April 8, 2024

While the State Legislature was away for their Spring Recess, during late March, our team focused its efforts on several priority projects and policy issues that we’re excited to share with you in this issue of What’s Next. These priority projects and policy issues include an opportunity for eligible students who are struggling to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive assistance; information on an upcoming rally at the State Capitol in support of our advocacy for digital equity in California; the latest news coverage and updates on our team’s Climate 100 project; and much more!

Without further ado, let’s take a look at What’s Next at NextGen:

★ Students Can Get Help with the FAFSA: Attention all graduating high school seniors! Are you or a friend struggling to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and do you have a parent or guardian who doesn’t have a social security number? Our friends from the California Student Aid Commission and Immigrants Rising have information that will help you overcome these hurdles and meet the extended May 2nd, 2024 application deadline! Learn more about this opportunity, check to see if you qualify, and sign up today!

★ Join Us and Show Up in Support for Digital Equity: On April 10th, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. PDT, the NextGen team and our partners from the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE) and Digital Equity L.A. are gathering at the State Capitol for the first ever Digital Equity Advocacy Day in Sacramento! We plan to rally on the steps of the State Capitol and then meet with various legislative offices to advocate for digital equity and digital inclusion in California. Our message: internet access is not a luxury, but an absolute necessity for participation in today’s modern society! If you can’t join us in-person, be sure to register to watch the livestream we will be sharing on our Facebook page. See you then!

★ The Latest on NextGen’s Climate 100 Work: Check it out — NextGen’s 2024 climate priorities are ready for your review! Get caught up in our efforts to fully align the entirety of California’s budget with our climate goals and targets, including ensuring the state’s historic California Climate Commitment is preserved in this year’s budget; fighting for transportation justice in front of the California Transportation Commission (CTC); and advocating for polluter accountability. It’s going to be a big year in the fight to continue California’s global leadership against climate change!

Additionally, be sure to take a look at a recent climate-focused op-ed published in the Sacramento Bee and written by NextGen’s founder and climate investor, Tom Steyer. He breaks down why the climate pollution disclosure laws – SB 253 (Wiener) and SB 261 (Stern) – passed by the Legislature last year and strongly supported by NextGen, are of economic benefit to the large corporations and big businesses who operate in California. “Companies that collect emissions data and connect it back to their overall strategy perform better,” writes Tom in his op-ed.

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Take action to fight food insecurity in California! ✊📣

Email your State Legislator NOW to let them know that School Meals for All must remain a priority in the State Budget to ensure that NO child in California goes hungry! 🍎🥦

 

★ Did You Know? NextGen Policy invites you to check out our NEW blog: “Let’s Talk”! Hear directly from our policy advisors as they share professional insights on our equity-centered advocacy work, legislative updates, breaking news from the State Capitol, and plenty more! Find a quiet place to focus, get comfortable, and let’s talk! Read the latest post on our Let’s Talk blog, and sign up to get notified when new blog posts are shared.

★ Member Spotlight: We’re shining a spotlight on Assemblymember Damon Connolly, who represents the 12th California Assembly District. Thank you, Assemblymember Connolly, for supporting our efforts to fight food insecurity in California, and for standing with us as we advocate for programs like the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), which funds essential state programs like Market Match to help California families access affordable, healthy, and nutritious foods.

Photo of NextGen’s Executive Associate McKenna Jenkins and Research and Policy Advisor Tiffany Germain, with Assemblymember Damon Connolly at the California State Capitol showing support for the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) and Market Match.

★ Legislative Deadlines and Insights: Spring rain showers also bring a flurry of policy committees and budget subcommittee hearings as both the State Senate and Assembly conduct their initial reviews of legislative bills and budget issues. During the month of April, most policy committees will be aiming to wrap up their first-house bill hearings and similarly, the budget subcommittees will be wrapping up their hearings in anticipation of the release of the May Revision to the state budget.

This coming week, the big focus for the Legislature and the Governor will be to pass a $17 billion package of budget bills that take early action to address the state’s budget shortfall. At this time, the size of the state budget shortfall is still unclear (in his January budget proposal the Governor projected a $38 billion deficit) – the upcoming release of the May Revision will provide an official update to this number. Expect to see this early budget package voted on and completed by the end of next week!

★ Our Mission: NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.