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View Winners → Politics Feb 05, 2025
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The California Legislature closed a special session on Monday by approving $50 million to fund legal battles against the Trump administration and support immigrant legal services.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the legislation swiftly, aiming to tone down the California vs. Trump narrative as the state relies on federal aid for wildfire recovery.
“Let me be blunt, right now, Californians are being threatened by an out-of-control administration in Washington,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, declared, receiving prolonged applause on the Assembly floor.
The Assembly passed both bills in the afternoon, following the Senate’s prior approval. This legislative move comes nearly three months after Newsom instituted the special session, signaling a Democratic “resistance” to counter Trump’s conservative policies. Initially, the announcement sparked aggressive opposition, but Newsom later sought balance between defending California and cooperating with the federal government.
After the Los Angeles County fires erupted, Newsom expanded the session to expedite $2.5 billion for affected communities. While Republicans reluctantly supported wildfire funding, they criticized the legal funding as a misstep.
“I think this is incredibly tone deaf to be moving forward with these bills at this time,” said Assembly member Bill Essayli, R-Corona, emphasizing the need to prioritize disaster recovery over political disputes.
Democrats, however, justified the legal funding as a safeguard against federal actions perceived as threats, citing Trump’s executive orders on birthright citizenship and federal funding freezes.
“I am more afraid now than I have probably ever been in my entire life about what I’m seeing coming down from the federal government,” remarked Assembly member Nick Schultz of Burbank, supporting the governor’s initiative to bolster legal defenses. “Other than California, and the 21 other states, and a few nonprofits that have joined the fight, who else will stand up against unchecked executive power?”
The legislation augments the 2024-25 state budget, granting California’s Department of Justice up to $25 million to counter federal legal challenges and enforcement. The legal defense aims to preserve California’s policies against the federal government’s directives, with Attorney General Rob Bonta actively participating in lawsuits challenging federal aid freezes.
An additional $25 million is allocated to provide legal services for vulnerable Californians, including immigrants facing deportation and other risks due to federal policies. These funds will be distributed through the California Department of Social Services to the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission and nonprofit organizations. Despite Republican concerns about funding potentially supporting individuals with criminal backgrounds, lawmakers clarified that it does not extend to services for those convicted of violent crimes.
