SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, and Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Vice Chair, made the following statements regarding Governor Gavin Newsom signing the 2024-25 state budget:
“The future of our Golden State is intertwined with the invaluable contributions of nearly 16 million Latinos, who are integral to California’s status as a global economic and cultural powerhouse. This budget is balanced, responsible, and maintains essential state services that will help Latinos in California thrive and prosper,” said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Chair. “I want to thank Governor Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas for working with our Caucus to craft a budget within our existing fiscal constraints that nonetheless supports the hopes and dreams of Latinos in our state.”
“I am proud that this state budget, despite a historic deficit, honors the Latino Caucus’ core mission to protect our most vulnerable members of society. Maintaining key investments in health care, education, and legal aid, and preserving the social safety net was imperative,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez, Vice Chair.
Assemblymember Cervantes, Chair, (continued): “The 38 members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus worked hard to ensure that our Latino communities are prioritized in this state budget. It includes many of our Caucus priorities, including preserving access to Medi-Cal for all Californians regardless of immigration status, protecting legal services for our immigrant communities, maintaining our social safety net, and providing support for our foster youth.”
The 2024-2025 State Budget protects key Caucus priorities, including:
- Health for All -
- $94.7 million in In-Home Support Services – funding protected, including IHSS benefits for undocumented individuals.
- $20 million in Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) - funding protected.
- $104.1 million in CalWORKS Expanded Subsidized Employment Program - funding protected at 2022-2023 state budget levels.
- $30 million in Family Urgent Response System (FURS) - funding protected.
- $12 million in Outreach, Education, and Free Tax Preparation Assistance (FTPA) - funding protected.
- $10 million in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Immigration Services - funding protected.
- $7 million in CSU Immigrant Legal Services - funding protected.
- $29 million in Border Shelter Services for Immigrants with Rapid Response Relief - funding protected.
- $13.7 million in UCLA Latinas Futures - funding protected.
“The Latino Caucus will continue to uplift and amplify the voices of Latinos in California and ensure that they are heard loudly and clearly at our State Capitol.”
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