What's Next: Take a look at what NextGen has coming up this April! 👍

April 14, 2025

Welcome to NextGen’s April “What’s Next” newsletter! As spring arrives, we’re updating you on our team’s latest work, including progress on two of NextGen’s climate and education priority bills AB 850 and AB 1132, our new policy brief on California’s housing administration, updates on the state’s efforts to reform Cap-and-Trade, Sacramento State’s Reintegration Academy for justice-impacted individuals, and more!

Join us for a look at What’s Next at NextGen:

★ The Latest on A Couple NextGen Policy Priorities: We want to keep you consistently updated on our 2025 policy priorities, so here’s the latest on two important bills:

AB 850 (Pacheco), the Increasing Institutional Debt Transparency and Protecting Students Act:  This bill helps protect California students from the harms of institutional debt, a lesser-known form of debt owed by a student directly to a college or university. We thank Assemblymember Pacheco for authoring this bill and we’re excited to be working with her as a co-sponsor. AB 850 will be heard in the Assembly Higher Education Committee on April 22nd. Although we expect this bill to have a broad range of support, we also know that there are some who are opposed to its provisions. As we get closer to the hearing date, please stay tuned to learn more about actions you can take to help support AB 850 in committee. In the meantime, here is some more information about how AB 850 will provide more consumer protections to California’s college students.

AB 1132 (Schiavo), the Roads to Resilience Act: This bill supports the development of more climate resilient transportation systems in California by requiring Caltrans to better evaluate the accessibility, reliability, and safety of our state’s transportation infrastructure. The bill specifically focuses on improving planning processes in order to best meet community needs as climate impacts grow more extreme. NextGen is a proud co-sponsor of AB 1132, along with our partners from the Greenlining Institute, and we thank Assemblymember Schiavo for authoring this important bill. AB 1132 will be heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on April 21st. As we get closer to the hearing date, please stay tuned to learn more about actions you can take to help support AB 1132 in committee. In the meantime, here is some more information about AB 1132 and how it will create more climate resilient transportation systems in California!

★ How are California’s Housing Policies Administered: The cost of housing as well as the need to build more housing in California is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. Last week, NextGen Policy released an issue brief in response to the Governor’s recently submitted proposal to reorganize some of California’s housing policy and finance entities under a new stand-alone California Department of Housing and Homelessness. These changes are being proposed in order to improve California’s ability to address our housing crisis. The NextGen issue brief provides a timeline of how California’s housing finance agencies have evolved into their current structure and reviews past efforts to significantly restructure California’s housing programs. Based on this timeline and history, the brief identifies potential questions to ask as well as lessons learned from prior reorganization efforts that can be used to analyze the current proposal. Read the full issue brief to learn more!

★ The Fight for Cap-and-Trade Reform Continues: Things are ramping up in the fight to reauthorize and strengthen California’s Cap-and-Trade program. The Cap-and-Trade program steadily reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that can be generated (the cap) and requires big polluters to purchase allowances to burn GHG emitting fossil fuels. The funding generated from the purchase of these allowances is then invested into programs that will make housing, energy, electric vehicles, and other clean technologies more affordable to everyday Californians. California’s Cap and Trade program is set to expire and NextGen and our partners are working hard to advocate for a reauthorized Cap-and-Trade program with reforms that make the program more equitable and effective at advancing our state’s climate goals.
Strengthening and reforming California’s Cap-and-Trade program will also generate more revenue to invest in programs that will help promote affordability as we continue on our climate transition journey. Now is our opportunity to reauthorize a strong Cap-and-Trade program and create a system better designed to reduce climate emissions, build our economy, and improve the livelihood of all Californians. Learn more about what’s at stake for California’s Cap-and-Trade program in our recent coalition letter!

 

★ Learn About Sacramento State’s Reintegration Academy: Here’s some exciting news – Sacramento State is taking action to support justice-impacted members of the community during their transition back into the workforce. Sacramento State recently hosted its first ever Reintegration Academy, a new program meant to help formerly incarcerated adults navigate the barriers often faced after leaving prison by offering lessons on career guidance and resume building, financial literacy, and personal development skills. The eight-week program concludes with a job fair which connects program participants with employers and other beneficial services. NextGen is inspired by Sacramento State’s Reintegration Academy and their mission to ensure that everyone has an equitable opportunity to receive the skills and training needed to secure a good paying job. This program directly aligns with our team’s efforts to ensure that the workforce needs in California’s economy continue to be met. Learn more about Sacramento State’s Reintegration Academy in this recent KCRA news story.

Every student in California deserves access to a free, nutritious school meal!

Help NextGen keep California’s School Meal for All program fully funded by sharing YOUR story on how School Meals for All has impacted you and your family.

 

★ Did You Know? Now more than ever, the NextGen team would like to encourage everyone to know their constitutional and legal rights! We recently compiled a digital resource guide that provides important legal defense and immigrant legal assistance information. We’d like to ask our readers to review and share this resource guide to ensure that you “know your rights”!

★ Member Spotlight: This week, NextGen is shining a spotlight on Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who represents California’s 28th Assembly District. Assemblymember Pellerin is a champion in the fight against child hunger and food insecurity and has recently been a big supporter of the Healthy School Food Pathway program. NextGen is proud to continue our work protecting and strengthening the Healthy School Food Pathway program, an apprenticeship program that offers workforce training and increased career opportunities for school food professionals in California. The NextGen team would like to thank Assemblymember Pellerin for standing up for California’s school food professionals and for doing her part to ensure that our schools are prepared to provide every student with freshly prepared, nutritious meals. Make sure to follow Assemblymember Pellerin on Bluesky to stay up-to-date with her work!

★ Legislative Deadlines and Insights: This week, the Capitol quiets during Legislative Spring Recess as elected officials return to their districts. Staff and advocates will use this time to prepare for upcoming bill hearings and make final budget advocacy pushes before the Governor’s May Revision. When legislators return on April 21st, committee activity will resume in full force. Meanwhile, the NextGen team continues coordinating with bill authors and advocating for our priorities throughout the recess.

★ Follow NextGen on Bluesky: NextGen is now active on Bluesky! We encourage you to check us out there and receive the latest updates on bills and budget issues in front of the California State Legislature, learn more about the NextGen team’s advocacy efforts, and discover opportunities on how you can take meaningful action to help build a more equitable, prosperous, and climate resilient California for all. We’ll see you over on Bluesky – follow us today!

★ Our Mission: NextGen California 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.

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