AB-2309 • 2026

CalFresh Protection Act.

Agriculture

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Bains
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how much state funds will be set aside or when this might occur, leaving these aspects uncertain.

CalFresh Protection Act

The CalFresh Protection Act requires California to use state funds to continue paying CalFresh benefits if the federal government stops funding them.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'federal funding lapse' as when the U.S. government does not provide sufficient funds for SNAP (CalFresh) benefits in California.
Requires the State Department of Social Services to use state funds to continue CalFresh payments if there is a federal funding lapse.
Gives the Director of Social Services the power to declare a federal funding lapse when it happens.

Who It Names or Affects

CalFresh recipients in California
The State Department of Social Services

Terms To Know

federal funding lapse: A period during which the federal government fails to appropriate sufficient funds for SNAP (CalFresh) benefits.
General Fund: The main fund from which a state pays for its programs and services.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be needed or when the funding might run out.
It is unclear what happens if there are major budget issues at the state level that prevent using state funds.
The bill does not address new applicants for CalFresh during a federal funding lapse.

Bill History

2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2309, as introduced, Bains.
CalFresh Protection Act.
Existing federal law establishes the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
This bill would, in the event of a federal funding lapse that results in the withholding, suspension, or delay of federally funded CalFresh benefits, require the State Department of Social Services to utilize state funds to ensure that CalFresh benefits continue to be issued to existing recipients. The bill would define “federal funding lapse” to mean any period during which the federal government fails to appropriate sufficient funds to the United States Department of Agriculture to cover the full monthly allotment of SNAP benefits for eligible households in
California, and would require the Director of Social Services to declare a federal funding lapse during any period that meets that definition. The bill would, in the event of a declaration by the director of a federal funding lapse, continuously appropriate to the department from the General Fund an amount necessary to cover the costs to implement these provisions, as determined by the director.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF