The Food Bank’s 2026 Legislative Agenda is our roadmap for using our voices to support policies and programs that make it easier for everyone to access food.
As cuts to CalFresh/SNAP from last summer’s H.R. 1 budget bill take effect,. we’re doing all we can to support our neighbors at risk of going hungry.
Read on for highlights of the bills we’ll be encouraging our elected officials to support this year, and to find out how you can be an anti-hunger advocate.
What is H.R.1? aka “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
The House Resolution 1 (H.R.1) budget bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” made a historic $200-billion cut to CalFresh/SNAP in addition to deep cuts to many social safety net programs. It reduces food assistance for individuals and families by slashing benefits and services, changing eligibility requirements, and more.
It reduces food assistance for individuals and families by slashing benefits and services, changing eligibility requirements, and more.
As of April 1, 2026, many humanitarian immigrants, such as refugees and asylees, are no longer eligible for CalFresh/SNAP.
Effective June 1, 2026, new H.R.1 “time limit” guidelines, limit some individuals to three months of food assistance every three years, putting an estimated 665,000 Californians at risk of losing food assistance.
AB2299 (Calderon) – California Anti-Hunger Response and Employment Training (CARET) Act
The California Anti-Hunger Response and Employment Training (CARET) Act establishes a safety net of state-funded food benefits for Californians who will lose CalFresh/SNAP benefits due to the H.R. 1 budget cuts.
More than 15,000 CalFresh/SNAP participants are expected to lose benefits in Contra Costa and Solano Counties alone, including:
- Humanitarian immigrants, such as refugees and asylees
- Seniors aged 55-64, parents of children over 14, neighbors experiencing homelessness, and others who must now show they are working 80 hours per month to maintain benefits.
CARET would protect benefits for these neighbors and reduce pressure on food banks to fill the gap. It will also provide neighbors with access to optional employment and training services.
CalFood Funding
The CalFood program helps food banks purchase, store, and distribute California-grown and produced food supporting not only food banks, but farmers and families across the state.
Over the past four years, CalFood has received $60 million annually, however, this funding has been reduced to $8 million in the current budget year — substantially reducing the amount of food we can provide to neighbors.
We are requesting ongoing funding of $60 million, and a one-time allocation of $50 million to address the harmful impacts of H.R.1.
SB 961 (Ashby) – College Student Eligibility
An estimated 50% of college students in California experience food insecurity, and the College Student Eligibility bill will make it easier for students to learn about the support available to them through CalFresh/SNAP.
The bill requires the California Student Aid Commission to add an “opt-in” for students to receive notifications about CalFresh when submitting grant applications. It also expands eligibility to include students who are part-time, postgraduate, and those participating in programs supporting foster youth, refugees, single parents, low-income, and first-generation students. This bill will enable all students to have access to nutrition.
Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA)
The Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program allows food banks to expand their local purchasing power, supporting small farms and producers in our area and providing fresh, nutritious food to families. The Food Bank, in partnership with other Bay Area food banks, has used this funding to purchase culturally relevant vegetables such as bok choy and collard greens.
The federal version of this program was abruptly cut by the USDA in 2025. Maintaining this program is critical for California’s economy, agricultural base, and local food systems. We are requesting $45 million to continue to support purchasing local food.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
We’re asking the federal government to maintain strong funding for TEFAP – which provides food banks with healthy food to distribute to neighbors in need, including much-needed items like frozen protein, and dairy products.
TEFAP food helps food banks stay resourceful, ensuring donor support can go further for our community.
Download the full 2026 Legislative Agenda for more hunger-fighting policies.