SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 1077, which will prepare California for potential future federal shutdowns impacting CalFresh benefits, passed the Senate Human Services Committee on a 5-0 vote.

Over 5 million Californians rely on CalFresh, a federally-funded program providing critical food benefits to low-income families. CalFresh is the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty program, and every dollar in CalFresh benefits can generate $1.54 in local economic activity, supporting jobs and California farmers.

Last fall, the federal government shut down for a record 43 days – during which time, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service suspended CalFresh benefits for November 2025. CalFresh recipients went without their benefits for days while conflicting information and rapidly changing court decisions resulted in confusion, misinformation, and worry. 

“CalFresh is one of the largest and most essential programs we have to fight poverty and hunger—it’s a lifeline for millions of families,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez. “When these benefits are delayed, families are forced to choose between buying food or paying for their rent or health care. We can’t let the federal government use lower-income Californians to play politics with federal shutdowns, our state needs to be ready to step up with information, support, and resources.”

SB 1077 will require the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to develop an emergency communications plan to provide factual, updated information during a federal shutdown that impacts benefits. It will include information for recipients about the status of their benefits and resources like food banks, guidance for county human services agencies, and briefings on litigation and other critical updates for public officials. SB 1077 will also require CDSS to develop the capacity to issue state-funded benefits during a federal shutdown, improving the state’s ability to respond to reckless federal decisions impacting essential benefits.

“Recurring government shutdowns and ideologically driven funding cuts have had real, painful consequences for millions of Californians, families left on hold and unsure if they’ll be able to feed their children,” said Yesenia Robancho, MPP, Associate Director of Policy & Strategy, End Child Poverty CA powered by GRACE. “The 2025 federal shutdown delayed food for 5.5 million low-income Californians, including 3.5 million children and seniors, forcing impossible choices like paying rent or buying groceries. When $1.1 billion in monthly CalFresh support is disrupted, the harm is immediate and severe. California must act to ensure no one is ever left waiting for food because of political dysfunction, and SB 1077 is a critical step to protect our communities.”

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Senator Lena Gonzalez proudly represents one million residents in California’s 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. She serves as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus and is a dedicated advocate on key priorities that impact Californians from economic development and environmental justice to LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, digital equity and more. Senator Gonzalez has championed major policies, including broadband for all, expanding paid sick leave, advancing clean transportation incentives, and ending neighborhood oil drilling. She lives in Long Beach with her family. To learn more, visit www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez.

End Child Poverty California dares to imagine a liberated future, free from systemic racism and poverty, in which all children experience childhoods of abundance, dignity, love, and opportunities to thrive. To achieve this vision, we are building a joyful and community-centered movement that uses coalition building and policy and advocacy to advance public investments that create transformative intergenerational change.