March 3, 2025

Welcome to a brand new issue of What’s Next at NextGen! Our team is settling into the month of March and we’re feeling inspired by the sunny, warm weeks of springtime that lie ahead. Get ready to dive into this issue of our newsletter, which takes a look at a few upcoming initiatives and projects including information on AB 850, a bill that NextGen will be co-sponsoring to protect California students from the harms of institutional debt; newly introduced climate legislation which will help California hold major polluters accountable for the damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions; a recap of our recent legislative briefing on California’s School Meals for All program; an update on the deadline for California students to apply for financial aid; and several other hot topics that we’re excited to share with you!

First, the NextGen team would like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate March as Women’s History Month! We’ll be honoring Women’s History Month by uplifting helpful resources and spotlighting leaders whose work advances social, gender, and economic progress and makes a positive impact throughout California. Keep your eyes on NextGen’s Bluesky and Twitter (X) pages during the month to follow our specific shoutouts and join us in celebrating the amazing women who are making such a difference in our state!

Now let’s take a look at What’s Next at NextGen:

★ AB 850 – Protecting Students from Shadow Debt: NextGen is proud to share that we are co-sponsoring AB 850 (Pacheco), the Increasing Institutional Debt Transparency and Protecting Students Act. This is a bill that would protect California students from the harms associated with institutional debt and help ensure that degree completion is more achievable. Institutional debt are fees and surcharges levied by colleges and universities that can prevent students from graduating and may affect their credit ratings. As advocates fighting to protect and support California students, we’re honored to co-sponsor this piece of legislation with a broad group of partners and thank Assemblymember Pacheco for being such a champion for students in the higher education space. Learn more about AB 850 and how this bill will benefit California’s higher ed students!

★ California is Standing Up to Big Polluters: Last month, Senator Caroline Menjivar (SD 20) and Assemblymember Dawn Addis (AD 30) introduced the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 & AB 1243, respectively). These bills will create a funding regime that will hold Big Oil and other major environmental polluters accountable for the decades of climate damage they’ve caused to California communities and our natural resources. It will also direct financial investments to climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation programs and projects. NextGen is proud to support these two bills as part of our climate justice package, and we thank Senator Menjivar and Assemblymember Addis for their climate policy leadership and for stepping up to tackle such an important and weighty issue. Get more information on the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act!

★ Recap of NextGen’s School Meals Briefing: On Thursday, February 27th, the NextGen team along with our School Meals for All Coalition partners co-hosted a virtual legislative briefing with Senator Caroline Menjivar (SD-20). The convening was designed to provide an overview of California’s first-in-the-nation School Meals for All program. Coalition members and special guest speakers from the California Department of Education (CDE) shared background information about the program and also discussed recent data showing increased student participation rates. There was also a panel discussion about the on-the-ground program benefits involving the California School Employee Association (CSEA), a school food service director, a food bank representative, and a participating student.

★ California Extends State Financial Aid Deadlines: Here’s some big news for all California prospective and returning college students – the deadline to apply for state financial aid has been extended to April 2, 2025! This means that students in California have more time to apply for free federal and state money to help pay for college. NextGen appreciates and would like to acknowledge the California Student Aid Commission’s hard work and leadership in extending the financial aid deadline for California students. Don’t miss out – California students are strongly encouraged to apply by April 2nd to access and secure financial aid for college!

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The NextGen team encourages everyone to know your rights!

We’ve put together resources for legal assistance and more helpful information to protect and support our nation’s immigrant communities. We ask everyone to please review and share the resources below to ensure that everyone knows their rights.

View Resources

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★ Did You Know? Last month, NextGen’s Policy Advisor Tiffany Germain participated in the California Small Farms Conference and discussed NextGen’s role in successfully advocating to save the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP). CNIP provides funding for important nutrition assistance programs like Market Match, which helps California’s low-income families purchase healthy and nutritious foods while also supporting small and mid-sized farmers! Don’t worry if you missed out – watch a full recording of the California Small Farms Conference to hear the full discussion!

★ Member Spotlight: This week, we’re shining a spotlight on and giving a warm welcome to Assemblymember Mark González, who was recently elected to represent California’s 54th Assembly District. Assemblymember González was appointed to serve as Majority Whip by the Speaker of the Assembly; and serves on the Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules and Utilities & Energy Committees in the State Assembly. Before becoming a California Assemblymember, he served as Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party where he led efforts to support legislation that addressed affordable higher education, climate justice as well as affordable housing and homelessness. Make sure to follow Assemblymember González to stay up-to-date with his work!

★ Legislative Deadlines and Insights: February 21st marked the bill introduction deadline and to kick off the 2025-2026 Legislative Session, a total of 2,514 measures were introduced across both houses – this includes bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments! More than half of the total bill universe was introduced the week leading up to the February 21st bill introduction deadline. Bills must sit for 30 days and can’t be acted upon until the 31st day from their introduction to ensure transparency and give the public time to review new legislation. With such a large number of bills being introduced so close to the deadline, policy committee bill hearing agendas can be expected to get much longer towards the end of March and going into April.

Additionally, any office that introduced bills with non-substantive language such that there wouldn’t be an actual change in law, commonly referred to as “spot bills,” will need to work quickly to finalize more substantive language in order for the bill to be properly amended and referred to a policy committee. Meanwhile, Budget Subcommittee hearings are underway and the Capitol Community is fully in advocacy mode either in support or opposition to proposals in the Governor’s January Budget.

★ Follow NextGen on Bluesky: NextGen is on Bluesky!  Please check us out there to receive the latest updates on the California State Legislature, learn more about NextGen and our advocacy efforts, and discover opportunities to take meaningful action to help build a more equitable, prosperous, and climate resilient California for all. We’ll see you over on Bluesky today!