Call to Action: Support Education & Workforce Development Bills Pending in the Appropriations Committee!
Please join our advocacy efforts to support education and workforce bills pending before the Appropriations Committee! The hearing will take place Friday, May 23, 2025, upon adjournment of session (session begins at 9:00 am).
View the livestream Assembly hearing here and the Senate hearing here.
Provided below is a list of pending bills and brief descriptions, along with links to the full bill text and fact sheets. You will also find a link to advocacy tools with letter templates, sample emails, phone call scripts, and social media posts you can modify and use.
Follow us on Twitter/X and LinkedIn for the latest bill updates!
For questions, contact Jason Henderson, EDGE Policy Analyst, jhenderson@caedge.org.
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 Advocacy Tools
AB 95 (Fong) California Education Interagency Council. This bill establishes the California Education Interagency Council to improve coordination across California’s education and workforce systems. This proposal aims to strengthen college and career pathways by bringing together siloed systems and ensuring that investments are maximized. Factsheet Advocacy Tools
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 Advocacy Tools
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 Advocacy Tools
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 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 Advocacy Tools
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 Advocacy Tools
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 Advocacy Tools
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 Advocacy Tools
SB 638 (Padilla) California Education and Workforce Development Coordinating Entity. This bill establishes the California Education and Workforce Development Coordination Entity as the statewide body for career technical education and workforce development. The bill introduces statutory changes to GovOps aimed at creating a more equitable, integrated, and responsive education-to-employment system in California. Factsheet Advocacy Tools
We invite you to sign on to the California EDGE Coalition’s 2025-26 Policy Agenda and help us demonstrate strong, unified support for policy changes and investments that drive economic mobility in communities historically excluded from California’s prosperity.
Our agenda outlines a bold vision to:
- Empower Opportunity Youth through innovative education and workforce training opportunities.
- Expand Access to Education and Skills Training for underserved communities.
- Enhance Career Technical Education and Apprenticeships to meet the demands of today’s job market.
- Promote Digital Equity by ensuring access to technology and online learning opportunities.
- Leverage Data for Smarter Policy Decisions that close equity gaps and guide strategic investments.
Join us by signing on here. By signing on, you’ll strengthen our collective voice as we engage with the California Legislature, administration, and key decision-makers to champion these shared priorities. You can view the full policy agenda here.
Together, we can advance shared prosperity throughout California. For questions or more information, please contact Jason Henderson, EDGE Policy Analyst, at jhenderson@caedge.org