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Assembly committee advances bill to connect students to CalFresh through Cal Grant application
Summary
SB 761 would add a CalFresh opt‑in notification to the Cal Grant application and expand program eligibility rules; the Assembly Higher Education Committee passed the bill to the Human Services Committee after supporters described barriers students face in applying for food assistance.
Sen. Lena Ashby advanced SB 761, the CalFresh for Students Act, out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee on a vote to send the measure to the Human Services Committee. The bill would add an opt‑in on the Cal Grant/Cal Grant application so students who may be eligible for CalFresh are notified and assisted in applying. Supporters said the change would reduce paperwork barriers and increase benefit uptake among food‑insecure college students.
Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that millions of California college students face food insecurity and that application complexity prevents many from getting benefits they qualify for. AJ Johnson of California Competes said research shows students who are food insecure “are 43% less likely to graduate,” and argued the bill would smooth a known obstacle to completion. Student and campus witnesses described problems navigating multiple systems and stigma around applying for assistance.
What the bill would do: SB 761 would (1) add a mechanism so students who complete the Cal Grant application can be notified they may be eligible for CalFresh; (2) expand the list of programs of study that count toward student eligibility for CalFresh; and (3) authorize data‑sharing and follow‑up procedures so students receive assistance to complete CalFresh enrollment. The panel accepted committee amendments to clarify implementation and moved the bill forward.
Support and testimony: Witnesses from the University of California, California State University, Community College representatives, student groups and hunger‑relief organizations testified in support. A graduate student speaker, Christopher Anthony of UCLA, said CalFresh “has positively impacted my ability to learn” and urged passage. Mario Guerrero of UC reported the university had about $300 million in canceled grants (testimony describing federal cuts) and voiced institutional concern about student supports.
Opposition and concerns: The transcript records no organized opposition in committee. Committee members asked technical questions about program implementation and about how outreach would work for students in different programs; supporters and staff described the opt‑in as low‑cost outreach embedded in existing application flows.
Next steps: The committee voted to pass SB 761 as amended to the Human Services Committee (motion recorded). Vote recorded in committee: passed to Human Services Committee (see provenance).
