$69 Million for Health and Safety

When I ran to represent our communities in the State Assembly, I made two commitments before anything else: to protect access to healthcare and fight for safer neighborhoods. Those priorities continue to guide my work every day in Sacramento.

Earlier this year, I was honored to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve on the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health. In that role, I had the opportunity to help shape California’s budget during one of the most challenging fiscal environments our state has faced in years.

After months of negotiations with legislative colleagues, advocates, community organizations and stakeholders from across California, the Legislature approved a balanced budget in June. I was proud to vote in support of that budget and even prouder to secure $69 million in direct funding investments to advance our top priorities: healthcare, public safety and support for our most vulnerable neighbors.

These investments are coming at a critical moment for our state. California faces the very real threat of devastating federal cuts to healthcare funding. Our state is poised to lose more than $30 billion annually in Medi-Cal funding. Cuts of this size will put health coverage at risk for nearly two million Californians. At a time when families are already struggling with rising costs, the fight to protect healthcare access has never been more important.

That reality shaped my approach throughout this year’s budget process. I fought to secure investments that will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, especially for seniors, families, survivors of violence and those who rely on our state’s essential healthcare services.

The largest investment I secured, $30 million, will increase reimbursement rates for private duty nursing, helping families access critical in-home nursing care for children and adults with complex medical needs. I also secured $1.5 million to eliminate the waitlist for Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services, allowing more seniors and people with disabilities to receive care safely and comfortably in their own homes rather than being forced into institutional settings.

To strengthen maternal healthcare, I secured $1 million for a statewide study aimed at expanding California’s midwifery workforce and improving access to pregnancy and postpartum care. As California faces growing healthcare workforce shortages, this is an investment in better care and healthier outcomes for families across our state.

Public safety was another major focus of my budget advocacy. I successfully secured $12.5 million for Trauma Recovery Centers, which provide comprehensive support for survivors of violent crime, including mental health treatment, medical care, housing assistance and employment services. I have witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact these centers have on survivors as they heal after tragedy and move toward recovery and hope.

I also championed $24 million to expand free civil legal assistance through organizations serving Californians facing housing instability, domestic violence, healthcare disputes, immigration matters and other serious legal challenges. For many families, access to legal representation can mean the difference between remaining safely housed or losing their home, escaping abuse or remaining trapped and obtaining critical services or falling through the cracks.

Altogether, these investments reflect a simple belief: when we invest in people’s health and safety, we are building a stronger California for everyone. We create neighborhoods where families can thrive, seniors can age with dignity, survivors can recover and residents can access the support they need when life gets hard.

Beyond these targeted investments, this year’s state budget will protect essential services that millions of Californians rely upon. It avoids deeper reductions to Medi-Cal, preserves access to community clinics and dental care, and takes important steps to shield Californians from the devastation of federal funding cuts.

The $69 million in funding I secured delivers on the promises I made when I first ran for office: to protect healthcare and strengthen public safety. As your assemblymember, I will continue fighting for investments and legislation that ensure every Californian has the opportunity to thrive in their neighborhood. Those priorities brought me to the State Assembly, and they will continue to guide my work in the years ahead.

Assemblymember Catherine Stefani represents California’s 19th Assembly District, which includes the westside of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County.