What’s Next: Seasons Greetings from NextGen’s Executive Director ❄️
December 21, 2023
Seasons Greetings,
As we bid farewell to 2023 and prepare to welcome in the New Year, I write to express my gratitude for your support – NextGen Policy has had another very successful year and it would not have happened without your help!! So, on behalf of the NextGen team, I want to thank you for standing with us in our fight for equity and justice. We also look forward to our work together in the New Year to create a more equitable and prosperous California for all, but first I’d like to take a look back and share some of our 2023 highlights.
Advocacy Success: As we ring in the New Year, it is very gratifying to know that our collective advocacy efforts were instrumental in paving the way for many of this year’s legislative successes. Dedicated supporters like you sent more than 1,500 letters and tweets, letting their respective legislators know our voices matter. Your actions advocating for our priorities helped move the ball forward in the fight for equity and justice for all Californians.
- SB 253 (Wiener) and SB 261 (Stern), together, these first-in-the-nation climate policies will change the global landscape for corporate disclosure, requiring the increased and more detailed reporting of greenhouse gas emissions as well as climate risk assessments, respectively.
- SB 348 (Skinner) – Nutritious School Meals: Aims to make school meals healthier and more nutritious by reducing their sugar and salt content.
- AB 1118 (Kalra) – The Racial Justice Act: Makes technical changes to the current Racial Justice Act to streamline the claims process and ensure they are acted upon more efficiently – saving time and resources.
- AB 421 (Bryan) – Referendum Reform: Protects the integrity of the California referendum process by ensuring that the ballot language is less confusing to voters.
- AB 789 (Berman) – Financial Aid Access: Creates a pathway to help students – that were affected by the pandemic or who have had other unexpected life events – regain their financial aid and continue their educational pursuits.
For more information about other legislative wins – visit our legislative recap.
On the budget front this past year, NextGen was instrumental in helping to secure $67.5 billion in funding for our budget priorities in the areas of climate, digital equity, food insecurity, higher education, and criminal legal reform. With the upcoming budget projected to have a severe deficit, NGP will need to work with the Legislature and the Newsom Administration to stave off cuts to key programs that will hurt our most vulnerable populations.
LA Times Editorial Board publishes NextGen’s transportation report in our favor: As part of our Climate 100 work, our climate team produced a new report: “California at a Crossroads” – a report focused on policy solutions that will provide Californians more transportation options that will lower air pollution levels and reduce time in traffic. The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board editorialized their support for our report and called on state leaders to prioritize funding alternative transportation options over highway expansions.
As we reflect on 2023 and prepare to ring in the New Year, the team at NextGen Policy looks forward to continuing our collective work to create a more equitable and prosperous California for all. Together, we will bring our values of community, justice, equity, and progress to every policy we support. Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings to you and your loved ones!
