All children have equal value and potential, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or place of birth. We must do all we can – together – to build a solid foundation for our children’s health and well-being, especially in this moment.
California children and their families are facing intense stress with cuts to both federal- and state-funded health care, including Medicaid/Medi-Cal, ACA subsidies, and other programs that support long-term health. Families are being ripped apart by ICE, as safe-spaces protections for children at early childhood education centers, schools, and places of worship are being stripped away. And Congress is actively debating a bill that would severely limit our right to vote for people who represent the interests of our children and their families.
We understand this moment requires us to be bold, engaged, and relentless in our advocacy – in coalition building, community education and engagement, and policymaking. A future where all California children and families can flourish depends on it.
These are The Children’s Partnership’s 2026 legislative and budget priorities.
The Children’s Partnership’s 2026 Co-sponsored Bills
AB 2126 – The PEER ACT (Asm. Sade Elhawary)
The Peer Act establishes automatic background check exemptions for current and former foster youth to become peer mentors.
The act reduces employment barriers and expands opportunities for justice system-involved youth, particularly youth of color, who are more often impacted by low-level criminal records compared to their white, non-system-involved peers.
Bill Co-sponsors:
- Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
- County Welfare Directors Association of California
- California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Resources
AB 2201 – Medi-Cal: Eligibility Redetermination (Asm. Boerner)
AB 2201 reinstates proven Medi-Cal eligibility strategies to simplify renewals, reduce coverage losses, and ease county workloads.
The bill helps keep California’s children and families covered by Medi-Cal as county staff deal with the burden of implementing Trump’s H.R. 1 bill.
Co-sponsors:
- National Health Law Program
- Latino Coaliton for a Healthy California
- Health Access California
- Western Center on Law & Poverty
- Justice in Aging
Resources
Other Supported Children’s Health Equity Bills
SB 1422 – Medi-Cal eligibility: immigration status (Sen. María Elena Durazo)
Ends Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain immigrants ages 19+
AB 2161 – Medi-Cal: work or community engagement (Asm. Mia Bonta)
Stops work requirements for some immigrant communities covered by state-funded Medi-Cal
AB 2600 – Right to counsel for Californians facing deportation (Asm. Mia Bonta)
Guarantees due process for Californians, prioritizing those in immigration detention
The Children’s Partnership’s 2026 State Budget Priorities
$750,000 Community Health Worker Medi-Cal Benefit Report
One-time allocation to California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to produce a report on utilization of the Community Health Workers, Promotoras, and Representatives (CHW/P/Rs) Medi-Cal health benefit.
This report would include an analysis of benefit usage, provider participation, equity impacts, and system barriers.
Supporters:
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Other Supported State Budget Asks:
$4 million for CHW/P/Rs to help Californians stay covered through health navigation
Reject work requirements for some immigrant communities covered by state-funded Medi-Cal
Rollback proposed Medi-Cal cuts and end the enrollment freeze for immigrant communities
$50 million increase for deportation defense services
CONTACT: Sarah Dar, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, The Children’s Partnership, sdar@childrenspartnership.org
