Legislation To Combat Hunger Passes First Hurdle

• Nicholas Chan
• Communications Director, Office of Assemblymember Alex Lee
• (916) 319-2392
• [email protected]

Sweeping Republican cuts to food benefits are devastating low-income families. Just this month, new federal policy took effect that will cut off tens of thousands of immigrants from CalFresh. In a few weeks, punitive work requirements will put CalFresh at risk for hundreds of thousands of Californians. The Republican federal government's budget bill H.R. 1 is decimating safety net programs and exacerbating California's hunger crisis.

Assemblymember Alex Lee is now seeking to bolster investments in food aid. His bill AB 2213 will ensure direct funding to combat food insecurity by reviving the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The legislation is now at the Assembly Appropriations Committee after passing the Assembly Human Services Committee with bipartisan support.

"As Washington abandons working families, California will step up to strengthen safety nets for families," said Assemblymember Lee, Chair of the Human Services Committee. "California is the breadbasket of the nation, but thousands struggle to access nutritious and affordable food within view of vineyards and fields. In the face of direct federal assaults on our social services, the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative will provide much-needed investments for food security, strengthening crucial safety nets for families and farmers statewide."

CalFresh, which is federally known as SNAP, currently serves 5.5 million people. It is proven to be one of the most effective programs in tackling food insecurity. But every CalFresh family is expected to be impacted by H.R. 1's unprecedented cuts. A series of draconian restrictions on eligibility have already taken effect, with much more to come. In April 2026, for instance, H.R. 1 began restricting CalFresh eligibility from lawful immigrants including asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking victims. By June, expanded work requirements will put CalFresh benefits at risk for an estimated 660,000 people.

Amid devastating federal cuts, the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative will build much-needed state reserves to maintain investments in food aid. The bill will create a council represented by the State Treasury, and the Departments of Food and Agriculture, Social Services, as well as Labor and Workforce Development, to implement the initiative and develop financing options.

The California Healthy Food Financing Initiative will prioritize funding to organizations that serve communities in food deserts, along with food cooperatives and independent grocery stores, among others. Funding sources may include new market tax credits, federal and foundation grant programs, as well as financing from private financial institutions.

It is estimated that roughly a quarter of California families experience food insecurity. More and more families are struggling to afford their groceries. Over the last 5 years, grocery prices have surged by almost 30%. The federal government's trade war is causing prices to increase rapidly and hurting local farmers. Without safety net programs, roughly 2.6 million more Californians would have been in poverty.

"The re-establishment of the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) is a critical step toward addressing the deep inequities that continue to drive food insecurity across our state," said Arnold Sowell Jr., Executive Director of NextGen California, which is a co-sponsor of AB 2213 with the State Treasurer's Office. "Having worked on the original CHFFI legislation in 2011, I understand firsthand the statewide impact of its mission - to expand access to healthy, affordable food while strengthening local food systems. At NextGen, we believe no Californian should be left behind, and restoring this program is long overdue, especially for children in underserved communities who continue to bear the greatest burden of food insecurity."

"California is the fourth largest economy in the world and an agricultural powerhouse but unfortunately, more than one million Californians live in food deserts, communities without reliable access to fresh, affordable, and healthy food," said California Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA. "Re-establishing and funding the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council within the Treasurer's Office will help to eliminate food deserts through investment in grocery stores, food co-ops, and farmers' markets in the communities that need them most."

"I strongly support the introduction of AB 2213, which re-establishes the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative (CHFFI) in the Treasurer's Office," said Assembly Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez, who authored the 2011 legislation to create the initiative. "CHFFI takes a comprehensive approach to strengthening our food system while expanding access to healthy, affordable food in communities that need it most. As the author of the original legislation, I believe restoring and modernizing this program is long overdue. I commend Assemblymember Alex Lee and Treasurer Fiona Ma for acting with urgency to confront the food insecurity crisis affecting millions of Californians, particularly children and families in low-income communities."

The California Healthy Food Financing Initiative is part of Assemblymember Lee's broader efforts to ensure food security for all Californians. Food assistance and nutrition programs are Assemblymember Lee's policy area of expertise as Chair of the Human Services Committee. Over the last two years, he has secured $46 million in state funding to revive the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, which improves access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In order to expand the successful program, the Assemblymember is seeking an additional $100 million to double its reach statewide.