CA SB1254

Requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a CalFresh workgroup by February 1, 2026, composed of representatives from state and county agencies, community organizations, sheriffs, and formerly incarcerated individuals to develop recommendations for helping incarcerated people obtain CalFresh benefits upon reentry.

Mandates the workgroup meet quarterly and submit annual reports to the department and Legislature by August 31, 2027, and each August 31 through 2030, with recommendations for a state reentry process incorporating resources for CalFresh enrollment.

Requires the department to seek federal waivers by January 1, 2026, to allow preenrollment of incarcerated applicants prior to release and to delay verification for up to five months.

Directs the department to partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county jails to enable preenrollment of otherwise eligible incarcerated individuals, conditioned on counties implementing the Justice-Involved Initiative under Medi-Cal provisions.

All provisions become effective upon notification to the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform necessary automation to implement the requirements.