SB 1149 protects workers’ right to use bereavement leave following the death of a chosen or extended family member.

 California relies on an estimated 4.4 million unpaid family caregivers, with an estimated 200-400 thousand of those being youth caregivers. These young people often face unique challenges, including higher school dropout rates, isolation from peers, and mental health struggles. This bill would require the existing Governor’s Council for Career Education to assess the challenges and needs of the state’s youth caregivers to create a Youth Caregivers Career Pathway program.  The bill requires the program includes: 

• a focus on in-home caregiving for youth caregivers, 
• a curriculum for youth caregivers caring for a family member that is eligible for credits toward graduation from high school, and 
• training for careers as direct support professional.

Older Californians Act Budget Request

The California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) proposes $62.3 million in 2026-27 and ongoing to stabilize and strengthen California’s core aging services infrastructure by providing ongoing, reliable funding to fully implement SB 1249 and ensure that older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers can remain safely in their homes and communities. $10.44 million a year (16%) would be allocated to Caregiver Support Services (respite, counseling, training, coordination services) that stabilize caregivers, reduce burnout, and prevent unnecessary institutionalization.

"Patient dumping"—the practice of improperly transferring or discharging residents from long-term care facilities—remains a significant issue in California. AB-2135 strengthens resident protections by codifying stricter notice requirements and increasing penalties for facilities that ignore legal orders to readmit residents. Specifically, it requires a 30-day written notice for most transfers, mandates that notices be provided in the resident’s primary language or accessible formats (like Braille), and requires facilities to notify the Long-Term Care Ombudsman within 24 hours of an emergency transfer.

As new, disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease reach the market, patients often face significant insurance hurdles, such as "step therapy"—a process where insurers require patients to fail on older, cheaper medications before covering newer ones. SB-950 would mandate that health care service plans and insurers cover all medically necessary, FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Most significantly, it prohibits insurers from using step therapy for these treatments (provided at least one anti-amyloid therapy is covered) and requires that these treatments be available as an outpatient prescription drug benefit.

The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program is a vital "no wrong door" system that helps older adults and people with disabilities navigate long-term services and supports (LTSS). Currently, these programs must be operated jointly by two core partners: an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and an Independent Living Center (ILC). Under existing rules, if one partner loses its designation or faces a temporary setback, the entire local ADRC program can lose its official status, disrupting essential services for the community. This bill prevents such shutdowns by allowing the remaining partner to continue operating the ADRC independently for a transition period of one to two years. 

Currently, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) regulates residential care facilities but may not always use standardized definitions when citing violations related to abuse. This bill would close that gap by requiring the department to use specific categories from the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act whenever a violation involving resident abuse is substantiated. These categories include physical abuse, financial abuse, neglect, abandonment, isolation, and mental suffering. Crucially, the bill requires these specific categories to be listed on the department's public-facing database, providing much-needed transparency for families and the public.

The Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver is a critical Medi-Cal program that allows individuals with high-level care needs—who would otherwise require nursing facility or hospital placement—to receive medical care and support in their own homes. For years, this program has been plagued by "waitlists for the waitlist" due to a cap on available "slots." AB-2081 seeks to eliminate these bottlenecks by requiring the State to add at least 10,000 new waiver slots annually starting in 2027, and monitor the capacity to make additional adjustments so no individual is placed on a waiting list.