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Enviroment Immigrant Justice State Uncategorized

Lobby Day 2025 Bill Results

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2025 Lobby Day on May 28, 2025! We appreciate your commitment to LOPP-CA and faith-based advocacy.

Overview: At the conclusion of the California legislative session, 3 of the Lobby Day bills were passed, 2 will become a two-year bill, and one died. Our budget asks were directed toward both the state government of California and federal government of the United States of America.

Passed: SB 635 (Durazo), AB 49 (Muratsuchi) , SB 624 (Caballero)

Two Year Bill: AB 1243 (Addis), SB 684 (Menjvar)

Died: AB 794 (Gabriel)

About the Bills

SB 635 (Durazo): Food vendors and facilities: enforcement activities – Passed

This bill will prevent local governments from sharing personally identifiable data to federal immigration enforcement agencies, it will also prevent the collection of an individual’s immigration status, citizenship status or place of birth, criminal history, or collection of fingerprints, or requires a background check in order to receive a vending permit.

AB 49 (Muratsuchi): School sites and daycare centers: entry requirements: immigration enforcement – Passed

Protects undocumented students and their families by prohibiting ICE officers from entering a school site or childcare facility for any purpose without providing valid identification, a written statement of purpose, a valid judicial warrant, and approval from the school district’s superintendent or director of the childcare center.

SB 624 (Cabellero): Nonminor dependents: tax guidance – Passed

This bill will require county child welfare agencies and juvenile probation departments to mail information about the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) and tax filing to all nonminor dependents. It will also require the state to provide guidance to counties on best practices for implementing the FYTC.

AB 1243 (Addis), SB 684 (Menjvar): Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025 – Two Year Bill

Ensures polluters pay to protect Californians and lower costs by funding critical climate solutions, including transitioning to clean energy, disaster resilience, sustainable infrastructure, and support for workers and communities suffering climate harms.

AB 794 (Gabriel): California Safe Drinking Water Act: Emergency Regulations – Died in amended assembly

This bill would have required the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to adopt an emergency regulation based on the existing federal standards. After setting the regulations, the board must set standards for PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

Budget Asks: State and Federal

State of California: Restoration of Medi-Cal Funding

Our Ask: We advocated for a restoration in funding to the Health and Human Services funding lost in the May Revise of the California state budget. Categories included reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit, the cap of in-home supportive services overtime and travel hours at 50 hours, the mandatory Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for undocumented immigrants age 19 or older, and imposing a $100 monthly healthcare premium for adults age 19 or older with unsatisfactory immigration status.

Result: The Medi-Cal asset limit was reinstated. Medi-Cal enrollment remains frozen for undocumented immigrants age 19 and older. Premiums for unsatisfactory immigration status adults are now capped at $30 a month down from $100 a month.

Federal Government: Restoration of Health and Human Services funding

Our Ask: We advocated for the full restoration of $800 billion from Healthcare and Medicare Programs, $300 billion from education programs, and $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). We also urged our legislators to stop the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in Congress, as these tax cuts will impact millions of working families, those with disabilities, and low-income communities.

Result: Tax cuts from the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” and the federal government were passed. Federal funding for SNAP was cut by nearly $200 billion – about 20% — across 10 years. The state Department of Health Care Services estimates that work requirements will result in up to 3 million adults losing coverage as well as a loss of at least $28.4 billion in federal funding for Medi-Cal. In addition, currently-qualifying immigrants’ healthcare will be taken away, as HR-1 restricts access to Medicare to only US citizens, green card holders, Cuban-Haitian entrants, and individuals from COFA nations (Compacts of Free Association). The bill also eliminates the Graduate Plus loan program and limits borrowers to just two repayment options: a new fixed-payment option called the “standard” plan and a new income-based plan called “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP).

Once again, thanks to all who attended Lobby Day 2025. We invite you to remain connected to LOPP-CA going forward, and hope you will consider attending next year’s Lobby Day in 2026.

Categories
AiQ California Ballot Measures Federal Legislation Immigrant Justice Uncategorized Updates

LOPP-CA Letter on Prop 50 and a Letter from our Bishops


In faith and hope, we pray.

The letter below hopes to inform you of our discernment regarding Proposition 50, which we provide alongside an accompanying letter of support from the Bishops of the Sierra Pacific, Pacifica, and Southwest California Synods of the ELCA.
In all things, we pray for God’s guidance and your discernment in the coming days.

Categories
Immigrant Justice Poverty Racial Justice State Uncategorized

Five Thousand Attend the Rally at the End of the Farm Worker Rights March!

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Education Enviroment Events UN/National Updates Uncategorized

The ELCA is at COP26!

May be an image of text that says '"Human behavior may change through economic incentive, guilt about the past, or fear about the future. But as people of biblical faith, who live together in trust and hope, our primary motivation is the call to be God' and to do justice." caregivers UNCLIMATE CHANGE CO NFERENCE UK2021 UK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALY 310CT-12 NOV 2021 GLASGOW ELCA social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice (pg.8) advocacy #ELCAatCOP26'

Categories
AiQ Hunger Issues Immigrant Justice Poverty Uncategorized

Action for March 31st from AIQ

Bills to support right now in Food and Farming: 
SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All – Would expand the CalFresh benefits available to undocumented immigrants in California (While these folks are not eligible for the federal SNAP program, California has funding through a parallel program to CalFresh that provides food assistance for people ineligible due to documentation status – this program needs further development, outreach, and funding to meet the needs of Californians. This bill is in committee process. (Long-term relief bill)

AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance during COVID-19 to Undocumented Immigrants and their families. This bill was amended in the Assembly om March 30, 2021 (short term relief bill). 

Quick facts to share: – These bills affect food, labor, agriculture, and public health organizations alike, i.e. our neighbors. Approximately 57% of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States. Undocumented immigrant restaurant workers are 25 percent more likely to experience food insecurity. We know that farmers of color are undercounted and many undocumented. populations are currently ineligible for any food assistance beyond foodbanks.  Access to our state food assistance program (SB 464) and immediate food dollars (AB 221) is a public health benefit.

Categories
AiQ Health Care Homelessness & Housing Hunger Issues Uncategorized

Action and News for March 24th From AIQ

Important: Contact Diane Feinstein by phone or email and strongly urge her to support ending the filibuster! It the only way that meaningful legislation will be passed.

LOPP-CA is following several state bills. The most important are:

Housing: AB1199 creates a corporate landlord registry, AB15 Provides Covid relief eviction limitations

Healthcare: AB1400 Guaranteed Health Care for All AB1132 Health Care Consolidation and Contracting Fairness Act of 2021. Assembly-member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) introduced a package of bills to address health care affordability, access, equity, quality and cost containment. AB650 Would see health care workers receive up to $10,000 if they worked on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Immigrant Justice: AB221 This bill would provide Emergency Food Benefits for immigrants adversely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and excluded from federal aid.

Categories
AiQ Enviroment Racial Justice Uncategorized

Action and News for March 10th From AIQ

Deb Haaland’s confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior could be in jeopardy. If confirmed, Haaland would be the first Indigenous person to manage the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. Both are part of the Department of the Interior. She would also oversee more than 480 million acres of public lands and nearly a dozen federal agencies, including the National Park Service. Both California senators are collecting letters and emails of support for her. Please consider writing a letter of support.

Northern California Kelp Forests: An analysis of satellite imagery has found that the kelp forest that only eight years ago formed a leafy canopy along the Northern California coast has almost disappeared. This is a huge environmental concern. For articles with more information click on these links: USNEWS, CLICK THIS LINK to find out about the State of California Natural Resources Agency Kelp Forest Restoration Project in Mendocino County.

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Events Uncategorized

Virtual Lutheran Lobby Day Is Coming May 19th, Save the Date!

Join with Lutheran Office of Public Policy for an exciting day! Meet our partners! Meet with your representatives! Do it all virtually! Watch our website for updates and details!

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Uncategorized

Faith advocacy aids Newsom’s decision to sign executive order for conservation by 2030

California joins the global effort to fight climate change by taking on the goal to conserve 30% of state lands by 2030, making us the first in the nation

Faith based organizations, alongside numerous other non-profit, environmental advocacy, and legislative efforts paid off today in a innovative and far reaching executive order to protect California lands and waters.

2020’s Legislative session has been filled with many powerful moments for LOPP-CA, and our collective power as those moving in Christ has only become more and more apparent. The signing of this Executive Order N-82-20 (full version here) aligns with our priority of Environmental Stewardship set at the opening of this year, and is specifically important because of how much our advocacy mattered in this fight – faith organizations, and especially LOPP-CA, were notably instrumental in placing this issue as a moral priority in California.

LOPP-CA’s Director Regina Banks spoke to this victory by saying “California Lutherans have been closely tracking imminent dangers to safe, affordable drinking water, as well as the environmental racism at play in who does, and does not, have water security. As the climate crisis, pollution, and irresponsible corporate practices have made water stewardship increasingly difficult, we welcome the opportunity to leverage the Governor’s executive order, which sets clear guidelines for conservation, to protect and redeem California’s watersheds. The God-given life-sustaining gift of water requires our careful stewardship, so all people and creation can endure for generations to come.” 

This is a monumental achievement, and our church has a right to be proud of our work today. Here is a link to a statement from Creation Justice Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition – of which LOPP-CA is a member – dedicated to advocating for care of God’s creation. Faith leaders across the US have been pushing for this 30% by 2030 goal via a letter writing campaign, and California is the first to see these advocacy efforts pay off!

We can and often do make a difference; the spirit moved in this victory, and will continue to do so as we reach further to make our world a better place. Join with us in celebration today, and with us in further advocacy on issues in the upcoming year!

Categories
Uncategorized

Governor signs AB 1876, making Expansion of EITC into law!!

WE. HAVE. WON!

There are no words that can truly express how great a victory this is for all. The Expansion of the EITC to immigrant ITIN Tax Filers puts California on the right side of history, and is nothing short of God’s compassion and justice coming into the world.

Prior to this week, hundreds of thousands of people were locked out of one of California’s most influential and powerful poverty-fighting measures, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Over 600,000 ITIN number holders were suffering the unjust position of working hard, building economies, paying taxes, but receiving no tax refund. No longer. Vulnerable communities such as migrant workers in healthcare, farming, service work and so much more are now covered in the EITC.

 

This win means so much, and has been a long time coming. The Cal-EITC Coalition, of which LOPP-CA is a proud member, has fought hard and won a campaign spanning more than four years and involving more than 60 organizations. This in means care for the vulnerable. This win means California is the second in our nation to take this step in  protecting so many vulnerable non-citizen immigrant communities. This win means God’s love is extended to more of the body of Christ, and for that there cannot be enough celebration. 

Below we have linked the Cal-EITC Coalition’s official press release, which holds more information on this monumental victory:

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/1/?ui=2&ik=02197ef57f&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-