NextGen What's Next
NextGen Policy has started an email series to keep you informed about the happenings in Sacramento. We’ll be sharing what’s next regarding legislative updates, policy information, relevant resources, upcoming events, and ways you can take action to advance new and important policy changes. View previous What’s Next newsletters below to stay up to date!
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As California Legislators break for Summer Recess this month, deadlines for amending, signing, and vetoing bills are right around the corner. NGP remains hard at work preparing for the final months of the 2021-2022 legislative session! This edition of What’s Next breaks provides a Budget update, discusses how California can protect reproductive services on the November ballot, shares ways you can take action to fight climate change by joining the Climate Corps, and highlights more news happening here at NGP and around our State Capitol!
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- Climate $54B – Win! The signed budget bill includes roughly half of the $39B climate package we’ve been advocating for the state to fund this year. This builds upon last year’s historic $15B California climate budget. Negotiations will continue in August to finalize the full climate budget investments California will make in clean energy, sustainable communities, environmental justice, and to fight extreme weather events in the coming years.
- Healthy School Meals Pathway Program, $45M – Win! California will allocate $45M to create the California Healthy School Meals Pathway Program – a workforce training pipeline for school food workers.
- DFPI, $10M – Win! To help address the student loan debt crisis – the budget provides $10M to create a student loan borrower outreach campaign at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI).
- Cal Grant Program, $315M – Win! Now California can finally systematically address college affordability. By fully funding the Cal Grant Equity Framework, we can streamline the much overdue reform of the Cal Grant program.
- Healthcare4All, $300M – Win! To expand health insurance access, California will allocate $300M for providing universal access to MediCal for all Californians, regardless of income or immigration status.
- SB 17 (Pan) – Office of Racial Equity – the coalition is still working to achieve full funding for this office, but unfortunately we are not getting much traction. The final decision will be up to Governor Newsom and his Administration on whether the bill is sent to his desk. This August, be on the lookout for ways you can stay engaged and help us make a final push towards achieving equity for all Californians by establishing the statewide Office of Racial Equity.
- SB 907 (Pan) – Local Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) – passed its final policy committee last week with unanimous support! The money to fully fund the SB 907 program is still pending a decision by Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, and Governor Newsom. We continue to push for full funding of the LEAF Program this year to help all Californians gain access to locally-grown, nutritious foods, regardless of income, by increasing the number of farmers’ markets in our state.
- CADE – California Alliance for Digital Equity – advocated for AB 2750 (Bonta) when it was passed by the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. Two important bills we’ve been strongly supporting related to broadband access and affordability – AB 2748 (Holden) and AB 2751 (Garcia) – were put on hold this year, but we’re working with CADE, state agencies, and local community organizations to strategize around next year’s effort to achieve universal, affordable internet for all Californians.
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What’s Next: Read all about it! Climate, education, internet, and more!
We acknowledge and denounce the devastating ruling today by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade. Today is a difficult and frightening day for women, families, and all Americans who have just lost the federally protected right to make their own decisions on healthcare. We know and feel the pain this decision will cause and continue to stand ready in the fight to advance equity and justice for every person who calls this nation home.
As the month of June comes to an end, NextGen Policy is just warming up for the big legislative push ahead!! Keep scrolling to get a glimpse into what our plans are for July including Cal Grant reform efforts that we hope you can support, Climate 100 resources for your review, updates on NGP priority bills, and information on many other topics that you may find useful.
★ Support Cal Grant Reform: The Cal Grant Equity Framework is the first step towards achieving educational equity in California. By modernizing and expanding the Cal Grant program, we can better support the students who need financial aid the most. Please join us and the Fix Financial Aid Coalition in advocating for the new Cal Grant Equity Framework!
★ Check It Out – New Climate 100 Resources: We’ve been going full-steam ahead on Climate 100 in the last few weeks! The Climate 100 initiative resets our budget focus and advances the perspective that every dollar of our state government spending can potentially help California in the fight against the climate crisis – we need a 100% climate-aligned state budget. Take a look at our Climate 100 website – check out the articles, blog posts, letters to the Governor, and other resources intended to help us tackle the climate crisis through a Climate 100 lens!
★ [New Article] California’s Golden Road to Affordable Internet Service: High-quality internet plans are expensive! Families who already struggle financially shouldn’t be denied essential online services – telehealth, video streaming, telework, and more – simply because they can’t afford costly internet plans. Check out the important work being done by the California Public Utilities Commission and groups such as CADE – the California Alliance for Digital Equity – to help make high-speed internet access affordable and equitable for all Californians.
SB 907 (Pan), an NGP priority bill, passed the Assembly Human Services Committee with unanimous support earlier this month! We are now another huge step closer to improving access to healthy foods for all California families. Now we must take action to make sure California State Leadership fully fund SB 907 in the state budget!
TAKE ACTION: FULLY FUND SB 907
★ Did You Know? A recent Change Research poll of California voters is making headlines after finding that climate is a top concern, with 75% of voters supporting action by the state to fight climate change. California voters, Democrats in particular, believe that it is urgent for the state to act on the climate crisis, with most saying that the state needs to move faster than it is currently moving. Take a look at the full breakdown of the poll results.
★ Member Spotlight: Assemblymember Tina McKinnor was sworn in this week as the newest member of the State Legislature, representing the 62nd Assembly District. Asm. McKinnor is committed to prioritizing California’s continued economic recovery from the pandemic, increasing funding for public education, demanding environmental justice for communities most impacted by the climate crisis, and much more! Send Asm. McKinnor a tweet to welcome her aboard!
★ What’s Next: During the month of July, California Legislators break for Summer Recess. These few weeks provide NextGen Policy time to brainstorm, plan, and prepare for the upcoming final months of the legislative session – the so called “busy season”, which includes August and September when deadlines for amending, signing, and vetoing bills must be met. Stay tuned for more exciting updates this summer!
NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.
Thank you,
NextGen Policy
[You’ve made our What’s Next List] New Ad Campaign, Bill Funding, & More NGP Happenings
Congratulations – you’re IN! We are excited to share that this is NextGen Policy’s very first What’s Next email written with our insiders list in mind. As an NGP Insider, you’ll be the first to get exclusive updates on what’s happening in the NGP world and around the State Capitol! Along with everyone else this month, we’re super focused on the June 15th budget deadline, which is the constitutional deadline for when the Legislature has to pass the state budget for the next fiscal year. Scroll down for updates on how NGP is working to ensure that the state budget addresses NGP priorities and also to take a glimpse at our new climate ad campaign – and much more!
★ SB 17 Funding: We continue to urge Governor Newsom and State Legislators to fund SB 17 (Pan), the Office of Racial Equity, in the budget. Put California on a path towards achieving equity for all by funding and including SB 17 in the California state budget. Share our message on fully funding SB 17, retweet here.
★ SB 907 Funding: We want you to know all about SB 907 (Pan), Local Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) and how important it is to fully fund this important program. SB 907 will ensure that the most vulnerable California families have equitable access to locally grown, affordable, and nutritious foods, regardless of income, while also increasing the number of certified farmers’ markets throughout the state. Learn more about SB 907 and help us get this program funded!
★ CADE Debut: Last month, NGP launched the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) and hosted our first meeting – more than 80 organizations attended. We are proud to join in the fight to advance digital equity, from device acquisition to broadband accessibility and affordability to digital literacy. Learn more about CADE and follow along as it becomes one of the leading coalitions supporting equitable, affordable internet access for all Californians!
NGP just launched our new million-dollar “Headline We Want” campaign to make it clear that our leaders must change the narrative around California’s multiple climate-caused disasters, including the ravages of wildfires, drought conditions, and extreme heat that have plagued our state over the last decades. California cannot afford to wait when it comes to investing in a 100% climate-aligned state budget – Later is Too Late!
★ NEW Op-ed: Solitary Confinement: When it comes to the use of solitary confinement in our penal system, California can and must do better. It’s time to end extreme isolation and the terrible physical and psychological harms perpetuated by solitary confinement in our jails, prisons, and private immigration detention facilities. NGP strongly supports The Mandela Act, AB 2632 (Holden). Check out the op-ed authored by our partners at Disability Rights California and the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice on why passing the Mandela Act is the right thing to do.
★ Cal Grant, Take Action: Last month, over 100 higher education and student leaders, equity advocates, business owners, and other stakeholders across California signed on to support the Cal Grant Equity Framework. If the Cal Grant Equity Framework is included in the 2022-23 state budget, as many as 150,000 additional California students will have access to the Cal Grant financial aid program. You can help! TAKE ACTION: visit the Fix Financial Aid Coalition’s website and join the effort to encourage the Governor to enact this framework.
★ Did You Know? NextGen Policy recently released a *new report* detailing how California can dramatically boost voter registration rates. In our report on automatic voter registration, we study how Colorado streamlined their voter registration system and increased registration rates by 74%, and how a similar automatic voter registration system in California would lead to a more representative and inclusive democracy.
★ Member Spotlight: This week, we’re recognizing California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins! Pro Tem Atkins is not only the first woman to lead the California State Senate, but is also the first openly LGBTQ+ Senate Pro Tem in state history. Let Pro Tem Atkins know how much you appreciate her leadership and the work she is doing for our state – Click to Tweet!
★ What’s Next: Join us this Sunday, June 19th – Juneteenth – to commemorate the effective end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War, honor the contributions of African-Americans to the country, and to reflect on the continued need to advance racial equity across our nation. Currently, the California Senate has the opportunity to pass AB 1655 (Jones-Sawyer) which will proclaim June 19 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A Day of Observance” – urge them to vote ‘yes’ and move this bill out of policy committee and to the Senate Floor.
NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement. Join Us!
NextGen Policy
What’s Next – Priorities, Primaries, & Pride!
Just as we wrap up our work on analyzing the May Revise, monitoring the house of origin deadline, and tracking other California Legislative happenings, we are also gearing up for the next few eventful weeks. In this What’s Next you’ll hear about NGP priority bills, new projects and partnerships, AAPI month shout-outs, the June Primary Election, and so much more!
This is your last chance to sign up for our ongoing What’s Next Email Series. What’s Next keeps you updated on all the latest and greatest NGP and Legislative news in and around the State Capitol.
★ SB 17 Update: You’ll know from our previous emails that NGP is strongly supporting SB 17 (Pan), which establishes the Office of Racial Equity (ORE) and formalizes California’s commitment to addressing long-standing racial disparities in our state institutions. We’re dedicated to seeing this bill pass into law, but we need your help. Tweet at Governor Newsom and let him know that centering racial equity in government policies and programs is essential to delivering on the promise of a California for ALL.
★ NEW: Climate 100 Brief: This year, California has an opportunity to go big when it comes to fighting the climate crisis – between funding enacted last year, proposals the Governor has proposed, and funding the Senate has proposed, California has the opportunity to deploy a $65 billion climate investment over the next 5 years. More importantly, what our state needs is a 100% climate-aligned budget — a bold investment strategy that puts 100% of our taxpayer dollars to work in ways that advance our state’s climate objectives. Take a look at our full evaluation of the May Revise’s progress towards reaching our Climate 100 goals.
★ Advocating for Equitable, Affordable Internet Access: Every Californian deserves access to fast, reliable, and affordable internet service. Earlier this week, we held the first meeting of the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) – a diverse coalition fighting for all forms of digital equity, from device acquisition to broadband internet access to digital literacy. Learn more about the coalition’s mission and the work we are doing with CADE in order to achieve equitable, affordable broadband access for all Californians.
★ #CaliforniansForAll College Corps: We are excited to share that NGP is partnering with California Volunteers on the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps, a first-of-its-kind initiative that will help create debt-free pathways to college while engaging students across the state to help solve problems in their communities and develop career skills. Click here to learn more about this partnership and to apply!
★ Ready for the June Primary Election?: The California Primary Election is 12 days away! It’s not too late for you to register to vote: Vote centers in Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) counties are open for in-person voting AND same-day registration for Californians who missed the deadline. Check to see if you live in a participating VCA county and get ready to vote on June 7!
SB 907 (Pan) Local Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) is an NGP priority bill that focuses on improving access to healthy foods for all California families, regardless of income, by increasing the number of farmers’ markets throughout the state. SB 907 passed the California Senate with a unanimous bipartisan vote. Help us ensure California families have equitable access to local, affordable, and healthy food by urging #CALeg to fully fund the LEAF program!
★ Did You Know? NGP is thrilled to give a big shout-out to our very own Legislative Director and Policy Advisor, Samantha Seng, who has been included in the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs’ (NAAPPPA’s) “40 Under 40” for 2022! That’s two years in a row that NGP team members have been included in this impressive list — check out this year’s round-up of AAPI leaders from across the nation.
★ Member Spotlight: In the spirit of AAPI month, NGP shines a spotlight on Assemblymember Phil Ting, representing the 19th Assembly District, which encompasses the Westside of San Francisco. Asm. Ting is the Chair of the powerful Assembly Budget Committee and focused on a number of key statewide issues including, job creation, economic recovery and fighting for progressive policies that protect equal rights and promote environmental stewardship. Tweet Asm. Phil Ting and let him know what a fantastic job he is doing for our state!
★ What’s Next: Mark your calendars on June 6: We’re hosting a panel event to promote our new Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) report — details to follow. Additionally, get ready to join in the festivities during the month-long celebration of Pride — we’ll be sharing more information and resources, so stay tuned!
NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement. Join Us!
Thank you,
NextGen Policy
What’s Next: The May Revise is here!
Happy Friday, friend — today’s a big day! Not only do you get another *exclusive* What’s Next email in your inbox, but you’ll hear from us about Governor Newsom’s revised state budget proposal which was just released this morning. Keep scrolling to see the NGP response to the May Revise, an update from the Cal Grant Reform Coalition, and much more!
We’re keeping an eye on news out of the Capitol so you don’t have to.
★ NGP Responds to the May Revise: This morning, Governor Newsom released his revision to his January state budget proposal, the so-called the ‘May Revise’. We applaud Governor Newsom’s revisions as they are a critical step toward progress. Now, California legislators have about a month to work with Gov. Newsom to put their imprint on the May Revise as they must pass the final budget package by June 15th. Here are our 3 key takeaways:
- The investments outlined today by Governor Newsom are the critical components necessary to combat the long-existing social, racial, and economic inequities that continue to plague our most vulnerable communities.
- With a historic budget surplus, California has an extraordinary opportunity to make significant progress on the issues of climate change, food insecurity, economic prosperity, affordable housing, higher education, healthcare and equity across the board.
- Our leaders must allocate every dollar with the urgency that the challenges of today, and of our near future, demand.
★ Climate 100 Letter: If you’ve been reading our recent emails, you’ll know that our Climate 100 campaign is advocating for significant budget increases in the state’s fight against climate change. Ahead of the May Revise, we wrote to Governor Newsom, Pro Tem Atkins, and Speaker Rendon — you can read our letter here.
★ Cal Grant Reform Update: The state’s higher education financial aid system, Cal Grant, needs to be reformed to meet the needs of today’s students. That’s why NGP supports Assembly Bill 1746 (Medina/McCarty) and the inclusion of the Cal Grant Equity Framework in our state budget. More than 100 leaders from across California called on Governor Newsom and the Legislature to modernize the Cal Grant program — read more about the coalition’s work towards equitable financial aid here.
★ Closing the Digital Divide: Internet usage has gone up drastically over the last few years, and unfortunately so have prices for broadband. The California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) fights to close the digital divide and advance digital equity, including device acquisition, internet access, tech workforce training, and digital literacy. Beginning this month, we will be convening advocates, experts, and policymakers to discuss California’s digital future. We’ll keep you updated on our efforts to achieve equitable, affordable access to the connected world.
Climate change is jeopardizing our safety, our health, and our finances — we need bold action that delivers for all Californians.
SIGN UP TO SUPPORT CA CLIMATE BUDGET
★ Did You Know? Federal student loan payments are currently set to resume in September after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus. We know student loan debt is an issue that continues to burden millions of Californians, so we’ve put together a resource page with helpful content — check it out here.
★ Member Spotlight: NGP extends a warm welcome to Assemblymember Matt Haney, the newest member of the California State Assembly! He now represents the 17th Assembly district, which includes the eastern half of San Francisco. Take a minute to welcome him into his new role!
★ What’s Next: Have you received your vote-by-mail ballot yet? Registered California voters began receiving their California Primary ballots in the mail ahead of Election Day, Tuesday, June 7th. And if you haven’t registered yet — don’t worry, there’s still time! You have until Monday, May 23. Mark these key dates so you’re ready to vote!
NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement. Join Us!
Thank you,
NextGen Policy
What’s Next: Bills, budgets, big dates coming up
You know the drill, friend, — here’s another fresh edition of What’s Next! This one has some key dates to note, so get out your calendars and please keep on reading.
Friends don’t let friends miss an update from NextGen Policy.
★ Our Tax Rebate Reco: There’s no other way to say it — we’ve all felt the strain of rising gas prices. And, as our state leaders began negotiating the parameters of a tax rebate to give us some financial help, we wrote to Governor Newsom, Pro Tempore Atkins, and Speaker Rendon with our recommendations to make the proposal more equitable. Read our full letter here
★ Good News on SB 907: SB 907 — or Local Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) — was voted out of the Senate Agriculture Committee on consent, meaning it was approved unanimously by the committee and the author did not even have to present it! This bodes well for SB 907 as it continues to move through the legislative process. Your support is helping us expand access to healthy foods!
★ Digital Equity Bills Prevail: Thanks to the tireless efforts of our equity advocates, we can celebrate big wins on three of our digital equity priority bills! Both, AB 2748 (Holden) and AB 2751 (E. Garcia), defeated strong corporate opposition and passed out of the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. AB 2750 (Bonta) was passed on consent and all three bills will be moving forward. This means we’re one step closer to closing the digital divide by prioritizing internet affordability and getting Californians connected.
★ Student Debt Summit: A few weeks ago, our Legislative Manager & Policy Advisor Samantha Seng participated in the Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC)’s State of Student Debt Summit. Her presentation highlighted the severe impacts of the nation’s student debt crisis — especially on women of color. Samantha, among other event participants, was quoted in this Diverse article. Policy solutions to the student debt crisis must prioritize equity for all borrowers. (Watch the whole summit on YouTube here.)
Climate Action is a Necessity, not a Luxury: We’re so excited to announce the official publication and release of our Climate 100 report, From Luxury to Necessity: Budgeting for Climate Action, where we break down the steps policymakers need to take to integrate an all-of-government approach when it comes to climate budgeting — sign up to stay in the loop about upcoming updates and ways to get involved.
★ Member Spotlight: Take a minute to tweet your thanks to Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo and Senator Sydney Kamlager for uplifting equity in their respective Budget Subcommittees. NextGen is co-sponsoring SB 17 which requests $40 million in the Governor’s Budget — these funds will help establish the first-ever statewide Office of Racial Equity in California.
★ Key CA Election Dates: This year’s Primary Election is on Tuesday, June 7, and the deadline to register to vote is Monday, May 23. Mark these key dates so you’re ready to vote!
★ What’s Next: Keep an eye out! The Governor’s revised budget is expected to be released mid-May. NGP is fighting to ensure that climate solutions, increased accessibility to broadband, and racial equity are top priorities in California’s 2022 budget. Take a look at our full list of 2022 budget priorities.
What’s Next: Climate 100, budget proposals, an op-ed, and more
Welcome to another installment of What’s Next, friend! Our NGP team has been extremely busy — we recently launched a new initiative, Climate 100, a framework to advance a fully climate-aligned government. Our equity work also continues, as we fight for SB 907 (LEAF) to become law and receive program funding. Keep reading to find out more!
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★ Climate Launch 🌎: Last week, we announced our new climate initiative, Climate 100! We’re calling on California’s leaders to put 100 percent of our taxpayer dollars to work in a manner that is consistent with our state’s climate goals — sign up to stay in the loop about upcoming updates and ways to get involved.
★ Op-Ed from NGP’s Executive Director: In conjunction with the Climate 100 launch, our Executive Director Arnold “Arnie” Sowell Jr. published an op-ed which outlines why this project is so urgently needed. California leaders have the chance to address the climate crisis in a significant way, but they need to act now. Read the full piece here, then share with your networks.
★ Biden Extends Student Loan Payments: We applaud the Biden Administration’s “Fresh Start” program which will ensure that student borrowers are in good standing coming out of the pandemic. However, we want the President to go further and cancel student debt before payments resume — extending the payment pause is appreciated, but it is only a band-aid on the student debt crisis.
★ Did You Know? On the last day of Women’s History Month, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis — who was serving as Acting Governor — became the first woman in California to sign a bill into law! She signed AB 2179 (Grayson) to extend eviction protections, and she also signed SB 504 (Becker) to make voting more accessible for military and overseas voters.
★ Member Spotlight: Thank you, Broadband Champions! Take a minute to tweet your thanks to Assemblymembers Chris Holden and Eduardo Garcia for sponsoring two key bills — AB 2748 and AB 2751 — to modernize and reform the state’s broadband system.
★ What’s Next: While the California Legislature was on Spring Recess, NGP prepared for the work and months ahead — the deadline for Senators and Assemblymembers to submit their budget requests and pass bills out of policy committees. A few weeks ago, we promised you our 2022 priority bill list, wait no more! Here is our 2022 Legislative package, read up on our priority bills.
What’s Next: New research and initiatives
Coming at you with another What’s Next! Keep reading for budget updates, new research on institutional debt, a special shout-out to one of our Senate leaders, and more.
We’ll be sharing “What’s Next” with our insiders list only soon. If you haven’t already, make sure to sign up to keep receiving these updates!
★ College Creditors Report: In partnership with the Student Borrower Protection Center and a team of University of California researchers, we conducted groundbreaking research that shines a light on institutional debt, or money owed directly to colleges from fines and fees. Our research found that the impacts of COVID-19 resulted in nearly 750,000 low-income students owing $350 million in institutional debt to California public colleges — more details and our recommendations to lawmakers here.
★ Priority Bill Update: SB 907, the Local Equitable Affordable Food (LEAF) initiative, passed on unanimous consent in the Senate Human Services Committee on March 29, 2022. Passing the first committee on unanimous consent is a great sign that SB 907 will successfully advance to the finish line, become law, and ultimately ensure low-income Californian’s gain more access to healthy foods. Follow the bill’s progress here.
★ Care4All Coalition: NGP supports the Care4All Coalition which comes together every year to prioritize bills designed to improve our healthcare system. From providing healthcare to everyone – regardless of immigration status – to ensuring health plans provide gender-affirming care to trans people, these bills will help put California on a path to achieving affordable, equitable, and universal healthcare. Click here to see the 2022 legislative agenda.
Follow us into the weeds for a second: The CA Legislature must finalize our state budget by June 15 at midnight, so we’re busy pushing for key investments in the areas of climate, education, broadband, environmental justice and more — read the full list.
★ Senator Spotlight: Sen. Dr. Richard Pan is championing two of our key priority bills (SB 17 and SB 907) this year. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with him, and we’re grateful for his leadership and help in our push for a more progressive California. Take a second to tell him thank you!
★ What’s Next: Stay tuned for the launch of our new initiative Climate 100 — we’ll be working with environmental leaders and key policymakers to ensure California’s budget actions on climate match our climate goals. In the meantime, please take the time to read what our Senior Policy Advisor, Dave Weiskopf, had to say about gas rebates in this recent CalMatters article.
NextGen What’s Next
NextGen Policy (NGP) is starting a new series to keep you informed about the happenings in Sacramento. We’ll be sharing what’s next regarding legislative updates, policy information, relevant resources, upcoming events, and ways you can take action to advance new and important policy changes. Here’s some quick-hits from February!
★ Words From our Executive Director: Over the next several months, the Legislature’s bill and budget hearing schedule will be in full swing. NGP will be calling for even bolder actions in the fight against climate change; further integration of environmental justice, racial and gender equity, and digital inclusion into government programs; increased state efforts to combat food, housing, and economic insecurity; and policy, program, and budget actions that will advance access to and the affordability of our higher education system. We hope you’ll join us in advocating and fighting for these progressive changes!
★ Legislative Priority: We believe all Californians deserve access to local, equitable access to food (LEAF). That’s why we’re co-sponsoring SB 907 (Pan) which will help expand EBT access to all California certified farmers’ markets. Learn more about LEAF.
★ Noteworthy Legislation: Last month, Assemblymember Chris Holden introduced AB 2632 “The Mandela Act on Solitary Confinement” which limits the duration any person can be held in solitary confinement and bans the practice for women who are pregnant, those with disabilities, or individuals who fall within certain age limits.
★ New Appointments: California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon recently appointed Assemblymember Issac G. Bryan, one of our Black History Month honorees, as Chair of the Assembly Elections Committee.
★ Seen on Social: Keep up with the latest on social! Follow our Twitter as we talk policy or join us on Facebook for resources and event info.
★ TAKE ACTION: Demand environmental justice NOW — tweet at Governor Newsom and tell him to stand up to the oil and gas industry by creating setback zones that distance homes, schools, and other sensitive areas from oil drilling operations: Take Action Today!
★ Did You Know? The California Budget is bound by what’s known as the “Gann Limit” or a state appropriations limit (SAL). This places certain restrictions on the amount of tax revenue the state can spend year over year – which is expected to come into play this year as there is an estimated budget surplus of $23 billion. Learn more about Gann Limits here.