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AiQ Federal Legislation

AIQ News: 2/12/24

On February 12th, we held a special hour-long session of AIQ that focused on the impacts of Executive Orders and funding freezes on social, health, and human services in California. The recording of our session will be shared at noon on Friday. In the meantime, we would like to provide resources that explain the potential impacts on Californians.

Federal Funds Supporting California

According to the California Budget & Policy Center report “California at Risk: Proposed Federal Funding Cuts Jeopardize Key Services” around a third of California’s state budget comes from federal funds. A majority of these funds support health and human services and social services that are now at risk due to the proposed federal funding cuts.

Federal Funds Supporting Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services of Northern California and Lutheran Social Services of Southern California both utilize federal funds to support vital programs in their communities that are at risk due to Executive Orders and a freeze on the allocation of federal funding. To learn more about these two groups, please visit their websites linked above. Additionally, to learn more about how both groups receive federal funds and what programs they support click here for LSS Northern California and here for LSS Southern California.

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AiQ State Updates

Proposed 2025-26 State Budget

On January 10th Governor Newsom released his proposed budget for the State of California. It is important to note that this is the first iteration of the budget, it will be revised in May before a final version is passed this summer. Click here to read the proposed budget in its entirety.

To further understand the proposal and learn more about its expected impacts and shortfalls, click here to read the California Budget and Policy Center’s report.

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AiQ State Updates

2024 Legislation Results

As we head into a new Legislative Session, we want to highlight all of the bills we followed last year that were signed into law.

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California Ballot Measures

Voting Faithfully

 A Video Guide to the 2024 California Ballot Propositions, available in English or Spanish!

Here is a link to a video recording of last night’s event on our YouTube Channel. A Guide to the 2024 California Ballot Propositions or Guía para el votante de la medida electoral de noviembre de 2024. Please share with others.

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California Ballot Measures

November 2024 Ballot Measure Voter Guide

These recommendations by the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California are made within the framework of the principles, values, and commitments of ELCA Social Statements and Social Messages. Voter Guide

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AiQ State Updates

AIQ News: 6/26/24

Bills are moving quickly through policy committees as we approach the legislative recess next week. Key bills to call in support of include:

  • AB 1851 (Holden)- clean drinking water in schools pilot program. This bill is being heard in Senate Environmental Quality Committee on Wed., July 3rd
  • AB 660 (Irwin)- food date expiration labeling reform. This bill is being heard in Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, July 1st.

Additionally, check out Governor Newsom’s State of the State Address that was released on June 25th.

NOTE: AIQ will now be on hiatus until Wednesday, August 14th as the legislature goes on summer recess starting July 3rd. See you in August!

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State Updates

State of the State Address

Governor Newsom released a recorded State of the State Address on Tuesday, June 25th. Check it out through the link below:

2024 State of the State

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Hunger Fellow Job Opportunity State

Apply for Hunger Advocacy Fellowship!

Exciting news! The Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California is up again on the rotation for the Hunger Advocacy Fellowship with the ELCA. We are hiring a fellow to serve in our office from September 2024-August 2025 in Sacramento. The job details, including the link to apply, can be found below:

Apply to be a Hunger Advocacy Fellow with LOPP-CA!

Do you have specific questions about the fellowship duties or experience? Contact our Legislative Coordinator, Savannah Jorgensen, who previously served as a fellow in our office.

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AiQ Federal Legislation State Updates

AIQ News: 5/8/24

Most bills we’ve been following this year are in their respective Appropriations Committee and waiting on final hearings to determine if they will continue this session.

Stay tuned for our discussion on the Governor’s May Revise, which is the updated state budget that is released every year in May. The May Revise is being announced this Friday, May 10th. We will cover the updated state budget situation at AIQ on Wednesday, May 22nd. Join us!

Lobby Day is nearly here! Check out our priority bills for 2024.

Advocacy actions for the week:

  • Call your state Senators and ask them to support SB 1497 (Menjivar)! This is an important environmental justice bill that would make fossil fuel polluters pay for the damages associated with the sale of their products in the state. The bill is being heard in Senate Appropriations on Monday, May 13th. It’s also one of our Lobby Day bills!
  • Complete the federal ELCA Advocacy action alert on housing and homelessness.
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Events Updates

Lobby Day Schedule Released

Check out our specific schedule for Lobby Day 2024 here! The fun begins at 8:30 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church Sacramento.

Once you register, you will receive more detailed information regarding meeting groups and your legislative meetings in closer to May 15th.