Call to Action: Support Education & Workforce Development Bills Pending on the Governor’s Desk!
With the end of the 2025 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!
Please join us in our advocacy efforts and submit letters of support to the Office of Governor Newsom, urging him to sign these critical bills into law! Letters should be submitted as soon as possible via email to this email address: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov
Provided below is a list of pending bills with brief descriptions. Each includes direct links to the full bill text and fact sheets for a deeper dive. We have also provided letter templates that you can personalize to reflect your unique perspective before sending them to the Governor. In addition to submitting letters to the Governor, join us in social media advocacy! Click here to access ready-to-go X and LinkedIn posts.
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 Letter Template
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 Letter Template
AB 1098 (Fong) California Education Interagency Council. This bill would establish the California Education Interagency Council within the Government Operations Agency. Assembly Floor Analysis Letter Template
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 Letter Template
SB 638 (Padilla) California Education Interagency Council. This bill would require the California Education Interagency Council to recommend ways to strengthen career technical education, college and career pathways, and workforce development across the state. Senate Floor Analysis Letter Template
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