H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is a new federal law. President Trump signed H.R. 1 on July 4, 2025.

H.R. 1 is a budget bill that outlines a spending plan for the federal government. This includes spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California.

The new law cuts federal money that helps pay for CalFresh. This means:

• Some CalFresh recipients may get less money for food.
• More CalFresh recipients will need to participate in work or community engagement activities to keep their benefits (beginning June 1, 2026 – more information is below).
• Many lawfully present immigrants will no longer qualify for CalFresh.
• There will be changes to how utility costs are counted for some CalFresh recipients (beginning April 1, 2026 – more information is below).
• California will have to pay more money to help run the CalFresh program, even for some of the food benefits themselves.

Because of H.R. 1 and beginning November 1, 2025, the state will implement changes to how utility costs are counted for some CalFresh recipients.

Beginning November 1, 2025, households that do not include a member over age 60 or who has a disability must have heating or cooling costs separate from their housing costs to claim the Standard Utility Allowance or “SUA” deduction. Claiming the SUA may increase monthly CalFresh benefits.

Currently, households that do not have heating and cooling costs separate from their housing costs and do not qualify for the SUA are provided a State Utility Assistance Subsidy (an annual $20.01 energy assistance payment) that entitles them to claim the SUA. Under H.R. 1 this option is now limited to households with a member over age 60 or with a disability.

If your household includes a member over age 60 or with a disability, your county will continue to automatically issue you this annual energy assistance payment so that you can claim the SUA deduction.

Because of this change, households without a member over age 60 or with a disability who previously received an annual energy assistance payment for this purpose may experience a reduction in their monthly CalFresh benefit. A smaller number of these households may lose CalFresh eligibility.

For new households, this change will take effect at application beginning November 1, 2025. For existing households, this change will take effect at your next recertification.

Because of H.R. 1 and beginning April 1, 2026, the state will implement changes to eliminate CalFresh eligibility for most lawfully present immigrants.

Beginning April 1, 2026, the following categories of lawfully present immigrants will no longer be eligible for CalFresh:

• Asylees
• Refugees
• Parolees (unless they are Cuban and Haitian Entrants)
• Individuals with deportation or removal withheld
• Conditional entrants
• Victims of trafficking
• Battered noncitizens
• Iraqi or Afghan with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Certain Afghan Nationals granted parole between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023
• Certain Ukrainian Nationals granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024

Beginning June 1, 2026, the state will implement changes to the CalFresh time limit for adults age 18 to 65 who do not have young children in the home. These people must be excused from these rules or must meet a work or community engagement requirement to keep their CalFresh benefits for more than 3 months in a 36-month period.

People subject to these rules are often called “Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents” or “ABAWDS”

H.R. 1 changes the CalFresh time limit rules so that more people will have to meet the work or community engagement requirements to keep their CalFresh benefits.

People who are excused from these rules include people who are:

• CHANGED in H.R. 1: Under age 18 or over age 64 (reduced from over age 54).
• CHANGED in H.R. 1: A parent or responsible for a dependent child under the age of 14 (reduced from under 18).
• Unable to work at least 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours or more per month because of a physical or mental health issue.
• Caring for a sick, injured, or disabled person who will need your help for more than 30 days.
• Getting or applying for disability benefits, including but not limited to:
  • Veteran’s disability benefits
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • State issued temporary or permanent disability benefits
• Unable to work because you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction or a victim of domestic violence or experiencing chronic homelessness. The condition must be tied to a physical or mental health issue.
• Pregnant (any stage of pregnancy).
• NEW in H.R. 1: Identify as an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA).
• Participating in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) training program for at least half-time.
• Going to school at least half-time (student eligibility rules may apply)
• Living in an area where the ABAWD work requirement is waived.

People who have to meet the work or community engagement requirement must participate in qualifying activity for up to 20 hours per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly. Qualifying activities include:

• Paid employment
• Volunteer work or community service
• Job training or work programs
• Education
• Workfare
• Combination of any of the above

Contact your local county social services office. You can get connected by calling 1-877-847-3663 or by visiting a local office. Find your local office here.

You can also apply online at BenefitsCal.com.

If you need food now, you can find your local food bank.

For a detailed overview of these changes please watch a recorded webinar hosted by the California Health and Human Services (CHSS) Agency and including Jennifer Troia, Director of the California Department of Social Services.

The recording can be accessed on the CalHHS YouTube page with the section timestamps as follows:

• 0:00 – Introduction by CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson
• 2:28 – Medi-Cal provisions by Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Baass
• 26:00 – Covered California Provisions by Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman
• 38:21 – CalFresh provisions by California Department of Social Services Director Jennifer Troia
• 56:21 – Next steps by CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson