May marks a critical juncture in California’s legislative calendar, as both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees held Suspense File hearings to determine which bills would advance. Many of EDGE’s supported bills passed out of the Committee and are now moving forward to floor votes, while those held in suspense will not proceed this session. As the legislative process intensifies, EDGE remains committed to championing policies that expand access to education, training, and essential services, ensuring that Californians have the opportunities and support needed for equitable recovery and long-term success.
Below is a list of bills that EDGE has taken positions on, with notes highlighting potential impacts on Los Angeles. This is a dynamic list that will be updated as we continue to analyze legislation and as bills move forward, or not, this session. For more information about our positions on specific legislation, please contact Jason Henderson, Policy Analyst, at jhenderson@caedge.org.
View EDGE’s summary of the impact of the Governor’s 2025-2026 May Revise Budget on LA here.
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: Passed out of Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: AB 42 could provide financial relief to low-income families and students in LA by ensuring private scholarships and grants don’t jeopardize eligibility for CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits, helping students in LA County maintain essential support while pursuing education.
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 Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025); Two-Year Bill
Impact on LA: AB 95 could strengthen education-to-career pathways in LA by establishing a statewide council to align education and workforce programs with labor market needs. This would help local efforts, such as those of LAUSD, LACCD, and local workforce agencies, better coordinate their efforts, improve funding efficiency, and create clearer transitions from school to employment, especially in high-demand sectors like healthcare, technology, and green jobs. The bill could particularly benefit underserved communities, though its impact will depend on state funding and inclusive representation of the community in planning efforts.
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: Passed out of Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: AB 323 could improve workforce readiness in Los Angeles by enabling students in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), especially those from underserved communities, to gain hands-on experience and earn income through paid work-based learning opportunities. It would also support local employers in developing a more skilled and diverse talent pipeline. Successful implementation will require strong coordination among colleges, employers, and workforce agencies to ensure equitable access to high-quality placements.
AB 353 (Boerner) California Affordable Home Internet Act of 2025. This bill requires every California internet service provider (ISP) to offer eligible underserved households an affordable home internet service starting at $15 per month, enhancing digital equity efforts. Factsheet
Position: Support
Status: Passed out of Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: AB 353 could greatly improve digital access in LA by requiring internet providers to offer $15/month high-speed plans to low-income households, helping address the digital divide in underserved areas like South and East LA. This would benefit students, job seekers, and families who rely on the internet for education, employment, and essential services, especially following the end of federal broadband subsidies.
AB 537 (Ahrens) California College Promise for All. This bill seeks to change the eligibility requirements for the California College Promise program to allow community college students enrolled in fewer than 12 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: Passed out of Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: AB 537 could be pivotal for LA by expanding tuition-free access to thousands of part-time students currently excluded from the California College Promise program, significantly advancing educational equity and workforce development. With community colleges like L.A. City College and East L.A. College serving a high concentration of part-time students; this bill could save individuals up to $2,208 over two years in waived enrollment fees. By reducing financial barriers, AB 537 would increase college enrollment and retention, particularly in underserved communities, while supporting LA’s labor market by strengthening pathways to degrees and certificates in high-demand fields such as healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
AB 731 (Fong) College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) – 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: Passed out of Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: AB 731 offers significant benefits for LAUSD’s predominantly Latino, Black, and first-generation student population, as well as adult learners, by streamlining dual enrollment application processes and removing biased administrative barriers, aligning with LAUSD’s equity-driven college readiness goals. By authorizing both asynchronous and synchronous online CCAP courses, the bill provides flexible options for students balancing jobs and family obligations, addressing key transportation and scheduling challenges, particularly in East and South L.A. Additionally, enhanced CCAP data reporting will empower education partners like LAUSD, LACCD, and nonprofits to identify participation gaps and make informed decisions to scale equitable dual enrollment access citywide.
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: Died; Held in Assembly Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: If this bill had progressed, AB 988 would have established an advisory board, potentially aiding in the expansion of college access for LA high school students. By requiring schools to offer pathways for earning at least 12 college units by graduation, with a statewide dual enrollment framework in place by 2027, this would particularly benefit students from underserved communities, improving college readiness and reducing time to degree. It would also strengthen collaboration between LAUSD, LACCD, and local universities.
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: Pending in Assembly Education Committee (04/30/2025); Two-Year Bill
Impact on LA: AB 1122 presents a strategic opportunity to address longstanding educational inequities in Los Angeles by mandating dual enrollment in schools serving predominantly students of color, underserved individuals, and first-generation college students across LAUSD and neighboring districts. This initiative could enhance college readiness, reduce the time and cost of earning a degree, and align with LAUSD’s emphasis on career pathways, especially for students burdened by economic and familial responsibilities. By fostering partnerships between LAUSD, the LA County Office of Education, and LA community colleges, AB 1122 supports equity-driven graduation and college access strategies, offering early exposure to college-level coursework and helping to close postsecondary outcome gaps.
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: Passed out of Senate Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: SB 275 would help improve consistency in the LA workforce training ecosystem by preventing premature removal of training providers from the state’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and requiring biennial reviews with clear deadlines. This change would benefit many local organizations that rely on public workforce funds, especially in underserved communities, by ensuring program continuity and fair evaluation. It could also improve transparency and coordination between LA’s local workforce boards and the state.
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: Pending in Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee (04/23/2025); Two-Year Bill
Impact on LA: SB 575 could significantly enhance LA’s ability to develop inclusive and effective policies by filling critical gaps in earnings data and linking local educational pathways, especially for those not pursuing college. This would enable better-informed investments in K-12 education, workforce development, and alternative career pathways while supporting stronger coordination among LA school districts, community colleges, workforce boards, and nonprofits.
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: Passed out of Senate Appropriations Suspense File (05/23/2025)
Impact on LA: If enacted, SB 638 could significantly benefit LA by expanding career technical education (CTE) and workforce development programs, especially in high-poverty and high-unemployment areas such as South and East LA. The bill would channel targeted grants to local educational agencies, foster partnerships with employers and community colleges, and support apprenticeship and earn-and-learn opportunities, helping close opportunity gaps for underserved populations. A new statewide coordinating entity could streamline program alignment and funding, improving efficiency across LA’s complex education and workforce systems.