AB 42

  • California Assembly Bill
  • 2025-2026 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Assembly
  • Passed Assembly Jun 03, 2025
  • Passed Senate Sep 04, 2025
  • Signed by Governor Oct 07, 2025

CalWORKs: CalFresh: eligibility: income and resource exclusions.

Abstract

Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds to eligible states through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Under existing law, certain types of payments received by recipients of aid under the CalWORKs program, including, among others, an award or scholarship provided by a public or private entity to, or on behalf of, a dependent child are exempt from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility and aid amount. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the eligibility of households to be determined to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing federal regulation provides states with the option to exclude, for purposes of calculating a household's income under SNAP, any type of income that the state excludes when determining eligibility or benefits for TANF cash assistance or certain medical assistance. This bill would exempt any grant, award, scholarship, loan, or fellowship benefit that is provided to any assistance unit member for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education, except as specified, from consideration as income for purposes of determining CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility or grant amounts, and would also exempt those funds as resources for purposes of determining CalWORKs eligibility or grant amounts. The bill would also require, to the extent permitted by federal law, regulation, or guidance, or a waiver thereof, the State Department of Social Services to exercise a federal option to exclude, for purposes of calculating a household's income under CalFresh, any type of income that the department excludes when determining eligibility or benefits for CalWORKs and certain medical assistance. This bill would require the department to implement these provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction until regulations are adopted. By expanding the scope of eligibility for CalWORKs and CalFresh, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Sponsors (1)

Votes


Actions


Oct 07, 2025

California State Legislature

Approved by the Governor.

California State Legislature

Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 430, Statutes of 2025.

Sep 15, 2025

California State Legislature

Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.

Sep 08, 2025

Assembly

Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3022.).

Sep 04, 2025

Assembly

In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

Senate

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 2520.).

Sep 02, 2025

Senate

Ordered to special consent calendar.

Aug 29, 2025

Senate

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

Jul 14, 2025

Senate

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  • Referral-Committee
APPR APPR. suspense file.

Jul 01, 2025

Senate

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Jun 23, 2025

Senate

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  • Amendment-Introduction
  • Amendment-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on HUMAN S.

Jun 18, 2025

Senate

Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on HUMAN S.

Jun 04, 2025

Senate

In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

Jun 03, 2025

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1965.)

May 27, 2025

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

May 23, 2025

Assembly

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).

Apr 09, 2025

Assembly

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  • Referral-Committee
APPR APPR. suspense file.

Mar 26, 2025

Assembly

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Feb 27, 2025

Assembly

Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on HUM. S. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

Feb 25, 2025

Assembly

Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on REV. & TAX.

Feb 24, 2025

Assembly

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.

Feb 03, 2025

Assembly

Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on REV. & TAX.

Dec 03, 2024

Assembly

From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.

Dec 02, 2024

Assembly

Read first time. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
AB42 HTML
12/02/24 - Introduced PDF
02/24/25 - Amended Assembly PDF
06/23/25 - Amended Senate PDF
09/10/25 - Enrolled PDF
10/07/25 - Chaptered PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
03/21/25- Assembly Human Services PDF
04/08/25- Assembly Appropriations PDF
05/28/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF
06/27/25- Senate Human Services PDF
07/11/25- Senate Appropriations PDF
08/29/25- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF
09/04/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF

Sources

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