California WIC Association

Yesterday, AB 2160 was voted out of the suspense file by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and we are pleased that the bill will continue to move forward. The bill now heads to the Assembly Floor, where we hope to see strong bipartisan support.

As part of the Appropriations process, the provision that would allow IBCLCs to enroll as independent Medi-Cal providers was removed from the bill. This was the largest fiscal component of AB 2160. Due to cost concerns, particularly during deficit years, fiscal committees can significantly amend bills to reduce cost impacts without the participation of the bill author.

We are disappointed by this amendment, but remain grateful for the continued support for AB 2160 and look forward to the next step in the legislative process.

The Spring edition of WIC Watch is here! 🌸

This issue highlights the latest updates impacting WIC families and providers—from policy developments to stories from the field that show the real-life impact of this vital program. As conversations around nutrition assistance continue at both the state and federal level, staying informed has never been more important.

Take a moment to explore what’s new, what’s at stake, and how we can continue to support healthy families across California. 💛

📖 Read the Spring WIC Watch now and stay connected to the work ahead: https://calwic.org/wic-watch/wic-watch-magazine-spring-2026/

This weekend, the California WIC Association team had the honor of attending the California Breastfeeding Coalition annual Lactation Impact Awards ceremony — and what a beautiful celebration of the incredible lactation community across our state!

We are especially proud to celebrate our own Karen Farley, who received the California Legacy in Lactation Award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership and lasting impact on families and breastfeeding support in California.

We also want to congratulate the outstanding WIC awardees recognized this year:
- Sara Stone, IBCLC from Shasta County, recipient of the Impact in Lactation Award
- Anette Thornton, who accepted the Workplace Excellence: Nonprofit Award on behalf of Fresno EOC
- Shantal Hover-Jones, Regional Breastfeeding Liaison for Santa Barbara County, recipient of the Rising Star Award

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees. We are so proud of the WIC lactation community and grateful for the compassion, expertise, and advocacy you bring to families every day. 💕

This Mother’s Day, the California WIC Association would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all mothers, caregivers, and families across California.

Every day, WIC families show extraordinary strength, resilience, and love. Whether you are nurturing a newborn, balancing work and caregiving, supporting your family through challenges, or helping your children grow and thrive, we celebrate you and all that you do.

We also want to recognize the incredible WIC staff and community partners who support families with compassion and dedication year-round. Your work helps build healthier futures for parents and children throughout our state.

At CWA, we remain committed to advocating for policies and programs that ensure every family has access to nutritious food, quality care, and the support they need to thrive. We wish you a joyful, peaceful, and well-deserved Mother’s Day.

With gratitude,

Megan, Lena, Karen, Jenn, Holly and Sarah

Thank you to the incredible WIC community joining us this week for CWA’s 34th Annual Conference! We’re so grateful to be spending this time learning, connecting, and uplifting the work happening across California’s WIC programs.

We’ve already heard so many powerful insights and inspiring ideas from our presenters and attendees, and we're excited for what the rest of today and tomorrow hold!

Unmasking the Truth About Predatory Marketing of Infant Formula
🗓 Thursday, May 14, 2026
⏰ 1PM–3PM EST
💻 Virtual
We’re bringing together mothers, doulas, healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocates to
unpack what’s really being sold to our communities and what we can do about it!
🔗 Register: https://bmbfa.org/national-roundtable/

Were you able to join us for Laura Schmidt's session on sugar yesterday? Let us know what you thought of it, and how you're enjoying our annual conference so far!

🚨AB 2160 — Action Needed🚨

AB 2160 has been placed on the suspense file in Assembly Appropriations today. The suspense file is where bills with significant fiscal impacts are held and reviewed all at once before decisions are made on whether they move forward.

Now is a critical moment—we need your support to help ensure AB 2160 makes it out of suspense. Please submit your letters of support to the Assembly Appropriations Committee as soon as possible. Your voice can make the difference!

Find a template letter of support here - https://calwic.org/breastfeeding-policy/support-ab-2160

Many thanks to Mother's Nutritional Center for supporting our annual conference. Are you attending the conference? Be sure to stop by the Mother's Nutrition booth to chat with them!

Check out our new CWA Flash newsletter!
https://calwic.org/cwa-flash/flash-enews-5-6-26/