California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Statement on Governor Newsom Signing the 2026-27 State Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Statement on Governor Newsom Signing the 2026-27 State Budget

SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblymember Chris Ward and Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair and Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus are proud to announce the inclusion of several key initiatives and protections in the 2026-27 state budget that will benefit LGBTQ+ Californians, particularly their health, safety, education, transition-to-civilian-life process for veterans, and privacy protections, ensuring that our state remains a beacon of inclusivity and support:

“In a year defined by difficult fiscal choices, California once again demonstrated that our values are reflected in our budget. This spending plan protects access to health care, strengthens privacy rights, supports veterans and service members, invests in inclusive education, and ensures LGBTQ+ Californians can live with dignity, safety, and opportunity,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “At a time when the federal government continues to roll back protections and defund life-saving services for LGBTQ+ people, California is choosing a different path – one that invests in our communities and refuses to leave anyone behind. I extend my deepest appreciation to Speaker Rivas, President Pro Tem Limón, Governor Newsom, Assembly Budget Chair Gabriel, Senate Budget Chair Laird, and the subcommittee chairs for their leadership during this time of intensified attacks on LGBTQ+ people.”

“It is often said that budgets are a statement of values, this budget makes it clear that California values LGBTQ+ people. This budget represents historic investments in some of the most marginalized individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, further demonstrating California’s role as a beacon for hope across our Nation,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “I am honored to live in and represent a state that not only celebrates LGBTQ+ people, but invests in their livelihood, their joy, and their humanity across their lifespan. We want to make California a place that LGBTQ+ people can thrive, and this budget goes a long way to making that happen. I want to express my sincere gratitude to President Pro Tem Limón, Speaker Rivas, Governor Newsom, Senate Budget Chair Laird, Assembly Budget Chair Gabriel, and the subcommittee chairs for their leadership and ally ship at this difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community.”

The 2026-27 State Budget invests in key Caucus priorities that support gender-affirming health services, reproductive health, public health and behavioral health initiatives, HIV services. Included in the budget are:

• Gender-Affirming Care Trust Fund & Uncompensated Care Program – Secures $26 Million over 3 years for state-only Medi-Cal coverage and billing pathway, and for provider network stabilization; as well as expanding the existing uncompensated care program to include gender-affirming health care services

   

• The HIV Free Future Plan – Invests more than $500 million over four years to help end the HIV epidemic in the Golden State, representing the largest one-time state investment in the fight against HIV/AIDS in our nation’s history

   

• LGBTQ+ Community Centers Funding – Secures $10 Million for LGBTQ+ Community Centers to provide, expand, coordinate, and sustain culturally responsive health and supportive services that improve health outcomes and reduce barriers to care for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities

• Support for Discharged Service Members – Provides $2 Million to support service members being discharged due to President Trump’s Executive Order 14183, which bans transgender service members from service

• California Community Colleges LGBTQ+ Resource Centers – Renews $30 Million in funding to support LGBTQ+ Resource Centers at California Community Colleges

• Privacy Protections for State-to-State DMV Data Sharing – Enshrines privacy protections into statute in order to safeguard sensitive driver’s license and identification card information, especially for immigrant and transgender community members, from being shared with hostile entities

This Caucus was able to secure and preserve lifesaving investments that strengthen health care, education, privacy protections, and support for transgender service members transitioning to civilian life – ensuring LGBTQ+ Californians across the Golden State have access to the services and protections they need to thrive.

We recognize that future budget years may become even more challenging as federal funding cuts and attacks on targeted investments to marginalized communities continue to threaten critical services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to fighting for a California where every person can access health care, honorably serve in our Armed Forces openly, receive an inclusive education, and live safely and authentically, free from retaliation. Our work does not end with this budget – we will continue advancing policies and investments that protect the rights, well-being, and dignity of all Californians.

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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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