On August 18, the Legislature returned from summer recess, where members will shift their focus toward fiscal bills and end-of-session negotiations. While on recess, legislators spent their time in their respective districts, fielding meetings with constituents and addressing local needs. With only a few weeks remaining in the 2025 Legislative Session, this is a pivotal period for advancing priority legislation and influencing outcomes.
Visit our Take Action page to submit letters and access other advocacy tools to help advance education and workforce bills, pending in the Appropriations Committee Suspense File. The Suspense File hearing will be taking place Friday, August 29.
Bills that pass the Appropriations Committee will head to their respective chamber floors. The Legislature must pass all bills by Friday, September 13, the constitutional deadline for the 2025 session. After the session adjourns on September 13, the Governor has until October 13 to sign or veto bills. Advocacy engagement during this period remains essential. Stay tuned for additional updates and ways to engage in advocacy efforts as we prepare for the legislative end-of-session!
Below is an official list of bills that EDGE has taken positions on. For more information about our positions on specific legislation, please contact Jason Henderson, Policy Analyst, at jhenderson@caedge.org.
EDGE Bill Positions
AB 42 (Bryan) Simplifying CalWORKs/CalFresh. This bill would ensure all student grants, loans, fellowships, and scholarships are excluded from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients, helping underserved Californians access the full support needed to complete education and training programs. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File (08/29/25)
AB 95 (Fong) California Education Interagency Council. This bill would establish the California Education Interagency Council to improve coordination across California’s education and workforce systems. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Held in the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025); Two-Year Bill
AB 323 (Fong) Strong Workforce Program Fund Authorization. This bill would authorize Strong Workforce Program (SWP) funds to support students, employers, or both, in offering paid work-based learning opportunities that enhance employability and job placement. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File (08/29/2025)
AB 537 (Ahrens) California College Promise for All. This bill seeks to make changes to the eligibility requirements for the California College Promise program to allow community college students enrolled in 9 or more units to qualify for the enrollment fee waiver. This proposal ensures more students can access the financial resources needed to succeed. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File (08/29/2025)
AB 731 (Fong) College and Career Access Pathways – Dual Enrollment Partnerships. This bill removes key barriers to make CCAP dual enrollment more accessible and equitable for all students. It simplifies the application process, eliminates the need for principal approval, and offers flexibility on the 15-unit cap. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File (08/29/2025)
AB 988 (Fong) Dual Enrollment Advisory Board. This bill establishes the Dual Enrollment Advisory Board to develop recommendations on a statewide dual enrollment framework designed to provide universal access to dual enrollment courses to all public high school students. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File (05/23/2025); Two-Year Bill
AB 1122 (Bryan) Universal Access to Dual Enrollment. This bill seeks to expand equitable access to dual enrollment opportunities by ensuring that all school districts offer a dual enrollment pathway that leads to a degree, credential, certificate, or transfer. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Held in Assembly Education Committee (04/30/2025); Two-Year Bill
SB 275 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Eligible Training Provider List. This bill streamlines the eligibility process for training providers on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) by shifting from annual to biannual documentation, aligning with federal standards. This reduces administrative barriers, keeps programs accessible during review, and supports workforce development in California. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending on the Assembly Floor
SB 575 (Laird) California Cradle-to-Career Data System. This bill will allow the Cradle-to-Career Data System’s Governing Board to request limited earnings and tax credit information from the Franchise Tax Board, aiming to enhance understanding of workforce dynamics and economic trends and aid in closing critical gaps in earnings data. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Held in Senate Revenue & Taxation Committee (04/23/2025); Two-Year Bill
SB 638 (Padilla) Education and Workforce Coordinating Entity. This bill would establish the California Education and Workforce Development Coordinating Entity within the Government Operations Agency. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File (08/29/2025)