SB 1077: CalFresh: federal government shutdowns.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing federal law provides for the 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. Existing federal law, through Disaster SNAP, provides for short-term food assistance benefits to eligible households who are victims of a disaster that disrupts commercial channels of food distribution.

This bill would, during a federal government shutdown that impacts the disbursement of CalFresh benefits, require the State Department of Social Services to maintain a clearly marked landing page on the department’s internet website to provide the public with information on how their benefits will be impacted, including information on the status of the federal government shutdown and the availability of benefits. The bill would also require the department, in coordination with stakeholders, to establish a strategic communications plan for use during a federal government shutdown that impacts the disbursement of CalFresh benefits that includes updates to the landing page on the department’s internet website, deployment of social media posts, and emergency response briefings for local and state officials, local government agencies, community organizations, and participating retailers, as specified.

The bill would require the department to develop a benefit issuance mechanism to allow the department flexibility to rapidly provide nutrition benefits on an emergency basis in response to a federal government shutdown that impacts the disbursement of CalFresh benefits, and would require the mechanism to be designed to issue nutrition benefits through the existing electronic benefits transfer system and in a manner that can target various populations depending on the purpose of the specific benefit. The bill would make this provision operative when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this provision.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 18, 2026In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2. September 18, 2026In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
3. September 18, 2026Vetoed by the Governor.
4. September 18, 2026Vetoed by the Governor.
5. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
6. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.
7. August 26, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5854.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
8. August 26, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9. August 25, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
10. August 25, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
11. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6471.) Ordered to the Senate.
12. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6471.) Ordered to the Senate.