2025 Legislative Priorities
About HOPE's 2025 Legislative Priorities
HOPE® empowers Latinas through civic leadership, policy advocacy, and by spotlighting their vital role in California’s growth. Although Latinas make up 20% of the state’s population and 40% of all women, systemic barriers persist in leadership, education, economic opportunity, and healthcare.
HOPE is actively advocating for the passage of key legislation that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing Latinas in California. These efforts are part of HOPE’s 2025 Policy Platform, which outlines solutions across four priority areas: Representation, Economic and Educational Parity, and Healthcare Access and Equity. Grounded in data, this platform drives meaningful and lasting change for Latinas statewide.
Senate Bill 702 (Limón): Transparency in Boards and Commissions
HOPE SPONSORED BILL
The Challenge:
Despite California’s commitment to equity and inclusion, there is currently no formal system for tracking or reporting the demographic makeup of appointments to the state’s 560+ boards and commissions. Without transparency, it’s difficult to assess whether these decision-making bodies truly reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. This lack of accessible information weakens public trust and limits accountability in the appointment process.
The Solution:
Senate Bill 702, authored by Senator Monique Limón, offers a straightforward fix: greater transparency. SB 702 requires the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to annually report and publicly post aggregate demographic data—such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, and other voluntarily reported characteristics—of individuals appointed to statewide boards and commissions. The Governor’s Office must also maintain an updated website listing board vacancies, current members, and meeting frequency.
By shining a light on who holds power in these spaces, SB 702 fosters inclusive governance and empowers communities to engage in shaping state policy. The annual reports will help ensure appointments are equitable, representative, and accessible to all Californians.
Expanding Access to Dual Enrollment
HOPE SPONSORED BILLS
The Challenge:
While California’s dual enrollment programs are designed to give high school students a head start on college, many barriers still prevent equitable access. Students from Latino, low-income, and underserved communities are disproportionately underrepresented in dual enrollment participation. In fact, 82% of California high schools have zero students enrolled in community college courses, often due to complicated application processes, limited course availability, and lack of online learning options.
The Solution:
HOPE is proud to co-sponsor three pieces of dual enrollment legislation, in partnership with organizations like the Education Trust West and the California High School Coalition to expand access to dual enrollment, remove student level barriers to participation, and provide schools with the support they need to implement these programs!
- AB 731 (Fong): Removing Student-level barriers to dual enrollment
This bill would streamline the dual enrollment application process and provide students with more flexibility on how they meet the existing 15-unit cap on courses. It also would improve program evaluation by enhancing data collection and reporting on student outcomes.
- AB 1122 (Bryan): Statewide Policy to Guarantee Universal Access to Dual Enrollment
This bill seeks to expand equitable access to dual enrollment opportunities for California’s K-12 students by ensuring all school districts offer a dual enrollment pathway by 2030.
- SB 438 (Cabaldon): Removing school funding penalty for CCAP
SB 438 will expand access to College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships by adjusting the minimum instructional time requirements for high school students enrolled in this programs.
By making dual enrollment more accessible, these bills help level the playing field and equips more students with the tools they need for academic and career success.
Testimonial
HOPE’s work to influence legislation and budget priorities brings an important voice to the state and nation’s capital. Most importantly, HOPE has instilled in hundreds of Latinas from every part of California, every income level, every education level, and every industry sector, that civic participation is a responsibility.
Get Involved
Support HOPE AdvocacyContact
To learn more about HOPE’s legislative priorities and advocacy work, please contact Maria Morales, Policy Director.