Call to Action: Support Education & Workforce Development Bills Pending on the Governor’s Desk!
With the end of the 2026 legislative session, several education and workforce development bills are now headed to the Governor for approval. With your support and action, these bills are one step closer to becoming state law!
While EDGE’s coalition letters have already been submitted, there is still time to advocate! Letters can continue to be submitted as long as the Governor has not yet taken action on a bill. Feel free to use our letter templates and LinkedIn posts to continue your outreach. We will update the bills below as their status changes.
Click here to access ready-to-go LinkedIn posts, and here for template letters of support.
Education and Workforce Bills Pending on the Governor’s Desk:
AB 1534 (Irwin) – Workforce Pell: Would create a state approval process for programs seeking access to federal Workforce Pell Grants and add new local workforce board training requirements.
AB 1871 (Fong) – Dual Enrollment: Would reform the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Dual Enrollment Program to remove student-level barriers and expand participation.
AB 1980 (Caloza) – Construction Apprenticeships Grant Program: Would establish the Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeships Grant Program (ERiCA) to expand access to construction careers for women, nonbinary individuals, and other underrepresented groups.
AB 2466 (Fong) – Strong Workforce Program: 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.
SB 1340 (Richardson) – Small Business Contracts: This bill supports small businesses by improving transparency and follow-through in state contracting, helping them access and benefit from contracting opportunities and contribute to California’s economy.
And follow us on LinkedIn for the latest bill updates!
For questions, please contact Valerie Johnson, Policy & Advocacy Manager, at vjhonson@caedge.org.
Support EDGE’s 2026 Policy Priorities and Engage in Advocacy!
EDGE invites partners to sign on in support of our 2026 Policy Priorities and/or engage in collective advocacy efforts advancing economic mobility for Californians who have been historically excluded from the state’s prosperity.
Our 2026 Policy Priorities advance a bold, equity-centered vision to:
Advance Equitable Pathways to Quality Jobs by connecting Californians to coordinated education, training, credentials, and apprenticeships that lead to family-sustaining careers.
Invest in the Social Determinants of Work by reducing barriers to accessing childcare, housing, transportation, health care, digital access, and financial aid so more people can participate in education and employment.
Strengthen Data and Policy Alignment for Economic Mobility by leveraging integrated data and cross-agency coordination to drive equity-centered investments and statewide accountability.
Protect and Sustain California’s Workforce Infrastructure by defending core education and workforce funding and supporting sustainable strategies that strengthen jobs, small businesses, and economic resilience.
By completing our collective advocacy form, your organization can:
Express interest in signing on in support of the EDGE 2026 Policy Priorities, and/or
Indicate interest in participating in advocacy opportunities, including legislative meetings, coalition letters, budget advocacy, and other coordinated efforts aligned with EDGE priorities.
Signing on in support and engaging in advocacy strengthens a unified coalition voice as EDGE works with the California Legislature, Administration, and key decision-makers to advance shared priorities.
View the full policy priorities here.
For questions or more information, please contact Anna Alvarado, Chief of Policy and Government Affairs, at aalvarado@caedge.org.