Policy Brief Series: Projecting the California Impact of H.R. 1

Projecting the California Impact of H.R. 1

Passed by Congress and signed into law in July 2025, H.R. 1 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act") represents a landmark change in U.S. federal safety net and tax policy. H.R. 1 includes major policy changes across key federal programs that address basic needs as well as changes to income taxes and tax credits that are important for low-income families. California, with its large and diverse population, is an important state context for understanding the impact of H.R. 1. Understanding which Californians are likely to be affected, where effects may be felt most strongly, and how these policy changes may translate into broader impact on poverty is important for informing potential community and policy responses. This 2026 policy brief series by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality seeks to analyze projected California impacts of H.R. 1 – and of potential state and local policy responses – using the California Poverty Measure (CPM), a state-specific measure of poverty developed by CPI in partnership with Public Policy Institute of California.

 

Policy Brief #1: The Poverty Impact of New Federal SNAP Food Assistance Work Requirements in California

The first policy brief in this series focuses on H.R. 1 changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, known as CalFresh in California), specifically the expansion of work reporting requirements for certain adults beginning in June 2026.

Citation: Saucedo, Monica and Kimberlin, Sara (2026). The Poverty Impact of New Federal SNAP Food Assistance Work Requirements in California. Policy Brief Series: Projecting the California Impact of H.R. 1. Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality.

 

Stay tuned for upcoming briefs in this series focused on changes to refundable tax credits, chilling effects related to immigration policy, overall poverty impact, and policy responses to H.R. 1.

Support for this work was provided by Tipping Point Community. Research was conducted independently by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality.