It’s the final countdown… to the end of the legislative session! ‼️✊
What’s Next: It’s the final countdown… to the end of the legislative session! ‼️✊
September 3, 2025
Welcome to the latest issue of NextGen’s What’s Next newsletter! We hope that you enjoyed some quality downtime with family and friends over this past Labor Day weekend. Every Labor Day we honor the men and women of the labor movement and their tireless efforts over decades to ensure America’s workers get the benefits they deserve – vacation time, overtime pay, fair wages, sick leave and many other important workers’ benefits.
We’re now in the final couple of weeks of California’s legislative session and there is lots to share about the current state of affairs! September 12th is the official last day of the legislative session – which means that the state Assembly and Senate have a limited amount of time to debate and then vote on the bills that are remaining and eligible for a floor vote. Once passed by the Legislature, these bills will make their way to Governor Newsom’s desk for final action – either a signature or veto.
The NextGen team is now in full advocacy mode and pushing hard to get our remaining policy priorities in climate solutions, higher education, food insecurity, and workforce development arenas across the finish line. In this issue of What’s Next, we will pass along the latest information on: California’s ongoing fight for a stronger Cap-and-Trade program; outcomes of the Appropriations Committee’s Suspense file hearings; a recap of the California Racial Equity Coalition’s first Equity Convening; plus news on several other key policy and programmatic issues!
Let’s get to it – here’s What’s Next at NextGen:
★ Take Action to Reauthorize Cap-and-Trade: When it comes to combating climate change, California's Cap-and-Trade program plays a major role in helping our state achieve its climate goals and protecting frontline communities from the harms of pollution. Right now, various proposals to reauthorize the Cap-and-Trade program are being negotiated by Governor Newsom and state legislative leaders. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the parameters of the program over the next decades – program components that will be reformed and strengthened; how its policies will be enforced and hold polluters accountable; its alignment with the state’s climate goals and targets; where funding will be invested; and how these investments will affect frontline communities. NextGen has been very vocal about the need to reauthorize and strengthen the Cap-and-Trade program and the importance of doing so now, but we need your help to ensure our efforts pay off!
The fossil fuel industry is spending lots of money on lobbyists trying to weaken the Cap-and-Trade program and block critical amendments that would make the program more effective, equitable, and profitable. That is why we’re asking you to send a short letter urging Governor Newsom and your state representatives to pass legislation that strengthens California’s Cap-and-Trade program. We’ve already written the letter for you, simply sign your name and hit send – take action now to help strengthen California’s Cap-and-Trade program!
★ Victory! AB 470 Held in Senate Appropriations: The NextGen team is thrilled to report that against immense odds and lots of special interest money, we defeated AB 470! As you know, from the time of its introduction, NextGen has been sounding the alarm on the harms AB 470 (McKinnor) would cause. AB 470 would have allowed AT&T and other large telecommunication corporations to abandon landline phone service for millions of California residents and businesses by terminating Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) obligations and eliminating mandates to provide universal service. If it had become law, AB 470 would have resulted in disconnecting phone service for millions of individuals, businesses, and communities across the state while also endangering their public safety. AB 470 would have also increased costs for phone service while increasing profits for AT&T and other telecommunication corporations.
NextGen would like to thank Senate pro Tem Mike McGuire and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Anna Caballero for holding AB 470 on the Senate suspense file – this decision prioritized public safety and affordability over corporate greed and a disconnected California. Recently, Kat Taylor, NextGen’s Board Chair, and Mark Toney, Executive Director for The Utility Reform Network (TURN), wrote an Op-Ed about how AB 470 would put the lives of rural, fire-prone, and low-income California communities across the state at increased risk, especially during natural disasters and extreme weather events. “In these moments, dependable communication can mean the difference between safety and tragedy.”
★ Suspense Results: With the final Suspense file hearings behind us, we’re not just thrilled to have stopped a harmful bill like AB 470 from passing off the Suspense file, we’re also pleased to see many of our policy priorities continue to make their way through the Legislative process. Bills in our climate, food insecurity, and workforce development portfolio are now advancing to the next step – final floor votes in their respective houses. These bills include: SB 79 (Wiener), which supports policies involving affordable housing, climate, and public transit; AB 1264, (Gabriel) which strengthens school nutrition programs; and AB 1400 (Soria), which addresses the state’s nursing shortage. We were, however, disappointed to see SB 323, which would have expanded options to state financial aid for all students in California, become a two year bill.
★ Our Recent Racial Equity Convening: NextGen proudly co-leads the California Racial Equity Coalition (CREC) and we were thrilled to help host our first Racial Equity Convening in Los Angeles this past week. Throughout the day, the coalition shared insightful information about each organization's work, discussed our current policy objectives, and overviewed possible future plans, strategies, and goals.
Co-led by NextGen, the CREC’s advocacy work began in 2021 with SB 17, which aimed to create an Office of Racial Equity within the state government to address systemic racial disparities in government policies and programs. Although the bill did not pass, it paved the way for the signing of an executive order by Governor Newsom which created the state's first Racial Equity Commission and required them to develop a racial equity framework for state government. The goal of the Framework is to help ensure that government agencies and departments meet the needs of the communities they serve. As we work to organize and plan future Equity Convenings, we encourage you to learn how you can get involved and join the Coalition's efforts!
Join the NextGen team and let’s make it count with Climate Action Counts!
We’re doing our part to make small choices every day that support a healthy climate and strengthen California’s environment, such as visiting our local Farmers' Market!
Take the Climate Action Counts pledge today and start making a difference.
★ Did You Know? NextGen is proud to support SB 79 (Wiener) as part of our climate bill package. SB 79 would allow multi-family homes to be constructed within a half mile of transit stops throughout the state. The policies outlined in this legislation will provide opportunities to reform local government zoning laws; create more affordable housing units near public transit; reduce air pollution and climate emissions; and increase access to public transit for more Californians. Climate philanthropist and NextGen co-founder Tom Steyer recently shared his thoughts on SB 79 and the growing need for more affordable housing and zoning reforms in California.
★ Member Spotlight: This week NextGen is shining a spotlight on Assemblymember Marc Berman, who represents California’s 23rd Assembly District which comprises southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County. Assemblymember Berman was elected to the Assembly in 2016 and he currently serves as Chair of both the Assembly Business and Professions Committee as well as the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Throughout this career Assemblymember Berman has worked to address issues impacting the lives of everyday Californians including: air pollution, higher education and student success, voting rights, violence prevention, and much more.
Prior to serving in the State Legislature, Assemblymember Berman was on the Palo Alto City Council, leading initiatives on infrastructure and financial transparency. He has also provided pro bono legal representation to clients seeking asylum in the U.S. through the protections of the Violence Against Women Act and provided counsel to youth-focused non-profits. NextGen thanks him for his ongoing efforts to build a better California and is proud to have partnered with him on AB 1167, which prevents investor-owned utilities (IOUs) from charging ratepayers for political activities. Make sure to follow Assemblymember Berman on Blusky to stay up-to-date with his work!
★ Follow NextGen on Instagram: The NextGen team is now active on Instagram! Give us a follow today to keep up to date with our advocacy and policy work; get notified of important news coming out of the State Legislature and Capitol community; stay in the loop on opportunities to take meaningful action; check out exclusive content from our team, and so much more!
★ Our Mission: NextGen California is a nonprofit advocacy organization that breaks down barriers and rebalances power in the State Capitol on behalf of all Californians.
Thank you for being a part of our journey toward a more equitable California. As we continue to push for progressive policy change, we invite you to make a difference by donating to support our organization. Your contribution will directly impact our efforts to address environmental, social, and economic inequities throughout the state.
Thank you,
NextGen California