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. If you have information you would like to have hosted, click here.

ICYMI: New trailer bills - August 2026 end-of-session budget package

• AB 113/SB 113: Budget Act of 2026 (Budget Bill Jr. [budget bill amendments])
• AB 114/SB 114: Budget Act of 2025 (“Prior Year” Budget Bill Jr.)
• AB 133/SB 133: Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill
• AB 190/SB 190: Early care and education
• Click here for a full list of budget trailer bills

Visit our TFC Budget Page for a more in-depth summary of changes.

TFC's Highlighted Bills

SCR 186 (Grayson) Thriving Families CA Foundation

Honors Thriving Families CA (TFC) Foundation’s upcoming 50th anniversary, recognizing five decades of statewide leadership and advocacy on behalf of community-based organizations serving California’s working families.

Status: Signed by the Governor on August 24, 2026

SB 902 (Grayson) Childcare: Electronic signatures

Authorizes the use of electronic signatures in child care programs, aligning child care processes with longstanding practices already used in county-administered programs and everyday life.

Status: On the Governor's Desk for Signature Consideration

Click here to sign the SB 902 (Grayson) coalition support letter

• 30+ organizations signed on in support

Click here for a template support letter

• Please email your letter to: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov and cc: mariana.barcenas@sen.ca.gov 

Have questions about this bill or the support materials? Please email mckenzie@thrivingfamilies-ca.org

AB 2258 (Ávila Farías) Keeping Dollars in Child Care

Maximizes use of existing child care funds to serve families, ensuring child care dollars that are unspent at the end of a fiscal year are redirected back to child care programs rather than going back to the General Fund.

Status: Held in the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill will not be moving forward in the 2025-26 legislative session.

AB 2314 (Rogers) "The Child Care Stability and Modernization Act"

Maximizes use of existing child care funds to serve families, ensuring dollars are spent efficiently to reduce delays and reach families waiting to receive care.

Status: On the Governor's Desk for Signature Consideration

Click here to sign the AB 2314 coalition support letter

Click here for a template support letter

• Please email your letter to: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov and cc: tricia.sarmiento@asm.ca.gov 

Have questions about this bill or the support materials? Please email mckenzie@thrivingfamilies-ca.org

SB 1051 (Menjivar) Emergency Child Care Bridge: No Wrong Door

Permits Bridge Navigators to submit referrals to county welfare agencies to approve vouchers for an eligible foster child as another trusted partner and strengthen the original intent of the Bridge program.

Status: On the Governor's Desk for Signature Consideration

Click here for a template support letter

• Please email your letter to: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov and cc: kimberly.fuentes@sen.ca.gov 

Have questions about this bill or the support materials? Please email JTerry@ccrcca.org.

TFC's Featured Bill of the Week

AB 1981 (Aguiar-Curry) The True Cost of Childcare Act

Author: Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry

In November 2016, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry was elected to the California Assembly to represent the 4th District, which includes all of Napa, Lake, Yolo, and Colusa Counties and part of Sonoma County.

Cecilia grew up in western Yolo County and has long served her community. After going to school and working in the Bay Area for several years, she moved back to her hometown of Winters, where she almost immediately became active in the local community and a regional leader on several issues. She first served as a planning commissioner, then was elected to the city council, eventually serving as the first female mayor of Winters.

Important Dates, Deadlines,

Hearings, and Bills

Dates & Deadlines:

• September 30 - Last day for Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature before Sept. 1 and in the Governor's possession on or after Sept. 1.

Legislative Resources:

• See the tentative 2026-27 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: How can advocates submit a public comment for a proposed federal rule?

Answer: When a federal agency publishes a proposed rule, it is generally posted on Regulations.gov, where the public can review the proposal and submit comments. Advocates can search for the rule by its title or Regulatory Information Number (RIN), review the proposed changes and supporting documents, and select “Comment” to submit feedback. Effective comments are most useful when they identify specific provisions, explain how the proposed rule would affect families, providers, or programs, and provide concrete examples or recommendations. Advocates should also be sure to submit comments before the stated deadline, which is listed on the rule’s Regulations.gov page. Here is a visual step-by-step guide.

Federal Update

Federal Hearing on State-Led Child Care Solutions

Hosted by U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA)

Last Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), held a hearing titled “Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions.”

The hearing focused on how states, communities, employers, and the federal government can work together to address child care affordability, availability, quality, workforce shortages, and supply.

The Chair emphasized that child care is more than a family issue - it is a workforce, employment, and economic issue. Child care was described as the “workforce behind the workforce,” because parents cannot fully participate in the economy without reliable care.

A central theme from the Chair and several Republican members was that states need flexibility to develop solutions that reflect local needs, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all federal approach.

Members generally agreed that state innovation is valuable, but emphasized that state innovation cannot replace federal investment. They argued that federal funding is often what allows states to test, expand, and sustain innovative programs.

The hearing recording is uploaded on the Committee’s YouTube page.

LOOKING FOR HEAD START UPDATES? CHECK OUR WEBSITE PAGE + LOOK FOR OUR UPCOMING HEAD START NEWSLETTER

To support the field during the public comment period, TFC is compiling relevant updates, action opportunities, and resources on our dedicated Head Start website page and in an upcoming special newsletter.

We are sharing and amplifying information from Head Start California, federal partners, and other trusted sources to help members stay informed and engaged through the October 6, 2026, public comment deadline.

Updates on CCDF and Federal Proposed Rules Posted to TFC's Webpage

Click here to be directed to our website page that will be continually updated with the latest news.

Upcoming CCDF State Plan Input Sessions

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is preparing California’s 2028–2030 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan, which outlines how California will administer federal child care funding and programs over the next three years. As part of the development process, CDSS is holding regional input sessions to gather feedback from community partners on various sections of the State Plan.

As the State Plan develops, TFC will create a shared document for members to provide comments and input so we can be intentional and strategic about where the field should weigh in, including where federal waivers may be appropriate. We will also keep the field updated as the process moves forward and share opportunities for engagement.

Federal Update

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

US Congress Update

The House is back in session, and the Senate will return September 7th. 

House Republican leaders announced Thursday that the final two weeks of their September session are canceled, cutting the legislative calendar short ahead of the November midterm elections.

Lawmakers are expected to reconvene on Sept. 14 after next week’s Labor Day break and remain in session through Sept. 17. They will then be expected to leave Washington and remain out of session until mid-November. More: House GOP cuts 2 weeks from its schedule 

Congress has eliminated the threat of a politically perilous government shutdown this fall.

The House voted Tuesday to extend federal spending at current levels, with a few exceptions, through Dec. 11, punting the funding fight until after the midterm elections.

Federal funding was set to run out again Sept. 30, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were eager to avoid a prolonged shutdown as voters head to the polls. The legislation passed the House 370-48 with bipartisan support.

The Senate already easily passed the measure, known as a continuing resolution, in August. The White House encouraged lawmakers to support the stopgap, and President Trump is expected to sign it. More: Congress averts a government shutdown ahead of midterms : NPR 

This week, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing entitled “Supporting Working Families: State-led Child Care Solutions.” Find the recording here

We continue to urge Congress to invest more than the $10 million increase in CCDBG and Head Start that the House proposed for FY27. More: House Republican 2027 Funding Bills Fall Far Short of What Is Needed to Help Families, Support Core Services | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 

Administration Update (as previously reported)

DC area: On Tuesday, September 15 from 10-11am ET, we will gather at the US Capitol for an event in support of Early Head Start and Head Start and in opposition to proposed changes that will harm children, families, and programs across the country. The event will be held outside, next to the Capitol building and feature remarks from Members of Congress, parents, Head Start staff, and leaders, as well as games for children and families. Following the event, participants are encouraged to schedule meetings with their Senators and Members of Congress to talk about the importance of Head Start and urge them to oppose the proposed changes.  

Trump Admin’s New Head Start Rule Would Advance Its Long-Term Goal of Eliminating Program

The Trump administration proposed rolling back vital Head Start quality and safety standards, taking another step toward the Project 2025 goal of fully abolishing the early education program. 

The proposal — the latest in the administration’s sustained campaign to undermine Head Start — would reduce the number of Head Start teachers, weaken staff and teacher credentials, eliminate health and mental health services, and reduce supports and services for children with disabilities and developmental needs. 

⇒ Take Action: 

• Click to comment portal: Oppose Proposed Changes to Head Start (NWLC)
• UPDATED:MomsRising’s Protect Head Start Call-In Line Social Media Toolkit - Google Docs 
• UPDATED: Protecting Head Start's Future | Linktree (Start Early)
• A Simple Guide to Submitting a Public Comment (Start Early)

More:

• EducationCounsel - DEEP DIVE: Unpacking the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Overhaul the Head Start Program Performance Standards 
• Head Start NPRM key takeaways - Google Docs (Start Early)
• Proposed Head Start Rule Eliminates Critical Protections for Children Experiencing Homelessness 
• Lowering the Bar: An Analysis of How Replacing Head Start Standards with State Child Care Licensing Weakens Early Learning Across the United States | The Children's Equity Project 
• The race to the bottom: What replacing Head Start ratios standards with state child care minimums will mean for children in poverty | National Institute for Early Education Research 

We’ll also be sharing joint template comments, a comment portal, TPs, and additional materials on an ongoing basis. 

Federal Register notice (due October 6, 2026): https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-16134.pdf

Most Viewed Bills of the Week

1. H.R.6509 [119th] SAFE Drugs Act of 2025
2. H.R.1 [119th] An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
3. S.2296 [119th] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
4. S.3516 [118th] A bill to impose a fee on certain remittance transfers to fund border security.
5. H.R.3633 [119th] Digital Asset Market Clarity Act
6. H.R.139 [119th] Sunshine Protection Act of 2025
7. H.R.5269 [119th] RESULTS Act
8. H.R.5316 [119th] Drug Shortage Compounding Patient Access Act of 2025
9. H.R.8800 [119th] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
10. H.R.22 [119th] SAVE Act

Upcoming Thriving Families CA Foundation Events

Thriving Families CA Foundation will be delivering a virtual training focused specifically on fiscal issues on September 24th. This training is designed to provide attendees with practical information, guidance, and peer perspectives to strengthen fiscal knowledge and support effective fiscal management within their agencies.

Whether you work directly with fiscal responsibilities or want to better understand the fiscal side of program operations, this training will offer valuable information and an opportunity to learn from both state partners and peers in the field.

Learn More and Register Here

R&R Network and Thriving Families CA Foundation 2026 Joint Annual Conference

Preliminary Workshop Program- Now Available!

Click Here to view the preliminary workshop program for the Joint Conference.

2026 Conference

Save the Date and join your peers for an amazing 2026 Joint Conference!

After thoughtful consideration and reflection on participant and committee feedback, we will be moving to a 100% in-person format for 2026, rather than offering a hybrid option as in previous years. In-person gatherings continue to provide the highest levels of engagement, connection, and overall satisfaction—and we want to ensure the best possible experience for all attendees.


Registration Now Open!

 An email was sent to your agency's ED/CEO, AP Contact and R&R Contact on June 15th from TFC and Network staff with more information on how to register. Once again, there will be a cap on in-person attendance. This approach ensures a fair and equitable opportunity for participation across the memberships and allows agencies of all sizes to be represented. If you are needing the registration link again, please let us know.

Exhibitor and Sponsor Information- Now Available!

There are a variety of ways to sponsor The Joint Conference or show your support. Whether you are interested in one of our many sponsorship opportunities, purchasing ad space in the Conference program or hosting an exhibit booth to showcase new products or launch promotions, there will be ample opportunity for your company to be recognized as a contributor to the early learning and child care field and for you to build visibility and connect with senior management and key decision makers.

See the Exhibitor and Sponsor Packet Here.

Visit the Conference Webpage for more information as it becomes available.

CDSS & CDE Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinar: How to Prepare for a Contract Monitoring and Error Rate Review

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Child Care and Development Division (CCDD), will host a training webinar on How to Prepare for a Contract Monitoring Review (CMR)/Error Rate Review (ERR) scheduled for:

DATE: September 10, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Registration: Click here to register for this webinar

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

This session is part of CCDD’s ongoing webinar series designed to support child care and development contractors in:

• Understanding contract and program requirements
• Reducing errors in family certification and documentation
• Promoting continuous improvement and program integrity

This session will provide an overview of effective program monitoring, including contractor compliance, technical assistance to enhance internal controls, and oversight tools that support quality improvement. The goal is to reinforce and strengthen participants’ skills and knowledge of eligibility categories and documentation requirements. 

The training webinars are appropriate for all staff who support these program requirements. The webinar presentations will be free on Zoom and will be recorded and made available on the CDSS’ website for continuing educational purposes.

CDSS & CDE Information & Updates

RELEASED September 1, 2026: Management Bulletin 26-08: Implementation of the Attorney General Model Policies for Immigration Enforcement Requirements

Subject: Management Bulletin 26-08: Implementation of the Attorney General Model Policies for Immigration Enforcement Requirements

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) 26-08, Implementation of the Attorney General Model Policies for Immigration Enforcement Requirements. This MB notifies and provides guidance to California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors of the various legal requirements related to their implementation of model policies limiting assistance with immigration enforcement developed by the Attorney General (“Model Policies”).



MB 26-08 can be accessed on the MB 26-08 web page at Management Bulletin 26-08 - Child Development (CA Dept of Education)

Published August 27, 2026 - County Fiscal Letter 26/27-10: FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2026-27 ALLOCATION FOR THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR FOSTER CHILDREN

This County Fiscal Letter (CFL) informs counties of their Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program) allocation. Click here for CFL 26/27-10

Audit Reminders and Resources for Fiscal Year 2025–26 California Department of Social Services Child Care Programs

The purpose of this email is to provide reminders of the audit requirements for agencies who held a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care contract. The CDSS Audit Guide (revised August 2026) is now available on the Contracting Agencies Audit Guidelines & Resources page.

Updated Quality Review Checklist

The FY2025-26 Quality Review Checklist has been updated to address common issues that delay the audit report review process and are intended to reduce or eliminate the need for follow-up questions that arise as CDSS reviews the agency’s audit report submission in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 18072.

The Quality Review Checklist is available on the Contracting Agencies Audit Guidelines & Resources page.

CDE: Initial Guidance regarding the 2026–27 Budget

Dear California State Preschool Programs Executive Directors, Program Directors, and Other Interested Parties,


The California Department of Education (CDE) Early Education Division (EED) is sharing updates on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–27 California Budget package, which was signed in various pieces of legislation between June 29, 2026, and July 10, 2026.


This email is lengthy, as there was a lot that happened in the budget! We have done our best to include subject headers for ease of navigation. If you would like to refer to the actual new statutory language, you can find a full list of the budget legislation that has been signed to date at the bottom of this email.

This email also includes information and minimal initial guidance on implementation. The CDE EED understands that this email will not answer all questions contractors will have about implementing these changes in law. The CDE EED will release management bulletins and other guidance in the future but wanted to share information and guidance that is available now to assist California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors and early education partners with planning and initial implementation. 


Please note: It is common practice for the Legislature and the Governor to consider additional changes to the budget package in August (for example, to address typos). If there are changes to what CDE is sharing in this email, we will share additional information via this email distribution list. If things do change from what is provided in this email, CSPP contractors will not be penalized for implementing the guidance from this email until updated guidance is available.


Major highlights of what the budget includes

On Our Reading List

Social Media Spotlight

Follow TFC on social media!

We would love for you to tag us in your posts and use the hashtag #TFC2026

Information & Updates

Happening This Week, September 7 - 11, 2026: 


Tuesday, September 8th:

• CalHR Monthly Forum @ 10:00am.
• TFC Weekly Member Connections Meeting @ 1:00 p.m. Email to register.   
  

Wednesday, September 9th:

• CCDF State Plan Input Sessions, 10:00am -12:30pm (in-person)  North Region Shasta County Office of Education: 43 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 96003 
  

Thursday, September 10th:

• TFC and CDSS Bi-Monthly Meeting @ 10:00am
• CDSS Webinar: How to Prepare for a Contract Monitoring Review (CMR)/Error Rate Review (ERR) @ 10:00am. Register Here.

Thriving Families CA Foundation 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.

Each week we will celebrate everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening in our field.