NextGen California touts legislative wins, presses Newsom on climate and borrower aid

NextGen California says the 2026 session ended with passage of several priority bills on climate, food insecurity, immigration, democracy and workforce development. The group also says budget negotiations fell short on wildfire risk, utility costs and student loan support, setting up a final lobbying push to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Why it matters: - NextGen California says several of its priority bills cleared the Legislature, putting policies on food access, clean energy, immigration, voting access and workforce training one signature away from becoming law. - The group says the session still missed key action on wildfire risk, rising electricity costs and support for California's more than 4 million student loan borrowers.

What happened: - NextGen California marked the close of the 2026 legislative session by highlighting bills now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final action. - Executive Director Arnold Sowell Jr. said the wins reflect months of advocacy with legislative offices, partners and Californians who backed the effort. - Sowell said the group will make a final push urging Newsom to sign the bills.

The details: - SB 327 (McNerney) would bar for-profit utilities from charging ratepayers to lobby against local efforts to municipalize energy service. - SB 913 (Becker) would expand use of customer-owned resources such as home batteries and smart thermostats to support grid reliability and lower costs. - SB 868 (Wiener) would make portable solar generation more accessible, with an emphasis on renters and apartment dwellers. - AB 1857 (Aguiar-Curry) would block restrictive covenants that keep grocery stores and supermarkets out of suitable commercial properties. - AB 1896 (González & Rivas) would disqualify people who engaged in immigration enforcement activity from Jan. 20, 2025, through Jan. 20, 2029, from jobs as California public agency employees or peace officers. - AB 1537 (Bryan, Carrillo, Ortega) would prohibit certain peace officers from secondary work involving arrest, detainment, transportation or deportation tied to federal immigration laws. - AB 1807 (Gabriel & Carrillo) would prohibit use of state-owned property for certain federal immigration enforcement activities. - AB 1116 (Berman) would allow all eligible Californians to register to vote online. - SB 1164 (Cervantes) would prohibit election policies and practices that result in, or are likely to result in, voter suppression. - AB 2301 (Soria) would create a Bachelor of Science in Nursing pilot program at 10 community college districts to address nursing shortages and expand affordable degree access. - SB 845 (Pérez) would expand youth apprenticeship under the state's career education plan. - SB 1012 (Smallwood-Cuevas) would create pathways for incarcerated people with fire camp experience to enter union-affiliated skilled trades jobs. - NextGen California also said the Legislature did not go far enough in the final budget deal on climate issues, including wildfire risks, electric bills and changes affecting the state's Cap-and-Invest program. - The group said no funding was set aside for the Student Loan Empowerment Network, a state program for California's student loan borrowers administered by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

Between the lines: - The announcement shows NextGen California using session-end wins to build momentum while also pressing the administration on unfinished budget fights. - The group framed the legislative outcome as progress on policy but not yet on fiscal support for climate resilience and borrower relief. - The statement also signals an early pivot toward the next gubernatorial administration and a new policy agenda.

What's next: - NextGen California plans to continue lobbying Newsom to sign the bills into law. - The organization says it will begin developing a new set of priorities after the 2026 session. - NextGen California thanked the Newsom administration, the Legislature and lawmakers who backed its priorities, and said it expects to keep working with the next governor's administration. - More information is available on NextGen California.