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State policy is an incredibly powerful avenue for effective, sustainable change at the local level. Each member of our community can have a role to play in advancing our policy priorities – whether it be gaining new knowledge and understanding of an issue, mobilizing colleagues and friends to take action, or raising their own voice in support.
We prioritize policies where hunger prevention intersects with health, poverty, equity, social justice, and food systems. Read more in our Policy Platform
We’re focused on public investments and policy changes that will have a sustainable impact on the communities we serve. For a full list, please see our 2023 State Priorities. Here are some highlights:
CalFood — $60M annual funding to enable food banks to purchase CA-grown products
Protect Assistance for Seniors and People with Disabilities — Improve benefit adequacy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by ensuring annual grant increases
Farmer’s Market Nutrition incentives — $35M one-time to ensure continued support of the California Nutrition Incentive Program including programs like Market Match
SB 600 (Menjivar) — Improve benefit adequacy by increasing the minimum CalFresh benefit level from $23 to $50
AB 1498 (Gipson) — Raise the minimum CalEITC credit to $300
SB 348 (Skinner) — Build on success of School Meals for All by strengthening student nutrition programs including meals and Summer EBT
AB 1644 (Bonta) — Make medically supportive food and nutrition plans covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program, allowing doctors to prescribe healthy food to Medi-Cal patients
$2.5M
Funding to support food bank infrastructure and increase capacity
110,000
Expanded access to CA Food Assistance Program to Californians age 55+ regardless of immigration status
$120M
Funding to purchase food from CA farms to feed food bank participants
Behind every policy decision is a human being. Our advocacy has the power to influence the lives of thousands of our neighbors. Learn more and meet a few of them here:
The food is very good, we like it all! This place has helped me in so many ways. The people here are great and I've made friends. Good friends.
Sharon - Neighborhood Pantry Participant More
I've gotten food bank food off and on over the years and it makes a huge difference in my life as a low-income senior citizen
Jane - Home Delivered Groceries participant More
This food that they give us here is very valuable for my body to survive because it satisfies my needs.
Maria - Supplementary Food Program participant More
I pick up groceries from the food pantry in the Canal (San Rafael) on Tuesdays, and the rest I buy with my food stamps. Last month, I received $211. Now, the letter from the county says I’ll receive $23
Gladys, 82, Marin pantry participant and CalFresh recipients More
CalFresh helps participants alleviate their financial stress. Benefits also help them increase access to healthier food and have extra money to stretch their food budget so they can choose the food they like.
Crystal Deng, Food Bank CalFresh Outreach Specialist MoreOur state policy advocacy is rooted in partnerships and coalitions. Our voices are louder when we speak together.
