WatchGov

California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 1655

CalWORKs: temporary absence: immigration detention.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (2)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of federal, state, and county funds, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law sets forth provisions for the calculation of the amount of CalWORKs aid eligible to a household based in part on the size of the assistance unit. Under existing law and CalWORKs rules, aid is not affected for a member of the assistance unit who is temporarily absent from the home, and a child who is a patient in a public or private hospital for medical or surgical care is considered temporarily absent from the home for the duration of the hospital stay. Under this bill, beginning July 1, 2027, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automations, whichever is later, a child or other member of the assistance unit who is detained in a federal immigration detention facility would be considered temporarily absent from the home for the duration of the detention. Under the bill, the assistance unit would remain eligible to continue receive assistance and services if specified conditions are met, including that the remaining members of the assistance unit continue to meet eligibility requirements. The bill would authorize any written sworn statement by the applicant or recipient to be sufficient to establish that a member of the assistance unit has been detained in an immigration detention facility. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions through all-county letters or similar written instructions until regulations are adopted. The bill would make related legislative findings. By creating new duties for counties relating to expanded eligibility under CalWORKS, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of the bill. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 8:01 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 25, 2026
House		AB 1655 Bryan Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Aug 20, 2026
Senate		3rd Reading AB1655 Bryan et al. By DurazopassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 3, 2026
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Jun 30, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 29, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see
May 27, 2026
House		AB 1655 Bryan Assembly Third ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 7, 2026
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Mar 24, 2026
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see

Actions