The Overview

If you live in California, a new state council will now track whether laws and budget decisions are making child poverty better or worse. California's California Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council bill, AB 1996, became law when Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed it Sept. 27. ​

California's child poverty rate nearly tripled from 7.5 percent in 2021 to 18.6 percent in 2024, ranking fourth highest nationally, according to EdSource. Over the same period, the national rate rose as temporary pandemic-era relief expired. The law's provisions are set to become inoperative on July 1, 2030.

What the Law Does

The law creates the California Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council inside the State Department of Social Services, which will staff and run it. The council will be co-chaired by the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Director of Social Services, or their designees, and will include 19 members.

One of the council's duties is to evaluate whether policy proposals, budget provisions, or pending legislation increase or decrease child poverty. That gives the council a direct role in shaping how Sacramento weighs the effects of spending and policy decisions on children before those decisions are made. End Child Poverty California, an advocacy organization, described the council's role as measuring, tracking, and evaluating policies related to reducing child poverty, according to the End Child Poverty California organization's AB 1996 page.

The council must submit a progress report to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2030, and the law is repealed entirely as of Jan. 1, 2031.

Legislative Status

Asm. Mia Bonta (D) sponsored the bill, with Weber Pierson and Rubio listed as co-authors. The full Assembly passed it 72-0 on May 21. The Senate passed it 39-0 on Aug. 27, and the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments 78-0 on Aug. 28.

Gov. Newsom included the bill in his Sept. 27 legislative update announcing signed bills, according to the Governor's office.

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