California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Statement on Governor Newsom Signing the 2025-26 State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Statement on Governor Newsom Signing the 2025-26 State Budget

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus is proud to announce the inclusion of several key initiatives and protections in the 2025-26 state budget that will benefit LGBTQ+ Californians, particularly their health, education, and family-building process, ensuring that our state remains a beacon of inclusivity and support:

“In a year marked by difficult budget decisions, California held firm to its values – investing in programs that safeguard our health, safety, education, and the ability to build a family,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “As the federal government defunds life-saving services for LGBTQ+ Americans, our state’s budget reflects a clear commitment to centering the needs of underserved communities. I extend my deepest appreciation to Speaker Rivas, President Pro Tem McGuire, Governor Newsom, Assembly Budget Chair Gabriel, Senate Budget Chair Wiener, and the subcommittee chairs for their leadership during this time of intensified attacks on LGBTQ+ people.”

The 2025-26 State Budget protects key Caucus priorities that support public health initiatives, foster youth, reproductive health, addressing health disparities amongst queer women, HIV services, workforce development, education supports, and family-building process. Included in the budget are:

• Disbursement of AIDS Drug Assistance Rebate Funds up to $75 million to support programs experiencing loss of federal funding

   

• Restoration of nearly $60 Million of public health funding, including for the California Reducing Disparities Project, support for LGBTQ+ Foster Youth, LBTQ Women’s Health Equity Initiative funds, Reproductive Health Justice funds, STD/HEP C prevention programs, and public health workforce programs

   

• Funding to support California Department of Education’s School Health and Safety Office

• $20 million to support the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund – $15 million for mental health services, youth programs, cultural competency training, and resettlement for refugees, as well as $5 million specifically to support HIV services

• Nearly $2 million to support anti-discrimination and SOGI demographic data reporting in health care facilities in efforts to address health disparities

• $500,000 to support recovery efforts for the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, CA that was targeted by a terrorist attack, as categorized by the FBI – an ask championed by LGBTQ+ ally Assemblymember Greg Wallis and supported by the LGBTQ Caucus

• Builds on LGBTQ Caucus priority allocation to the Access to Justice Commission during the 1^st Special Session of 2025 by investing an additional $6 million for local, specified civil prosecutors to provide legal defense services to mitigate the impact of actions taken by the federal government and to protect reproductive health, environmental justice, LGBTQ civil rights, immigrant rights, other vulnerable communities in California, and funding for the state and its people – an ask championed by LGBTQ+ ally Assemblymember Ash Kalra and the AAPI Caucus, and supported by the LGBTQ Caucus

In total, this Caucus was able to secure and preserve over $150 million dollars to support the health, safety, education, and family-building process for LGBTQ+ Californians across this State. 

While we know next year’s fiscal outlook likely will worsen, especially exacerbated by threats to and loss of federal funding that support LGBTQ+ Americans, our LGBTQ Caucus remains steadfast in upholding California’s values of affording the utmost health, well-being, and safety of all regardless of identity. 

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About the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

California’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LGBTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2023, our membership hit a new milestone of 12 members, becoming one of the largest LGBTQ Caucus in the Nation, and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.

For more information on the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, please visit https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/ 

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