Newsom vetoes bill that would change food aid rules for immigrants, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/newsom-vetoes-bill-that-would-change-food-aid-rules-for-immigrants/ar-AA2cR8tn?ocid=BingNewsVerp)

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1049, legislation authored by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez that sought to alter how the state determines financial eligibility for certain immigrants receiving state-funded food aid.

Key Details of the Story

• What the bill proposed: The legislation aimed to modify “sponsor deeming” rules under the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides food assistance to low-income individuals who do not qualify for federal CalFresh benefits solely due to their immigration status. Under current rules, the income and resources of an immigrant’s financial sponsor are factored in when determining whether they qualify for aid. AB 1049 sought to change these rules to prevent confusion, fear, or hesitation among eligible immigrants needing assistance.

• Advocates’ stance: Supporters, including immigrant advocacy groups such as the California Immigrant Policy Center, argued that sponsor deeming intimidates applicants and creates unnecessary barriers to basic nutrition, maintaining that access to food is a fundamental human right regardless of birthplace or legal status.

• Why Newsom vetoed it: In his veto message, Governor Newsom explained that changing the rules for CFAP would create significant discrepancies with the federally funded CalFresh program, which shares the same application system and sponsor requirements. He expressed concern that such inconsistencies could be weaponized at the federal level. He also noted that existing exemptions already protect vulnerable applicants and urged the state to increase awareness of those existing provisions instead.

• The outcome: With the veto, the current sponsor-deeming regulations remain fully in effect for all CFAP applicants and recipients.