Announcement of 2026 Legislative Priorities
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
Back to the Start’s legislative priorities are grounded in upstream investments and policies that ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. We support evidence-based preventative solutions that promote healthy families and communities, rather costly punitive approaches that perpetuate trauma and harm. After extensive analysis and stakeholder engagement, we will be focusing our legislative advocacy efforts on the following bills for 2026.
Health & Education
AB 2247 (ELHAWARY): T.H.R.I.V.E ACT FOR YOUTH SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE Provides funding for youth survivors and witnesses of gun violence to receive free, timely mental health and counseling services regardless of immigration status or involvement with the justice system. |
AB 1851 (GIPSON): STUDENT HEALTH: SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING Establishes a statewide, integrated framework for social-emotional learning, behavioral health, and restorative practices in California schools. |
Investments in Families and Communities
AB 1969 (BONTA): IT TAKES A VILLAGE ACT OF 2026 Provides grant funding to neighborhood and regional partnership entities to implement place-based solutions to reduce child poverty and advance economic mobility for children and families disproportionately affected by intergenerational poverty. |
AB 2441 (RODRIGUEZ): INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTS TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER Establishes the Community Supporting Innovation Pilot Program to fund community-based organizations that provide holistic and preventative family-centered services, providing alternative support pathways for families in need and reducing unnecessary family separation. |
Youth Justice
SB 1009 (BECKER): LIMITING UNNECESSARY YOUTH DETENTION Limits unnecessary detention in juvenile hall by prioritizing placing minors who are awaiting a court hearing at home or in less restrictive alternatives, except when it is necessary that the minor be detained in juvenile hall for their own or another's protection. |
AB 1659 (RANSOM): SUPPORTING YOUTH TRANSITIONING FROM CUSTODY INTO SCHOOL DISTRICTS Strengthens support for juveniles transitioning out of custody and into local school districts by employing a school district transition liaison to ensure timely school placement and transfer of credits completed while in custody. |
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Stay tuned for more announcements of the priority bills and how you can get involved!
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