California Antihunger Response and Employment Training Act of 2026.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Signed into Law

Summary

AB 2299 establishes the California Antihunger Response and Employment Training (CARET) program, which gives the same nutrition benefits to people who lose CalFresh because of the federal able‑bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) time limit and cannot claim an exemption. It also widens the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to cover those ABAWD‑limited individuals and anyone excluded from CalFresh solely because of humanitarian immigration status, regardless of citizenship. The bill adds guidance requirements, reimbursement rules for local agencies, and removes a previous restriction that CFAP could operate only when federal benefits were available.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 1. Page 5311.) · May 26, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 13, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 3, 2026
• Human Services
  Senate Human Services Committee · Jun 29, 2026
• Human Services Committee Hearing
  Human Services · Jun 29, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 14, 2026

History

1. May 27, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2. May 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 1.)
3. May 18, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
4. May 14, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 14).
5. May 14, 2026Coauthors revised.
6. May 6, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
7. Apr 15, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
8. Apr 15, 2026Coauthors revised.
9. Apr 7, 2026Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
10. Apr 6, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
11. Mar 16, 2026Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
12. Feb 20, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

The 12 most recent of 13 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Lisa Calderon (D) · sponsor
• Alanis
• Boerner
• Calderon
• Celeste Rodriguez
• Davies
• Gonzalez
• Jackson
• Lee
• Schiavo
• Solache
• Strickland
• Umberg

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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