TICAS Commends Governor Newsom’s Proposed College Affordability, Accountability, and Basic Needs Investments, Though More Still Needed

In response to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of his proposed state budget today,  Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for California at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), issued the following statement:    

“Throughout his tenure, we have been grateful that Governor Newsom and his administration have protected and strengthened financial aid programs and established important connections within California’s education ecosystem, building a strong foundation for furthering student-centered investments. 

“However, the context for this year’s budget is unlike many in recent memory. In addition to ongoing economic volatility, pressing federal policy shifts in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), or H.R. 1, will significantly affect California students. Foremost is the implementation of the newly created Workforce Pell, which raises uncertainty and requires strong consumer protections to safeguard Californians from programs that over-promise and under-deliver.  

“Additionally, programmatic changes to SNAP/CalFresh threaten to narrow access for many Californians, including college students, by increasing work requirements and the state’s share of administrative program costs as well as implementing a historically unprecedented direct-dollar cost-sharing penalty for states with error rates above a certain threshold, including California. We applaud the Governor’s response in allotting $300 million toward CalFresh administrative costs and $1.1 billion for Medi-Cal to prevent disruptions in coverage and access. We urge decisionmakers to consider additional innovative approaches, such as strengthening access to state-based emergency food programs and expanding student exemptions, so that all Californians, including students, have the basic support they need.   

“California’s keystone financial aid programs present key opportunities to more robustly address college affordability. We celebrate the Governor’s continued commitment to higher education affordability, including in this budget proposal, which appears to chip away at the age barrier for university students by increasing the number of annually available competitive grants to 19,000. Additionally, students need increased support to cover non-tuition college costs and eliminate basic needs’ insecurity, which impacts the majority of the state’s students. Notably, the Cal Grant B Access Award currently provides only $1,648 annually and has not been increased for over a decade despite the fact that expenses for students living independently off-campus often exceed $30,000 annually. Increasing the Cal Grant B access award would be a critical and equity-based lever to put dollars in students’ pockets and support their higher education success.  

“Lastly, as federal changes weaken student loan protections and program quality guardrails, it is critical that California strengthens and invests in its own consumer protections and oversight. We commend the Governor for continuing to fund the Financial Protection Fund, which will enable the Office of the Ombuds to address complaints, educate, and protect student borrowers as defaults rise, and wage garnishments begin. California can further reinforce its oversight and accountability by supporting the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education ahead of its 2026 Sunset Review, ensuring that it has the resources and statutory authority to protect students and taxpayers from predatory, low-quality institutions that result in high debt and low-earning careers. 

“Governor Newsom’s FY 2026-27 budget proposal offers a thoughtful starting point as we approach his final state budget. TICAS looks forward to working with him as well as the Legislature and advocates across California to ensure that the budget advances equity, supports student success, and strengthens the state’s commitment to affordable, accessible higher education for all.”