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CaliforniaAB 9692025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

CalWORKs: family violence option and gender-based violence information.

Sponsored By: Celeste Celeste Rodriguez (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Stronger CalWORKs waivers for abuse survivors

Beginning January 1, 2028, counties must waive CalWORKs rules for survivors when following a rule would block escape from abuse or risk safety. Your signed statement about the harm is enough unless the county documents clear contradictions. Counties cannot deny waivers based on service hours, lack of services, or because you choose to join welfare‑to‑work activities. Counties must tell you in writing if a waiver is granted or denied, and cannot penalize you while a waiver request is pending. Waivers are checked at least every six months, and counties must give written reasons before ending one. The state sets one standard for what counts as good cause so decisions are consistent.

Statewide survivor info and waiver forms

Starting January 1, 2027, the state sets clear CalWORKs protocols to define abuse, protect privacy, train staff, refer to help, and handle waivers and notices. Beginning January 1, 2028, the state provides one statewide packet and a standard waiver form for survivors. The packet explains resources, privacy rules, retroactive waivers, safety planning, and options for noncitizen survivors, and counties must provide it in your preferred language. The department can use all‑county letters so counties apply these rules before formal regulations are issued.

Federal alignment and limits on CalWORKs waivers

The law follows federal family violence protections for CalWORKs and does not allow stricter state rules. If federal rules say survivors count in the federal 20% hardship group, counties cannot give extra state time‑limit waivers that would cause penalties. If federal rules say work‑requirement waivers would cause state penalties, counties cannot give those waivers either. This keeps protections aligned with federal law while avoiding federal penalties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Celeste Celeste Rodriguez

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Maria Elena Durazo

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 235 • No: 0

House vote • 9/12/2025

Item 129 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 80 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/11/2025

Item 219 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 40 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/29/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/18/2025

Vote in CS61

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/7/2025

Vote in CS74

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 6/2/2025

Item 380 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 79 • No: 0

legislature vote • 5/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 11 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/8/2025

Vote in CX11

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 386, Statutes of 2025.

    10/6/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/6/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/24/2025legislature

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3383.).

    9/12/2025House

  5. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

    9/12/2025House

  6. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2933.).

    9/11/2025Senate

  7. Ordered to special consent calendar.

    9/9/2025Senate

  8. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/8/2025Senate

  9. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    9/5/2025Senate

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    9/2/2025Senate

  11. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    8/29/2025Senate

  12. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).

    8/29/2025Senate

  13. In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    8/18/2025Senate

  14. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/8/2025Senate

  15. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

    6/26/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

    6/11/2025Senate

  17. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    6/3/2025Senate

  18. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1911.)

    6/2/2025House

  19. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    5/27/2025House

  20. Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

    5/23/2025House

  21. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).

    5/23/2025House

  22. Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 51. Noes 16. Page 1644.)

    5/23/2025House

  23. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    5/14/2025House

  24. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/22/2025House

  25. Read second time and amended.

    4/21/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/6/2025

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  • Enrolled

    9/16/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    9/5/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    8/29/2025

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  • Amended Senate

    6/26/2025

    HTML

  • Amended Assembly

    5/23/2025

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  • Amended Assembly

    4/21/2025

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  • Introduced

    2/20/2025

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