Capitol Summit 2026 Concludes With 120 Lobby Meetings Across All Legislative Offices; Jewish California Emerges with Broad Commitments on Security Funding, Antisemitism, And Safety-Net Protections

Two-day program at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento – headlined by Doug Emhoff, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, and LA County DA Nathan Hochman – brought nearly 700 Jewish constituents to the State Capitol behind a focused six-bill package.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Jewish California (formerly JPAC) concluded Capitol Summit 2026 Tuesday evening after two days of programming and lobby meetings that brought nearly 700 Jewish leaders, advocates, and allies from across the state to the California Capitol. Fifty constituent lobby groups completed meetings in all 120 California legislative offices on Tuesday in support of a focused six-bill package addressing antisemitism and faith-community security, recognizing Jewish identity as an ethnicity, and protecting refugees, food assistance, and Medi-Cal recipients from federal cuts.

The lobby meetings took place just days before bills face a key fiscal committee deadline and weeks before votes on the Senate and Assembly floors. The conference also preceded Governor Newsom announcing his May budget proposal later this week.

Across two days, the Summit drew over 30 California legislators – including at Monday evening's reception and dinner with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus – and keynote remarks from former U.S. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff; Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman; ADL Board Chair Nicole Mutchnik; and Reuben D. Rotman, founding President & CEO of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies.

FROM JEWISH CALIFORNIA CEO DAVID BOCARSLY

“For two days, nearly 700 Jewish Californians and allies filled the biggest ballroom in Sacramento – diverse constituents from across California who care deeply about their state, coming together as one unified communal voice. We met every legislator's office. We brought specific bills, motivated by specific stories from our own lived experiences. That is the kind of advocacy that moves legislation, and it is the kind of community that builds trust across the aisle, across faiths, and across regions.”

– David Bocarsly, CEO, Jewish California

“We came to Sacramento with six bills and a clear ask: protect Jewish and all vulnerable Californians, and protect the Californians who depend on the safety net the federal government is now pulling out from under. We leave with strong momentum for our policy priorities ahead of Thursday’s fiscal committee deadline. The Summit is the start of the conversation, not the end.”

– David Bocarsly, on next steps for the 6-bill package

WHAT HAPPENED OVER TWO DAYS

• Monday, May 11 – Opening session, keynote remarks, and workshops: ADL Board Chair Nicole Mutchnik and LA County DA Nathan Hochman opened the Summit, followed by an in-depth panel with Doug Emhoff and Alex Weingarten about their firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP successfully defending AB 715 in court on behalf of Jewish California.

• Monday evening – Legislators Reception and Dinner with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus: More than 30 lawmakers attended. Members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus spoke about their deep partnership with Jewish California to address issues of shared concern.

• Tuesday morning – Keynote remarks, breakout panels, and policy briefings: Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalkis and NJHSA President & CEO Reuben Rotman opened Day Two. Breakout panels dove into the two themes in our bill package, and constituents were trained on the six-bill package and prepared for afternoon lobby visits.

• Tuesday – 50 lobby groups visit all 120 legislative offices: The largest single-day Jewish lobby push at the California Capitol. This is strategically in advance of Thursday’s deadline when the Appropriations Committees of both houses will announce which bills advance to their respective chambers.

• Honors program: Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur and Asm. Dawn Addis received the Legislator of the Year award for their authorship of AB 715, California's K-12 antisemitism education law signed in 2025. Students, teachers, and representatives from dozens of organizations presented them with their deepest gratitude and appreciation. Dr. Anita Friedman, Executive Director of Jewish Family and Children's Services, received the Civic Leader of the Year award for decades of leadership fighting antisemitism, providing Holocaust survivor support and care for vulnerable Californians, and building Jewish California’s infrastructure.

WHERE THE 6-BILL PACKAGE GOES FROM HERE

• AB 1836 (Asm. Jesse Gabriel) & $100 million budget request – Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Includes a $100 million state budget request and expands grant eligibility to off-site community events. Co-sponsored with Equality California.

• AB 2664 (Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan) – Safe Worship Zone Act, establishing a 100-foot bubble zone around houses of worship.

• SB 1387 (Sen. Henry Stern) – Adds Jewish as an ethnicity option in state data systems.

• $20 million Refugee Services Budget Request – Continuation funding for refugees already in resettlement.

• AB 2161 (Asm. Mia Bonta) – Protect Medi-Cal Coverage for over 2 million low-income Californians.

• AB 2299 (Asm. Lisa Calderon) – Protect Food Benefits for ~1 million Californians at risk of losing federal SNAP.

All bills are now in the Appropriations Committee, with determinations expected on Thursday, May 14th. The budget requests are being negotiated between the Governor and Legislature, with a budget bill expected by June 15th.

The 6-bill package and full 2026 agenda are at jewishcal.org/2026-legislation.