California will begin restricting access to a key legal aid fund for undocumented immigrants with serious or violent felony convictions starting next year, marking the first eligibility change to the Equal Access Fund since its creation over 25 years ago.
The Equal Access Fund, administered by the State Bar of California, provides civil legal aid to low-income residents, including services for housing, health care, and immigration. The new restriction means individuals with certain felony convictions will no longer be eligible for assistance funded through the program beginning in 2026.
