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Bill

AB 1357

Guaranteed income payments: consideration as income or resources.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alex Lee and 1 co-sponsor

AB 1357 prevents guaranteed income payments from reducing eligibility for means-tested benefits, protecting recipients from losing aid while receiving pilot program or future guaranteed income payments.

In committee: Held under submission.
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Bill Summary · AB 1357

Legislative bill overview

AB 1357 prohibits California from counting guaranteed income payments as income or resources when determining eligibility for means-tested public benefits programs like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs. The bill ensures that recipients of guaranteed income pilot programs or future initiatives won't lose existing safety net benefits due to receiving these payments.

Why is this important

Guaranteed income programs aim to reduce poverty and economic instability, but without this protection, recipients could face a "benefits cliff" where guaranteed income disqualifies them from other assistance, leaving them worse off financially. This bill preserves the supplemental nature of both guaranteed income and traditional benefits, maximizing total support for vulnerable populations while protecting program participation incentives.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Exempting guaranteed income from benefit calculations could increase overall government spending by preventing benefit reductions that would otherwise offset guaranteed income payments
  • Program definition disputes: Questions about which payments qualify as "guaranteed income" versus regular wages or income assistance, and whether this creates loopholes
  • Work incentive effects: Debate over whether removing income counting actually encourages work participation or reduces employment incentives by maintaining full benefit access regardless of earnings

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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