Safety Net
• Video

  What is a Supermajority Vote and Why Does it Matter in California?

  Watch to learn more Some decisions in California’s Legislature require more than a simple majority — they need a supermajority, or two-thirds vote. But what does that really mean, and why does it matter for Californians? In this short explainer, we break down how Proposition 26 changed the rules around taxes and fees, what kinds … Continued
  Budget Academy

  California Budget
• Report

  Cómo se establecen las políticas de California: Puntos destacados del proceso legislativo

  Read this publication in English. Índice El proceso legislativo: Principios básicos El proceso legislativo, también conocido como el proceso de proyectos de ley, proporciona una vía clave para que los californianos que desean cambiar la ley estatal puedan hacerlo a través de la legislatura del estado. Cada año, los miembros de la asamblea legislativa y … Continued
  Budget Academy

  California Budget