What’s Next: Suspense Day is Thursday! ? Here’s what you need to know

It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through the month of August! Candidly, these past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity for the NextGen team with the focus on getting our legislative package through the last stretch of the legislative session. Specifically, the final fiscal committee deadline, otherwise known as the Suspense File hearing, is on August 15th, and later this month, the final floor votes will take place. Bills that pass the respective fiscal committees and subsequent floor votes will then be sent to the Governor’s desk for either his signature or veto by September 30th. So, over the next weeks, stay tuned for more information about possible opportunities to take action!

This issue of What’s Next takes a look at NextGen’s priority bill package as we prepare for Suspense hearings; highlights the important September 3rd deadline for California community college students to apply for financial aid; provides information on an upcoming panel discussion the NextGen team will be hosting at the Meeting of the Minds 2024 conference in September; and plenty more that we’re excited to share with you!

Let’s check out What’s Next at NextGen:

★ It’s a SUSPENSE-ful Week in the Legislature: With the Suspense hearings in the Senate and Assembly scheduled for Thursday, August 15th, the NextGen team is pushing hard to get our policy priorities over the final legislative hurdles and on their way to the Governor’s desk! There’s a lot at stake this year and, as usual, our advocacy work is centered around supporting policies that uplift California’s most underserved communities.

In the higher education space, AB 1160 (Pacheco) is up for consideration – this bill would shield California college students from the harms associated with debt owed directly to institutions of higher education, commonly referred to as institutional debt. In the digital equity space, AB 2239 (Bonta) presents an opportunity to address digital discrimination by being the first state in the nation to define and outlaw a common business practice that has created harsh disparities in broadband access across both rural and urban communities. There is also an important opportunity, through the passage of SB 299 (Limón), to strengthen our state’s democracy by enacting Secure Automatic Voter Registration (SAVR) and several additional NextGen legislative priorities that are working their way through the final days of the legislative session! We’ve recently updated our NextGen Priorities webpage to reflect all of our important bill and budget items!

★ Community College Students – Apply for Financial Aid Today: Calling all California students – will you be attending a California community college this fall? If so, you may qualify to receive financial assistance to help you pay for school! Interested individuals are encouraged to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) before the September 3rd deadline to see if you qualify. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to receive the financial assistance necessary to help you achieve your higher education goals! Learn how you can apply and check out frequently asked questions provided by the California Student Aid Commission.

★ Mark Your Calendar for Our Upcoming Panel Discussion: Meeting of the Minds 2024: From Innovation to Implementation is an upcoming conference centered on workforce systems and the importance of partnerships and strategic relationships that lead to tangible outcomes. This year’s conference aims to showcase innovative collaborations that combine resources, programs, and specific goals to drive positive change in the communities we serve. In partnership with Calbright College, the NextGen team will be hosting a panel discussion featuring experts currently working to create a California–wide apprenticeship hub that will support public sector employers, CBOs, training providers, and other stakeholders in activating and expanding public sector apprenticeships. Join us and share your insights on how to leverage existing workforce development programs and resources to address employment needs within the public sector!

In a brand new Let’s Talk blog post, we’re shedding light on AB 1160 (Pacheco) The Protecting Students from Creditor Colleges Act! ???

Get the facts on institutional debt and how AB 1160 will help students succeed, including how you can join us in urging State Legislators to pass AB 1160:

Read the Blog

★ Did You Know? Next week, on Monday, August 19th, solitary confinement reform advocates from across the state will be convening at the State Capitol for a California Mandela Campaign Day of Action! Join the fight to end the torturous practice of solitary confinement in California by standing with survivors of this cruel and inhumane practice, their families, faith leaders, community members, and other organizational advocates to call on our state’s leadership to do the right thing by passing AB 280 (Holden): The California Mandela Act. Learn more about the California Mandela Campaign!

★ Member Spotlight: This week, we’re shining a spotlight on Senator Monique Limón , who represents California’s 19th Senate District. Senator Limón is the author of SB 299, a bill which would bring Secure Automatic Voter Registration (SAVR) to California with the goal of increasing voter turnout and helping our state achieve a more representative democracy. NextGen is proud to support SB 299, and we thank Senator Limón for being a champion for inclusive democracy on behalf of all Californians - follow along to keep up with Senator Limón’s work!

★ Legislative Deadlines and Insights: With all this talk about Suspense Day, what does the process actually entail?

The deadline for fiscal committees to hear and report bills is a major milestone in the legislative process. Nearly all bills have a fiscal impact, either in cost savings but more often than not in cost impacts to the state. The respective rules of the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees specify a fiscal threshold that requires a bill to be referred to the Suspense File - $50,000 or more in the Senate and $150,000 or more in the Assembly.

Bills that meet this threshold are referred to the Suspense File when they are initially heard by the committees – bill authors generally waive their opportunity to present and debate bills they know will be headed to the Suspense File (at this initial hearing, the public is still allowed to comment on these bills even though they will go to Suspense). Once the full list of bills on the Suspense File is compiled, there is one specific hearing in which each respective Appropriations Committee will take up all their bills on the Suspense File – that day is commonly called Suspense Day. The Suspense file hearing is also vastly different from any other bill hearing as there are no presentations from bill authors, public testimony, or further debate, instead each bill is simply voted on, with either a do pass, do pass with amendments, or held on the Suspense File. As we mentioned previously, the NextGen team is hard at work to get our bills that are on Suspense into a position where they will receive a do pass vote or do pass with amendments vote!

★ Our Mission: NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, gender, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.

Thank you for being a part of our journey toward a more equitable California. As we continue to push for progressive policy change, we invite you to make a difference by donating to support our organization . Your contribution will directly impact our efforts to address environmental, social, and economic inequities throughout the state.

Thank you,

NextGen Policy