By the Unified Savers Editorial Team
This information is based on official California DSS guidelines and is reviewed for accuracy. For case-specific legal advice, consult a qualified attorney or your local legal aid organization.
A California Senate bill that would raise the maximum authorized IHSS hours from 283 to 320 per month for recipients with the most complex care needs cleared its second major legislative hurdle last week, passing the Senate Health Committee 7–2 on June 9. SB 1194, authored by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where it faces scrutiny over an estimated annual cost of $290 million in combined state and federal funds.
What SB 1194 Would Change
Under current law, no IHSS recipient may be authorized more than 283 hours of in-home care per month — a cap set in 2014 that has never been adjusted despite changes in recipient populations and the 2016 addition of Electronic Visit Verification requirements. SB 1194 would create a new Tier 2 authorization level allowing county social workers to authorize up to 320 hours per month for recipients who meet all three of the following criteria:
- The recipient has a primary diagnosis involving a progressive neurological condition (ALS, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, or late-stage Parkinson’s disease) or a severe traumatic brain injury
- The recipient scores a 4 or 5 (substantial or total dependence) on at least six of the eight personal care tasks assessed on the Uniform Assessment Tool
- The recipient does not reside in a licensed care facility and would face imminent nursing home placement without additional IHSS hours, as documented by a physician
If enacted, the expansion would affect an estimated 14,200 recipients statewide, according to CDSS projections included in the committee analysis. Los Angeles County would account for the largest share — approximately 4,800 eligible recipients — followed by San Diego (1,900) and Sacramento (900).
The Path to 283 Hours and Why Advocates Say It’s Not Enough
The current 283-hour monthly ceiling translates to approximately 70.75 hours per week — less than the equivalent of 10 hours per day, seven days a week. For recipients who need around-the-clock supervision or care but do not qualify for 24-hour institutional placement, this gap has long been a pressure point.
Disability rights advocates testified before the Health Committee that the 283-hour cap was designed for an earlier era when IHSS served a less medically complex population. “We have people who need help getting out of bed, eating, breathing assistance, and cognitive supervision every day,” testified a representative from the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. “Two hundred eighty-three hours leaves a 50-hour gap every month. Where does that care come from?”
CDSS data submitted to the committee shows that approximately 6,100 recipients are currently authorized at exactly 283 hours — the cap — and that social workers flagged many of these cases as under-served relative to documented needs.
Opposition Arguments
Two committee members voted no, citing state budget constraints and concerns about implementation. Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) argued that expanding the hours cap without first addressing the provider shortage in rural counties would leave authorized hours unfilled. “We can authorize 320 hours on paper, but if there’s no provider available, the recipient doesn’t get the care,” Grove said during the hearing.
The Department of Finance submitted a letter expressing concern about the $290 million price tag in the context of a tightening state budget, and asked the committee to amend the bill to phase in the hours increase over three years rather than implementing it immediately on January 1, 2027, as currently written.
Senator Durazo indicated she is open to a phased timeline but said she would resist any amendment that narrows eligibility criteria below the three-factor test in the current bill text.
Timeline and What to Watch
SB 1194 will be heard in Senate Appropriations in July. If it clears that committee, it will move to the Senate floor for a full vote in August, ahead of the September 12 deadline for the Legislature to pass bills to the governor. Governor Newsom has not taken a public position on SB 1194 but signed a related bill — AB 918 (2024) — that modestly expanded Protective Supervision eligibility.
For care recipients approaching the 283-hour ceiling, advocates recommend documenting unmet care hours now and working with county social workers to flag cases as potentially eligible for the new tier if the bill is signed into law.
Related guides: IHSS Maximum Hours Per Month: 2026 Limits Explained · How to Get More IHSS Hours · IHSS Eligibility Requirements California · IHSS Protective Supervision · IHSS Caregiver Rights
See also: How to Appeal an IHSS Hours Reduction — if your authorized hours are at or near the current 283-hour cap, learn how to appeal for additional hours through the fair hearing process.