During California's 2017-18 legislative cycle, 75 introduced bills mentioned the Cal Grant program -- evidence of lawmakers' strong interest in the state's free college aid program. Unfortunately, the majority of the bills that would have made the most significant changes for low-income and vulnerable students did not become law. The Cal Grant was designed to ensure that eligible students with financial need can attend any California postsecondary institution they choose, but today's college affordability crisis has denied many students this opportunity. To make college more accessible and affordable for more low-income Californians and students of color, lawmakers should tackle three main fixes to the Cal Grant program: (1) Fully fund and guarantee access to the Cal Grant program; (2) Adjust the Cal Grant to address non-tuition expenses; and (3) Expand the Cal Grant to support student transitions from high school to college. This Equity Alert provides an overview of why each of these issues is critical to address, describing current limitations of the Cal Grant program and providing recommendations that state policymakers can immediately advance.