EDGE is proud to share an initial list of bill priorities for the second year of the 2025–2026 legislative session. This year’s priorities reflect our continued commitment to expanding access to education and workforce pathways for underserved Californians. Our supported bills span key themes, including strengthening financial aid and reducing barriers to college access, expanding dual enrollment and work-based learning opportunities, improving workforce data systems, and protecting underserved Californians from losing critical benefits under new federal rules. Details and current status for all of EDGE’s priority bills are listed below.
We are now in the heart of the legislative session in Sacramento, with bills actively moving through policy and fiscal committees. Several of our supported bills have already cleared their first committee hurdles and are advancing toward critical deadlines.April 24th was the last day for policy committees to report any bills with state-cost implications to the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees. Those committees will then weigh each proposal at their Suspense hearings in Mid-May, deciding which measures proceed to the floor for a vote.
As a co-sponsor of SB 1054 (Cabaldon), the Better Data, Better Coverage, Better California Act, EDGE is asking for your support in urging the Legislature to pass this key legislation. SB 1054 would protect hundreds of thousands of Californians from losing Medi-Cal and CalFresh benefits while also strengthening the state’s workforce data infrastructure. The bill was heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee and now awaits action on the suspense file. Sign on in support here.
Budget season is also in full swing. While the Governor’s May Revision is due by May 14th, EDGE and our partners continue to elevate critical budget proposals to ensure they remain front and center. Our budget priorities include restoring Strong Workforce Program funding, advancing dual enrollment and Credit for Prior Learning, protecting access to food, health care, and child care, and maintaining funding for the Cradle-to-Career Data System. We will continue to engage with the Administration and Legislature as budget negotiations progress in the weeks ahead. Read our budget letter and sign on in support here.
Stay tuned for more updates as the session progresses and key hearings approach!
For more information about our positions on specific legislation, please contact Valerie Johnson, Policy and Advocacy Manager, at vjohnson@caedge.org.
EDGE Bill Positions
SB 1054 (Cabaldon) – Better Data, Better Coverage, Better California Act. This bill requires EDD to collect “hours worked” and “occupation” data through employer wage filings. This will help California better measure job quality, track wage growth, identify workforce shortages, and align education and workforce investments with real labor market demand. The bill will also support more timely and accurate benefit verifications for programs like Medi-Cal and CalFresh, helping eligible Californians keep the health coverage and nutrition assistance they need. Factsheet
Position: Co-Sponsor
Status: (as of 4/23/26): Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File
AB 1534 (Irwin) – Workforce Pell. This bill seeks to establish an approval process for short-term workforce programs seeking access to newly authorized federal Workforce Pell Grants that ensures program vetting and incorporates guardrails to protect students. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: (as of 4/23/26): Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 1006 (Padilla) – Cal Grant B. This bill indexes the amount awarded under the Cal Grant B to inflation to ensure that financial aid for non-tuition costs maintains its value over time, rather than falling further behind rising costs. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: (as of 4/23/26): Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File
AB 1871 (Fong) – Dual Enrollment. This bill would reform the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Dual Enrollment Program to remove student-level barriers and expand participation. This legislation is identical to the most recent version of AB 731 by Fong (Held in Suspense), which was previously supported by EDGE. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: (as of 4/23/26): Assembly Appropriations Committee
AB 2466 (Fong) – Strong Workforce Program. This bill would authorize regional consortia to use Strong Workforce Program funds to support paid work-based learning for students and employers, with the goal of increasing employability and expanding job opportunities in high-demand fields. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: (as of 4/23/26): Assembly Floor