The California Latino Legislative Caucus Announces 2024 Legislative Priorities to Uplift Nearly 16 Million Latinos in CA

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Latino Legislative Caucus (CLLC), comprising 35 legislative members and three constitutional officeholders, unveiled its top legislative priorities for this year, highlighting the most important issues faced by the Latino community in California.

"Since its establishment, the Latino Caucus has been the primary advocate for the Latino community within our Legislature, striving diligently to promote policies and initiatives that benefit our state's ever-growing Latino population,” said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D – Riverside), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “It is essential to consider the millions of Latinos who call California home in every policy priority: education, environment, health, immigration, housing, economic opportunity, diversity, or civic engagement. Latinos' significant contributions to the state's economy must be recognized, and all efforts should be made to ensure that the California dream is accessible to everyone.”

“Given the growing prominence of Latino communities in California, it is crucial to consider the diverse needs of these communities in all policy decisions. Latinos have an annual spending power of $92 billion, Latino-owned businesses contribute an estimated 650, 000 jobs to our economy and nearly 16 million Latinos call California their home,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez (D – Long Beach), Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “Undoubtedly, Latino communities are crucial to the prosperity of the world's fifth-largest economy. The California Latino Legislative Caucus is committed to championing initiatives that prioritize equity for Latino communities, covering areas such as healthcare access, housing, and environmental issues. I am grateful for the teamwork of my peers in shaping these legislative priorities and urge my fellow legislators to support these bills. This collective effort aims to build a more inclusive future, offering all Latinos a better chance to achieve their California dream.”

"Latinos make up more than 40 percent of California's population and contribute over $83 billion in taxes, yet they have not fully benefited from the state's economic growth. To address this, the state can transform its economy by empowering its largest ethnic group. This package of bills reflects our values and supports the Latino Caucus' mission to improve opportunities for California's almost 16 million Latinos by addressing some of the most pressing policy issues affecting our communities," Chair Cervantes added.

Members of the Latino Caucus voted to prioritize the following 16 bills for the 2024 legislative session:

Economic Equity

• AB 311 (Santiago): Food For All (Two-Year Bill)
• SB 1056 (Rubio): California’s Kindergarten for All

Environment Equity

• SB 1105 (Padilla): Leave for Farmworkers During Climate Emergencies

Education Equity

• AB 2104 (Soria): California Community College Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Pilot
• ACA 20 (Cervantes): The California PROMISE Act
• AB 2586 (Alvarez): Opportunity for All (O4A)
• AB 2852 (E. Garcia): Bi-National Higher Education Exchange Program

Housing Equity

• AB 2140 (J. Carrillo): Building Homeownership for All
• AB 2240 (Arambula): Farmworker Housing

Civic Engagement/Diversity

• SB 782 (Limón): Gubernatorial Boards & Commissions

Health Equity

• AB 4 (Arambula): Expanding Access to Covered California (Two-Year Bill)
• AB 2860 (E. Garcia): Doctors from Mexico Program
• AB 2703 (Aguiar-Curry): Expanding Behavioral Health Access in FQHCs and RHCs
• AB 2131 (Valencia): Expanding Access to Certified Nursing Assistants
• SB 1016 (Gonzalez): Addressing Health Data Disparities for Latino & Indigenous Californians

Immigration/New Americans Equity

• SB 1132 (Durazo): Public Health Inspections of Detention Facilities

The press conference can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube. For more information about the California Latino Legislative Caucus, please visit our website at latinocaucus.legislature.ca.gov.

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