Assembly BillChaptered/SignedWelfare and Institutions
AB 798: State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program: diapers and wipes.
What AB 798 does, verified December 7, 2025
The bill aims to provide diapers and wipes to low-income families with infants or toddlers. It would include children's diapers and wipes in the state emergency food bank reserve program. The program would allow funds to be used for purchasing and distributing diapers and wipes in eligible communities. Food banks would be reimbursed for their efforts in distributing the diapers and wipes. This would help prevent hunger and support vulnerable families during natural or human-made disasters.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 596, Statutes of 2025. (2025-10-11)Alert me
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| Oct. 11, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 596, Statutes of 2025. |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 23, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Sep. 11, 2025 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3302.). |
| Sep. 11, 2025 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0.). |
Latest bill textChaptered version, October 11, 2025 · 1,063 words
Assembly Bill No. 798
CHAPTER 596
An act to amend Section 18995.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to children’s health.
[ Approved by Governor October 11, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 11, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 798, Calderon. State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program: diapers and wipes.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, subject to appropriation, to administer the State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program in order to provide food and funding for the provision of emergency food and related costs to food banks serving low-income Californians to prevent hunger during natural or human-made disasters, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to distribute funds under the program upon a proclamation or declaration of a disaster or state of emergency.
Under existing law, a recipient of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program who is participating in a welfare-to-work plan is eligible for $30 per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age. Under the Budget Act of 2024, certain funding is appropriated to the department to allocate to specified food banks and other regional entities for the purpose of distributing diapers and wipes to low-income families with infants or toddlers.
This bill would include children’s diapers and wipes in the list of supplies under the State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program. The bill would authorize the use of funds distributed under the program for purchasing and distributing children’s diapers and wipes in eligible communities and for reimbursing food banks, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Diapers are essential for the health and well-being of babies and toddlers, yet one in two families in the United States struggles to afford diapers.
(b) A lack of diapers is not only a public health issue, but also an obstacle to economic mobility for low-income families.
(c) Diapers alone can cost approximately $100 or more per month per child, or approximately 4 percent or more of a person’s total income if they are making California minimum wage, with low-income families disproportionately experiencing the burden.
(d) One in four parents or caregivers who rely on childcare services and who do not have enough diapers often cannot drop their children off at childcare, leading to missed days at work and school, missed early education opportunities for toddlers, and an increased likelihood of painful rashes and infections.
(e) The benefit programs CalFresh and the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program) do not provide diaper aid.
(f) In April 2018, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program began providing diaper aid as a supportive service, to a person participating in a welfare-to-work plan, in the amount of $30 per month for each child within a certain age range.
(g) Diapers are the fourth greatest cost burden for many families.
(h) According to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California’s nine largest wildfires have occurred within the last decade. Two of the most destructive fires, categorized by structures destroyed, include the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires. Furthermore, California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment notes that, by 2100, the frequency of extreme wildfires burning over approximately 25,000 acres could increase by nearly 50 percent.
(i) Expanding the geographic reach of the state’s diaper distribution efforts will address diaper need in California, especially for vulnerable families, while leveraging and strengthening existing safety-net investments.
SEC. 2.
Section 18995.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:18995.1.
(a) (1) Subject to an appropriation for this purpose, the State Department of Social Services shall administer the State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program to provide food, children’s diapers, wipes, and funding for the provision of emergency food, children’s diapers, wipes, and related costs to food banks serving low-income Californians to prevent hunger during natural or human-made disasters.(2) For purposes of this chapter, “food banks” means participating providers operating in California under the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (Parts 250 and 251 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations), or the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (Parts 247 and 250 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations), members of the nonprofit organization Feeding America that are based in California, and members of the California Association of Food Banks.
(b) Upon a proclamation or declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the governing body of a county, city, or city and county, or by an official designated by ordinance adopted by that governing body, the state, or the federal government, the department may distribute funds for the purposes set forth in subdivision (c). The department shall determine the best method for distribution to ensure that the funds are used for the purposes specified in this chapter.
(c) Funds distributed pursuant to this chapter may be used for all of the following purposes:
(1) To purchase and distribute food in eligible communities.
(2) To reimburse food banks for food and the costs associated with the procurement and distribution of food in eligible communities.
(3) To purchase and distribute children’s diapers and wipes in eligible communities.
(4) To reimburse food banks for children’s diapers and wipes and the costs associated with the procurement and distribution of children’s diapers and wipes in eligible communities.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, agreements awarded pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the Public Contract Code, and the State Contracting Manual, and shall not be subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.
(e) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this chapter by means of letter or similar instructions without taking any regulatory action.
(f) The Legislature finds and declares that this chapter is a state law that provides assistance and services for undocumented persons within the meaning of Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
Text of AB 798 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions