California State Budget, Legislature & The Capitol

California Budget Updates



To support our field keeping up with budget related information, TFC will host updates and information on our Budget Page. any questions.

Upcoming Child Care Budget Hearings:

• THIS WEEK! Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - Joint Hearing - Assembly Budget Subcommittee 2 on Human Services & Budget Subcommittee 3 on Education Finance @ 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol Room 444 (may change)
• Department of Social Services
• Education
• The State of Preschool and Child Care
• Universal Transitional Kindergarten Enrollment and Ratios
• Child Care and Preschool
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
• Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) State Plan Update
• Quality Plan Overview
• Fire Code for Child Care Facilities Oversight
• Department of Social Services Child Care Budget Change Proposals
• Hearing Materials
• April 23 Agenda
• Budget Change Proposal: Child Care Development Fund Facility Savings to Authorized Positions
• Budget Change Proposal: Child Care Policy, Program, Administrative, and Support Staffing Needs

Click here to go to TFC's Budget Page.

TFC's Featured Bill of the Week

AB 753 (Garcia) Childcare: facility licensure: teacher requirements.

Author: Assemblymember Robert Garcia

Assemblymember Robert Garcia is a dedicated educator, public servant, and proud son of immigrants, whose life has been shaped by a deep commitment to excellence in education. Raised by his hardworking parents, who made significant sacrifices to prioritize his education, Robert learned the value of perseverance and hard work from an early age. His mother, who was just 17 when she had him, and his father, who was unable to complete his education beyond the third grade, instilled in him the importance of academic achievement. At 17, Robert became the first in his family to graduate from high school.

Garcia’s academic journey continued at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, followed by a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California (USC). His passion for education was further ignited during his time volunteering as a mentor to high school students from under-resourced schools in Los Angeles, many of whom faced significant educational challenges. This experience motivated him to pursue a career as a teacher.

With over 20 years of experience in education, Garcia has served as both a classroom teacher and a school administrator. His leadership has helped guide schools through transformative changes, resulting in improved outcomes for students. As a math and science educator, Robert’s commitment to excellence has inspired countless students to pursue their academic and career goals.

Bill Overview: Works to enhance workforce pathways for early career ECE professionals by allowing Title 5 programs to employ staff aspiring to become Associate Teachers as Interim Associate Teachers and would give them two years to obtain the appropriate permit through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing when certain conditions are met. This person would not be the teacher of record for a classroom but would be allowed to supervise children. 

The Interim Associate Teacher position would relieve some of the staffing crisis burden on programs as they will be able to staff more classrooms therefore enabling centers to operate at full capacity and serve the max number of children. This would also help to reduce barriers and incentivize career development for early career ECE professionals. For more information please see the updated factsheet below.

How to Support a Bill

As bills move through California’s legislative process, they are presented to and heard by several committees who may recommend amendments and vote on whether or not the bill should continue through the legislative process.

As legislators decide how to vote, they consider public opinion as expressed through position letters. To support a bill, you can submit your letter through the California Legislature Position Letter Portal.

If you have any questions, contact TFC staff!

Important Dates, Deadlines,

Hearings, and Bills

Dates & Deadlines:

• April 21, 2025 - Legislature reconvenes from Spring Recess.
• May 2, 2025 - Last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committees fiscal bills introduced in their house.

Upcoming Bill Hearings:

• SEN Appropriations Committee - Monday, April 21st, 2025 @ 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200
• SB 271 (Reyes) - Public postsecondary education: students with dependent children: childcare services, resources, and programs
• SB 290 (Smallwood Cuevas) CalWORKS
• SB 778 (Limon) Migrant childcare and development programs
• SB 792 (Arreguin) - Childcare: state medium income threshold
• SEN Human Services Committee - Monday, April 21st, 2025 @ 3 p.m. or upon adjournment of Session - 1021 O Street, Room 2200
• SB 99 (Blakespear) Family childcare homes: United States Armed Forces.
• SB 33 (Cortese) Homeless pupils: California Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience (SOAR) Guaranteed Income Act
• ASM Revenue and Taxation Committee - Monday, April 21st, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 126
• AB 1428 (Muratsuchi) California Affordable Childcare Act: Personal Income Tax and Corporation Tax
• ASM Appropriations Committee - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 @ 9 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100
• AB 636 (Ortega) Medi-Cal: diapers

For next week's bill hearings and when letters are due, please visit TFC's State Legislation Page.

Bills to Watch:

The following bills of interest have been introduced. You can follow these bills and more on TFC's State Legislation page on our website. Please note that TFC does not formally support nor oppose any bill listed unless explicitly stated.

• AB 564 (Haney): Cannabis: excise tax: rate increase repeal.

Legislative Resources:

• See the full 2025-26 Legislative Calendar here.
• Visit TFC's Legislation Page to find a comprehensive list of bills of interest.
• Visit TFC's Budget Page for full budget bill details, as well as budget hearing video archive links.
• Click here to view all the bills that the Assembly and Senate introduced this legislative year.
• Click here to view legislative committee information, rules, and position letter deadlines.

Did You Know?

Child Care Q&A's

NOTE: If you have a question you would like answered or researched, please email.

Question: Will child care provider Cost of Care monthly payments continue?

Answer: Yes. Enacted in the 2024-25 Budget and referenced to continue in the 2025-26 Proposed Budget, this monthly amount will continue.

Federal Update

Resources for Advocating Against Federal Cuts to HeadStart

HeadStart CA - Take Action!

• NHSA Congressional Letter for the general public
• NHSA Presidential Letter for parents / alumni of Head Start
• Unbranded (insert your logo) printable flyer with QR codes for the above
• NHSA Social Media toolkit
• KQED article for sharing

National HeadStart Association - Take Action!

"An April 16 Washington Post article reveals that the White House’s budget proposal would eliminate funding for Head Start.

Eliminating funding for Head Start would be catastrophic! To children. To families. To communities. 

With that in mind, we need Congress to hear from every member of the Head Start community that they must oppose any effort to eliminate or dramatically cut funding for Head Start. Yes, it’s a tough, uncertain time, but Head Start is too important for each of us not to do everything we can to protect it! And the only way we will be successful is if everyone does their part.

Take two minutes to urge your members of Congress to protect Head Start and oppose any effort to eliminate or disrupt this life-changing program that strengthens families and boosts local economies."

Education Next - "Is Head Start Worth Saving?

"Benefits to parents, when they occur, also show up quickly. In analyses of the Head Start Impact Study, Cuiping Schiman found that Head Start let 7 percent of mothers switch from part-time to full-time work, and Terri Sabol and Lindsay Chase-Lansdale found that Head Start helped 16 to 20 percent of parents who had already started college finish a degree or certificate within four years. Both benefits were limited to parents whose child started Head Start at age three. Note that benefits to parents are another possible explanation for sleeper effects, since parents who are more educated and more advanced in their careers may be better positioned to help their children in young adulthood."

Center for American Progress (CAP) - "5 Things To Know About Head Start"

"Head Start operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Tribal nations, and several U.S. territories. There are approximately 1,600 Head Start grantees, including school districts, local governments, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations. Public and private nonprofit and for-profit grantees are based in 88 percent of congressional districts and offer Head Start services in local communities across the country.

To search the data directly by state or congressional district, click here to use the interactive tool pictured below.

Although Head Start provides families with a wide range of comprehensive services beyond just child care, its programs are undeniably a critical part of child care supply across the country, especially in rural communities. A 2018 analysis from the Center for American Progress found that Head Start programs represented 22 percent of the overall child care slots in rural communities, including available home-based care. Approximately 46 percent of all funded Head Start slots are in rural congressional districts, compared with 32 percent in suburban districts and 22 percent in urban districts; and 96 percent of rural congressional districts have at least one Head Start grantee, compared with 83 percent of suburban districts and 81 percent of urban districts. Without Head Start, many rural communities would have no licensed child care center."

Click here to read the most recent weekly federal update from the National Women's Law Center.

Federal Government Update

Congress in on recess in their home districts until April 28th. 

⇒ Take Action: 2025 Congressional Recess Power Building Toolkit (C3) - Google Docs (Child Care for Every Family Network)

URGENT - Escalating Attacks on Head Start & Early Head Start

We recently learned that the Trump administration seeks to slash budgets deeply for federal programs, including a roughly one-third cut in discretionary spending by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The HHS budget draft, known as a “passback,” offers the first complete look at President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget's health and social service priorities as it prepares to send its 2026 fiscal year budget request to Congress. It shows how the Trump administration plans to reshape the federal agency.

The 64-page document calls for the elimination of Head Start. More: Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump health program cuts - The Washington Post

Importantly, the President’s Budget is a request to Congress who must ultimately decide annual FY26 appropriations. However, we have seen repeatedly that Congressional republicans have been unwilling thus far to stand in the way of the President’s agenda.

We also know this is not the first time the administration has attacked Head Start. In less than 100 days, we have seen funding freezes, mass firings at the national and regional levels, withholding of appropriated funds, and growing uncertainty about Head Start’s future in a growing number of communities. Most recently: Head Start funding lags by nearly $1 billion this year, causing some preschool closures | AP News

• Sunnyside WA Head Start shuts down after funding delays | Tri-City Herald
• Whitehall Head Start set to close in June due to federal funding changes
• Warren County Head Start could shut down this month amid federal funding delay

NOW is the time to ensure that this critical lifeline for nearly 800,000 children, their families, and communities is not damaged further. We must ensure that members of Congress reject the President’s budget AND demand that the Trump Administration reinstate fired employees and reopen ACF regional offices.

⇒ Urge your members of Congress to fight for and prioritize funding for Head Start and demand that the Trump Administration reinstate fired employees and reopen ACF regional offices.

This attack is also not a surprise - we’ve long know that there has been a decades-long campaign against Head Start, culminating in Project 2025, which the President has been implementing piece by piece. We cannot treat this fight as just another partisan battle, but as the real threat to the existence of Head Start that it is.

***

Just to remind you, Congress is conducting two separate budget processes. They are concurrently working on annual appropriations for FY26, which determines discretionary yearly spending (e.g., CCDBG, Head Start), and a reconciliation bill to enact President Trump’s agenda, which affects mandatory spending (e.g., Medicaid, CCES, and SNAP).

Reconciliation/Budget Resolution 

What this means and why it matters:

• Using a special legislative process called reconciliation that requires only 50 votes in the Senate, Congressional Republicans plan to enact massive policy changes along party lines. Republican majorities in both chambers are planning to eliminate and cut funding to programs that families, children, and early educators rely on to pay for harsh immigration policies and tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. With less revenue available, CCDBG, Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, the Social Services Development Block Grant (SSBG), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and many others remain at risk.
• What proposed federal budget cuts and policy changes will cost children | First Focus on Children
• Cuts to SSBG, TANF Would Eliminate Child Care for 40K Children, Disrupt Care for Millions More | CLASP
• How Would Children Fare Under Proposed Cuts to Federal Spending? | Urban Institute
• We know that federal funding for programs serving our communities is woefully inadequate, and further cuts would be devastating.

What’s next:

• The House and Senate have given different instructions to their respective committees, and must resolve their differences before getting a bill signed into law. 
• GOP leaders have delayed a reckoning, but they have not avoided one. Resolving their budget disputes could prolong the next steps in the reconciliation process—and that could be a big problem for the entire enterprise.
• The passage of time alone does not guarantee a reconciliation push fails: it’s how people use that time.
• Bottom line: the longer Republicans in Congress take to move their reconciliation package, the more time there is to defeat it.
• Please continue to speak out about the critical importance of maintaining access to federal funding, not cutting funding for children, families, & educators, and increasing those funds through annual appropriations.
• More on reconciliation: Budget Reconciliation Talking Points and Background (Child Care for Every Family Network)

Executive Actions

On April 1st, federal regional office staff arrived at work only to find out that they were locked out of their offices and terminated. Five of the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) regional offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and New York, which serve 23 states and territories were closed without notice. 

Take Action: Tell Congress: Save Head Start for Families (NWLC)

More:

• We Led Federal Agencies. Here Are 10 Ways That President Trump and Elon Musk’s Attacks on Federal Workers Will Hurt You - The Century Foundation
• Executive Action Watch | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• EducationCounsel - Executive Actions Chart.docx - Google Docs
• Attacks on the Federal Workforce: Risks to Women, Children, and Families - National Women's Law Center

ICYMI: Update - Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

From Home Grown:

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), created by Congress in 1968, is an essential federal support for young children. The Child Nutrition Act, the law that authorizes CACFP, was last reauthorized in 2010. During the pandemic, temporary investments and policy flexibilities made a difference but those interventions expired in 2023. 

The early childhood workforce in Early Head Start, Head Start, child care centers, family child care programs, and at-risk afterschool programs are working tirelessly to ensure children do not go hungry and continue to have opportunities to learn and grow, all while one out of three child care providers themselves is food insecure.

News: CACFP bills reintroduced April 10, 2025! 

We are grateful for the leadership of Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Smith (D-MN) and Representatives Bonamici (D-OR), Mackenzie (R-PA), and Landsman (D-OH), and for the support of more than 100 organizations endorsing the bills. 

In this toolkit you will find: 

• Quick guide to all four CACFP bills 
• Bill summaries and links to bill text
• Online action center links coming soon!
• Organization endorsements ←more than 100 groups!
• Endorsement form for national, state and local organizations ←you can still join us!
• Original cosponsors in the House and Senate updated April 8
• Sample social media posts
• How Does CACFP Work?

Most Viewed Bills of the Week:

1.H.R.22 [119th] SAVE Act

2.H.R.8281 [118th] SAVE Act

3.H.Con.Res.14 [119th] Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

4.H.R.10127 [118th] Restoring Trade Fairness Act

5.H.R.1526 [119th] NORRA of 2025

6.H.R.1332 [118th] Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act

7.H.R.2315 [119th] Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025

8.H.R.561 [119th] Overtime Pay Tax Relief Act of 2025

9.H.Res.294 [119th] Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 18) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions”; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 28) disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications”; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1526) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the authority of district courts to provide injunctive relief, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 22) to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.

10.H.R.482 [119th] No Tax on Tips Act

Upcoming CDSS Events

Contractor Connections: Upcoming Training Webinar – Parent Appeals

Greetings Child Care and Development Executive Directors and Program Directors,

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Child Care and Development Division (CCDD), will host a webinar on Parent Appeals on April 23, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Click here to register for this webinar.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar.

CDSS – CDMIS Update: Webinar Announcement: CDSS - CDMIS Fiscal Year 2025-26 Updates

Attention: Program Directors, Executive Directors, Active CDMIS Users, and Software Vendors

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Development Management Information System (CDMIS) Support Team will host a webinar on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to discuss critical updates that will impact reporting for the July 2025 reporting period, with changes taking effect August 1, 2025. 

Attendance is highly recommended, as several updates will directly impact the CDD-801A Electronic File Upload process and the Copy Forward functionality from June to July 2025. If these changes are not implemented by August 1, 2025, agencies will not be able to upload their files, including those formatted using the old file specifications. 

This webinar is designed for CDSS contracted agencies reporting in CDSS – CDMIS under the following contract types:  

• CalWORKs Stage Two Child Care (C2AP) 
• CalWORKs Stage Three Child Care (C3AP) 
• Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) 
• Migrant Alternative Payment Program (CMAP) 
• General Child Care and Development (CCTR) 
• Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG) 
• Children with Severe Disabilities (CHAN) 
• Family Child Care Home Education Networks (CFCC) 

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89662383766

CDSS & CDE Information & Updates

Management Bulletin 25-03 and Frequently Asked Questions: Serving Two-Year-Old Children in California State Preschool Programs

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of all California State Preschool Programs

The California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education Division (EED) has released Management Bulletin (MB) 25-03 and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to serving two-year-old children in California State Preschool Program (CSPP). Senate Bill (SB) 163 was signed by the Governor on July 2, 2024, and it allows, but does not require, CSPP contractors to enroll two-year-old children through June 30, 2027. With this, statute specifies that two-year-old children that are enrolled prior to June 30, 2027, may continue to be served in the program. This MB supersedes all email directives previously sent by the CDE on this topic.

The guidance found in this MB and the FAQs cover examples of age categories and definitions, eligibility, priority, ratio requirements for programs that choose to serve two-year-old children, diapering and toileting practices for serving young children in CSPP, licensing requirements, assessment requirements, and resources for contractors.

MB 25-03 can be accessed on the CDE MB 25-03 web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2503.asp.

The CDE Serving Two-Year-Old Children in CSPP FAQ web page can be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/serving2yofaqs.asp.

CCLD has released two new Provider Information Notices: PIN 25-05-CCP & PIN 25-06-CCP 

Primary Audience:  ALL CHILD CARE CENTER LICENSEES AND PROVIDERS 

Summary:  

PIN 25-05-CCP announces a Child Care Licensing Program webpage for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to assist child care facilities and providers impacted by the January 2025 fires in. The FAQ webpage provides information on how to pursue a waiver to certain licensing or exemption from licensure requirements so providers may continue providing child care in the areas impacted by the fires.

PIN 25-06-CCP provides resources and guidance to assist child care licensees in providing care and supervision to the children of immigrant families.

Electronic copy of the PINs are available for viewing/downloading by clicking on the following links:  

• PIN 25-05-CCP - FAQs Additional Information Regarding Emergency Waivers
• PIN 25-06-CCP - Resources for Immigrant Population

Previous PINs are available at the CCLD website. 

If you have any questions regarding this PIN, please contact your local Child Care Regional Office

Community Care Licensing Update: Sharing information from the California Department of Public Health Office concerning measles

Measles Cases Continue to Increase: Ensure Students are Up to Date

Recent measles cases reported in California and the outbreak in Texas underscore the critical importance of vaccination against measles, a highly contagious viral disease. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides the best protection against this disease and its potentially serious complications. Please make sure that all your students have received the recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine. If there are students that were admitted conditionally with just one MMR dose, now is the perfect time to follow up (letters for parents are available in multiple languages). These students can get their second MMR vaccine as early as 4 weeks after their first dose. Two MMR vaccines provide 97% protection against measles and its complications. More information is available at shotsforschool.org.

Child Care Providers, we want to hear about your experience with the CalWORKs Child Care program!

Join our focus group to share your thoughts on how to make the program better for families and child care providers. We’re looking to hear from Family Child Care Home providers and Child Care Center directors and staff who handle subsidy payments, and who have served children receiving CalWORKs subsidies. 

If you are selected:

• You’ll join a 60-minute online focus group with six other child care providers to talk about your experiences in May.
•  You may be compensated $125 for the time and expense of participation.

Here is what you need to do to join:

To apply to participate in the focus groups access the Child Care Provider Focus Group Application by April 15.

For more information:

Visit our CalWORKs Child Care Consolidation Webpage

Email: CWconsolidation@dss.ca.gov

Parents, we want to hear about your experience with the CalWORKs Child Care program! 

Join our focus group to share your thoughts on how to make the program better for everyone. We’re looking for parents from different parts of the state who’ve been in the program for different lengths of time. This will help us understand what works well and what areas of the program are not working.

If you are selected:

• You’ll join a 60-minute online focus group with six other child care parents to talk about your experiences in May.
•  You'll be eligible to get $125 for the time and expense of participation.

Here is what you need to do to join:

To apply to participate in the focus groups access the Parent Focus Group Application by April 15. 

For more information:

Visit our CalWORKs Child Care Consolidation Webpage

Email: CWconsolidation@dss.ca.gov

Social Media Spotlight

Follow TFC on social media!

We would love for you to tag us in your posts and use the hashtag #TFC2025

On Our Reading List

Information & Updates

Happening This Week, April 21- April 25, 2025:

Tuesday, April 22nd:

• TFC Weekly Member Connections Meeting @ 1:00 pm. Email to register.

Wednesday, April 23rd:

• Contractor Connections: Upcoming Training Webinar – Parent Appeals from 10:00am-12:00pm. Register Here.

Friday, April 25th:

• CDMIS Update: Webinar Announcement: CDSS - CDMIS Fiscal Year 2025-26 Updates, from 10:00am-11:30am. Join Here.

Thriving Families California is committed to supporting our field with a coordinated calendar. Click here to see our current calendar of events. If you have an event to add, email us and it will be added.

The Weekly Good

An uplifting way to start the week, for those of us who need a break from the chaos that is our lives.

During this time where we are all stressed, it would be great to celebrate the positive. Each week we will celebrate everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening in our field. 

Thank You to Our Generous 2024-25 Thriving Families CA (TFC) Champions!

We appreciate the tremendous support from our 2024-25 TFC Champion Members. These members have stepped up, making it possible for TFC to support our field with more tailored support of individual organizations, ability to pay for legal, advocacy and social media supports, enhanced regional trainings, improving data collection, and more.