Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed

Bo Tefu | California Black Media 

Black Caucus Chair Sen. Weber Pierson Applauds Sen. Monique Limón, New Senate Pro Tem 

Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) has taken the oath of office as the 50th President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, marking a historic moment for the state’s legislative leadership.

Limón, sworn in on Nov. 17, is the first Latina to lead the Senate. A formal induction ceremony will take place on Jan. 5, 2026, in Sacramento. Black Caucus Chair, Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), praised Limón’s leadership and underscored the significance of her appointment. “I am proud to congratulate Monique Limón on officially becoming Senate President pro Tempore today,” posted Weber on Instagram. 

“Her heart for service and commitment to Californians will guide the Senate with integrity and purpose,” Weber Pierson wrote. “With President pro Tempore Limón at the helm, I am confident we can continue to make meaningful progress in improving the lives of families across our state.”

Limón steps into her new role as California lawmakers prepare to address major issues affecting families, workers, and communities across the state. She said the role carries weight during a pivotal moment. 

“I am proud to assume the role of President pro Tempore of the California State Senate at this critical time in our state and the nation’s history,” she said. “I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to move California forward and address the issues impacting the almost 40 million people who call this state home.”

A day after taking the oath, Limón visited a family farm in Ventura for a press conference focused on agriculture, land stewardship, and the experiences of farmworkers. She spoke about her own family’s history, noting that her grandfather picked strawberries in Oxnard and tomatoes in Salinas. She said the visit highlighted the importance of protecting the land and recognizing the traditions tied to it.

Limón also reflected on the fear many farmworkers felt during federal immigration enforcement actions. 

“It is not lost on us while we are having this conversation, there are members of this community who feel the uncertainty, the fear, the concern about the safety issue, about the immigration issue,” she said.

She appeared alongside Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister); Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura); Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno), and California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass. Rivas said that while California agriculture remains strong, federal tariffs and “unprecedented enforcement raids” created “chaos” and “uncertainty.”

Black Voice News Publisher Paulette Brown Hinds Appointed to California Transportation Commission

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, a veteran media executive, educator, and civic leader from Riverside, to the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

The CTC is a key state body responsible for allocating funding and shaping policy for the state’s transportation infrastructure. The 13-member committee also assists the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency in “formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for California’s transportation programs,” according to the organization’s website. 

Brown-Hinds says she “the lived reality of coming from a rapidly growing region of our state that is too often overlooked in policy conversations.”

“As a lifelong Inland Empire resident and advocate, I’ve seen firsthand how transportation can either connect people to opportunity or become a barrier to growth,” she told California Black Media CBM. 

“My work to strengthen civic infrastructure and expand access has always been grounded in advancing justice and equity, and those values will guide my service on the Commission,” Brown-Hinds added.  

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the California State Senate and carries a per diem compensation of $100. Brown-Hinds brings more than two decades of experience in journalism, media entrepreneurship, and public service to the role. She is the founder and managing partner of Voice Media Ventures, a company she launched in 2004, and has served since 2012 as publisher of Black Voice News and Black Voice Studios. Her work has focused on providing culturally relevant, community-centered journalism and elevating underrepresented voices in local and statewide conversations.

From 2021 to 2023, Brown-Hinds was selected as a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, where she explored innovative approaches to sustaining local news and strengthening democracy through media.

Brown Hinds's academic career includes teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of California, Riverside from 2018 to 2021 and serving as an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati from 1998 to 2000.

In addition to her professional work in media and education, Brown-Hinds holds several prominent leadership and advisory positions. She currently serves as vice chair of the James Irvine Foundation and is a Democracy Policy Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. She is also a member of both the American Press Institute and the California Press Foundation.

Brown-Hinds earned both a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of California, Riverside, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, San Bernardino. 

She is registered as a voter without party preference.

California Invests in Community Health and Job Creation Amid Economic Challenges

California is making major new investments in community health and manufacturing, directing nearly a quarter billion dollars toward programs that expand access to health care and to support job creation across the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced two sets of awards last week that aim to strengthen local services, grow regional industries, and boost the state’s long-term economic outlook.

The largest investment includes $145.5 million to 153 organizations that provide community-based health and social services. The funding is part of the state’s Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity and Infrastructure, Transition, Expansion, and Development (CITED) initiative. The program helps local providers expand whole-person care, including housing supports, care coordination, and services for historically underserved communities.

“PATH CITED represents a vital investment in the future of Medi-Cal and the health of California,” said Department of Health Care Services Director Michelle Baass. She said the funding strengthens a more equitable, person-centered system and helps connect Medi-Cal members to the support they need. 

Newsom said the state remains committed to improving access to care and supporting locally tailored services that meet community needs. Through the broader five-year PATH initiative launched in 2022, California has awarded more than $1.66 billion to more than 2,200 providers. The state reports that the work has expanded access for children and youth and helped reduce avoidable hospital visits.

The state is also investing nearly $100 million to accelerate manufacturing growth and create new jobs. Nine companies received California Competes Tax Credits through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz). The awards support an estimated 2,752 new jobs with an average annual salary of $139,000 and will generate more than $370 million in private investment.

“California’s global leadership in innovation and manufacturing continues to set us apart,” Newsom said. The selected companies represent sectors including aerospace, microelectronics, wastewater treatment, food manufacturing, and apparel. 

Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of GO-Biz, said the companies represent the next generation of California innovation.

State officials say the combined investments will strengthen regional economies, support workers, and reinforce California’s long-term commitment to equitable growth across health care and industry.

Legislative Analyst’s Office Releases Outlook on California Budget; State Could Face $18 Billion Shortfall

California may face substantial financial challenges in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, according to the latest analysis from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). 

Despite a surge in state revenue this year, which brought in roughly $7 billion more than expected, the state could face an $18 billion budget shortfall, driven by rising spending commitments and continued reliance on volatile revenue sources, particularly high-income earners and major technology companies.

Legislative Analyst Gabe Petek noted that the state currently has little capacity for new spending.  “There are some particular uncertainties with the numbers, and things could shift in the coming months,” he said, emphasizing that the state’s revenue relies heavily on companies like NVIDIA, Apple, Google, and Meta. Analysts warned that a stock market downturn or other economic shocks could quickly impact California’s finances.

The report highlighted concerns over abnormal growth in spending, projecting future deficits of $20 billion to $30 billion. Several factors are contributing to the strain, including expansion of state programs, new costs from recently passed ballot propositions estimated at $8 billion, and potential federal policy changes that could affect state industries and tax revenue. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed additional spending, including a boost to the Hollywood tax credit, preparation for possible litigation under the incoming federal administration, and potential disaster relief funding. Analysts said addressing these proposals would require cuts to other programs, tapping reserves, or creating new revenue sources. Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) responded to the report on Nov. 19. 

“California’s economy remains steady, despite some self-inflicted economic wounds from our own federal government, including harmful tariffs, attacks on our workforce, and shortsighted federal budget actions,” said Limón. 

She added, while the LAO forecasts a shortfall, upcoming January and May forecasts will guide the Senate in crafting a responsible budget that protects education, childcare, safety net programs, health care, and public safety. Limón also thanked the LAO and stressed collaboration with the Assembly and the governor to develop the best possible budget for Californians.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) urged preserving core services, while Republican Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) called for a review of inefficient programs. Former Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) emphasized strategic investments to support families, and Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) warned of long-term fiscal consequences.

California currently has about $11 billion in savings, but analysts stressed that careful oversight is essential to maintain fiscal stability while meeting the state’s policy priorities.

Gov. Newsom Responds to Federal Court Blocking Texas Redistricting Plan  

Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to a federal court ruling that blocked Texas’ mid-decade congressional redistricting plan, emphasizing that the decision does not affect California’s own redistricting efforts. 

The ruling came after Texas lawmakers redrew congressional maps earlier this year, following pressure from President Trump to secure additional Republican-leaning seats ahead of next year’s congressional midterm elections. The court found “substantial evidence” that Texas racially gerrymandered its 2025 map, invalidating the changes.

“Donald Trump and Greg Abbott played with fire, got burned and democracy won,” Newsom wrote on X following the ruling. “This ruling is a win for Texas, and for every American who fights for free and fair elections.” 

He clarified that California’s congressional map, approved by voters through Proposition 50 in a special election, will remain in place. Lawmakers had removed a trigger clause linking California’s redistricting to changes in other states, making the Texas ruling irrelevant to California.

Paul Mitchell, the consultant hired to draw the new California districts, confirmed the state’s maps would not change. “The trigger language was removed in the legislative process as it was clear that TX was redistricting. So, even if their map is invalidated/postponed, the Prop 50 maps stay in place,” Mitchell wrote on social media.

Earlier this year, California lawmakers passed bills to redraw the state’s congressional map, potentially adding up to five Democratic-leaning districts in response to proposed Republican gains in Texas. 

The Trump administration has sued California over its new congressional maps, with a hearing scheduled for Dec. 3. Legal experts say the Federal Court ruling in Texas does not affect California because the courts in Texas invalidated maps based on racial gerrymandering.

Loyola Law School Professor Justin Levitt told CBS News, “California drew districts overwhelmingly for partisan reasons and there’s actually nothing that the litigants in California have pointed to that indicates California focused predominantly or excessively based on race.”

Newsom emphasized that California will move forward with implementing Proposition 50, ensuring the state’s new redrawn congressional districts are finalized for the 2026 midterm elections. 

Trump Admin Cuts Off Billions in Permanent Housing Funding for Homeless  

California faces uncertainty after the Trump administration issued an executive order in late July cutting federal funding for Housing First programs, a cornerstone of the state’s homelessness strategy. 

California’s Housing First program prioritizes providing people experiencing homelessness with permanent housing quickly, with minimal preconditions. California codified the approach in 2016, requiring state-funded programs to follow its principles.

Jonathan Russell, who oversees homelessness services for Alameda County, described the policy shift as a “tectonic shift” that has left agencies navigating conflicting federal and state rules. “There’s a lot of unknowns,” he said. Local officials are unsure how and whether they can access federal dollars to continue operating supportive housing programs.

The federal move has sparked a debate over the causes and solutions to homelessness. Housing First supporters argue that stable housing is essential for recovery from mental illness, substance abuse, and poverty. Critics contend that providing housing without behavioral requirements can fail to address underlying issues.

Local agencies are evaluating how federal funding cuts may affect operations. Many programs rely on federal dollars to provide case management, mental health care, and other essential services. Without this support, California may need to reallocate resources or seek alternative financing to maintain housing stability for thousands of residents.

Russell emphasized the urgency of clear guidance. “We need direction quickly so that people who are already housed don’t end up back on the streets,” he said.

Despite the federal rollback, California officials stressed their commitment to Housing First. The approach has demonstrated success in reducing chronic homelessness and improving health outcomes for participants.