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Summer Policy Updates

  • Jul 17
  • 2 min read

Friday, July 17th, 2026

Rectangles of various colors with text that reads, "CalFood, SNAP cost shift, CalFresh Outreach, SUN Bucks, and Diaper Banks."

The summer season is here, and with that come changes to current policies that affect FARSB's operations, funding, or the needs of neighbors in our community. Though there are still changes to come with SNAP, with the state budget finalized, there have been some recent successes that advocacy work in our communities has helped support, and some things coming that advocates should continue to boost support for.




Orange rectangle with white grocery icon.

CalFood


With the help of California Food Banks (CFB), the state budget included $108 million for the CalFood program to support the purchase of California-grown and produced food, supplying food banks across the state with nutritious, long-lasting items.




SNAP/CalFresh Cost Shift

Light green rectangle with white money icon.

The implementation of HR-1 comes with multiple changes, but one with the biggest negative impact at the moment is the cost shift to states. This shift will force California taxpayers to cover the cost of 15% of the program, totaling nearly $1.8 billion.





Maroon rectangle with a white icon of a bag of groceries.

SNAP/CalFresh Outreach


Accompanying the changes to SNAP, the budget for CalFresh Outreach was significantly cut, which could have limited awareness for those who don't know they are eligible or how to apply. This program received $14 million to preserve the outreach efforts in the state.




SUN Bucks

Blue rectangle with white Sun bucks logo.

The Summer EBT benefits program, known as SUN Bucks, provides families with school-aged children who receive free school meals with an extra $40 per month, $120 total, in benefits for the summer months. *


*Most eligible children get this automatically. Other families must apply for SUN Bucks benefits at their child's school.




Diaper Banks

Dark green rectangle with white diaper icon.

In this year's budget, $16.5 million was secured for diaper banks or local diaper distributions for low-income families with infants and toddlers, for 11 food banks and community organizations. Though this is not hunger-related directly, many parents often face food insecurity due to the cost of diapers, often skipping meals to save money needed for other basic needs.




Keep up with public policy affecting food banks on our advocacy page at: FeedingIE.org/advocacy


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