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"slug": "controversial-swan-hunt-appears-to-work-californias-mute-swan-population-drops",
"title": "Controversial Swan Hunt Appears to Work: California’s Mute Swan Population Drops",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> once exponentially growing population of invasive mute swans has fallen by half, less than a year after a new law took effect allowing hunters and landowners to kill them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the objections of animal welfare groups, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab764\">legislation\u003c/a> allowing property owners and those with hunting licenses to shoot the nonnative, destructive swans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mute swan population had ballooned to about 15,000, most around the Suisun Marsh on the outskirts of the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law, which took effect Jan. 1, appears to be working as intended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife last week \u003ca href=\"https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=246953&inline\">released\u003c/a> its annual waterfowl breeding population survey, a snapshot of duck and goose numbers across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, biologists estimated California has around 7,400 mute swans, a 53% decrease from the previous year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a remarkable decline considering how quickly California’s mute swan population skyrocketed in just a few years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11660366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11660366\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice.jpg\" alt=\"Snow geese feed in a rice field in the Williams area of Colusa County.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1253\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-1020x666.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-1180x770.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-960x627.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-240x157.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-375x245.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-520x339.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow geese feed in a rice field in the Williams area of Colusa County. \u003ccite>(Jim Morris/California Rice Commission)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2022, state waterfowl biologists estimated there were just 1,500 of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let’s hope that things trend in our favor,” said Melanie Weaver, the department’s waterfowl coordinator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The regal white birds with orange and black bills might be lovely, but they’re native to Europe and Asia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2008, California banned anyone without a special permit from keeping mute swans as pets or from importing them into the state. Nonetheless, some were brought here and escaped or were released from captivity.[aside postID=science_1926793 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut.jpg']Wetland ecologists and waterfowl biologists say they represent a profound threat to the struggling wetlands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weighing up to 30 pounds and fiercely territorial, the swans don’t migrate. As their numbers grow, they can quickly eat through a marsh’s submerged native vegetation on which other species rely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mute swans also harass or kill native waterbirds including ducks and geese during the breeding season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even so, mute swans have devoted fans who believe there are other ways to control their numbers without killing the beautiful animals. Despite the opposition, no lawmaker voted against last year’s bill, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law remains in effect until Jan. 1, 2031.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/08/california-mute-swan-population-declines/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> once exponentially growing population of invasive mute swans has fallen by half, less than a year after a new law took effect allowing hunters and landowners to kill them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the objections of animal welfare groups, Gov. Gavin Newsom last year signed \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab764\">legislation\u003c/a> allowing property owners and those with hunting licenses to shoot the nonnative, destructive swans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mute swan population had ballooned to about 15,000, most around the Suisun Marsh on the outskirts of the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law, which took effect Jan. 1, appears to be working as intended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife last week \u003ca href=\"https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=246953&inline\">released\u003c/a> its annual waterfowl breeding population survey, a snapshot of duck and goose numbers across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, biologists estimated California has around 7,400 mute swans, a 53% decrease from the previous year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a remarkable decline considering how quickly California’s mute swan population skyrocketed in just a few years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11660366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11660366\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice.jpg\" alt=\"Snow geese feed in a rice field in the Williams area of Colusa County.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1253\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-1020x666.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-1180x770.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-960x627.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-240x157.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-375x245.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/04/SnowGeeseOnRice-520x339.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Snow geese feed in a rice field in the Williams area of Colusa County. \u003ccite>(Jim Morris/California Rice Commission)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2022, state waterfowl biologists estimated there were just 1,500 of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let’s hope that things trend in our favor,” said Melanie Weaver, the department’s waterfowl coordinator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The regal white birds with orange and black bills might be lovely, but they’re native to Europe and Asia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2008, California banned anyone without a special permit from keeping mute swans as pets or from importing them into the state. Nonetheless, some were brought here and escaped or were released from captivity.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Wetland ecologists and waterfowl biologists say they represent a profound threat to the struggling wetlands of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weighing up to 30 pounds and fiercely territorial, the swans don’t migrate. As their numbers grow, they can quickly eat through a marsh’s submerged native vegetation on which other species rely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mute swans also harass or kill native waterbirds including ducks and geese during the breeding season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even so, mute swans have devoted fans who believe there are other ways to control their numbers without killing the beautiful animals. Despite the opposition, no lawmaker voted against last year’s bill, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The law remains in effect until Jan. 1, 2031.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2026/08/california-mute-swan-population-declines/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-us-lawmakers-debate-license-plate-reader-technology",
"title": "California, US Lawmakers Debate License Plate Reader Technology",
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"headTitle": "California, US Lawmakers Debate License Plate Reader Technology | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past year alone, they’ve helped catch suspected murderers, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sjpd.org/Home/Components/News/News/2699/262\">bank robbers\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/redwood-city-police-solve-fatal-hit-and-run/\">hit-and-run drivers\u003c/a>. They’ve located dozens of stolen cars and helped send a wildland arsonist to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/prison\">prison\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also distrusted and despised by privacy rights activists on the left and on the right. Just last month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/monterey-county-man-vandalizes-flock-cameras\">police accused a suspect\u003c/a> in Monterey County of yanking down three of them with his pickup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re called automated license plate readers. Every day, untold numbers of Californians drive past the thousands of cameras that at least 230 police and sheriffs’ departments have posted along roadways or installed on their patrol cars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cameras in real time capture and read plate numbers, then \u003ca href=\"https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf\">cross-referenc\u003c/a>e them with law enforcement databases of vehicles police want to locate, such as stolen cars, getaway vehicles or those that may be carrying a missing or wanted person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2019, California Democratic lawmakers have unsuccessfully sought to further restrict how police use the technology. They’re trying again this year \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1013\">with a bill\u003c/a> that would add limits on how long police may retain license plate data, how they access it and with whom they share it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police agencies and officers’ unions across the state oppose the latest measure, which is similar to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb274\">a bill\u003c/a> Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed last year. “This bill is about one simple principle: Protecting the privacy and safety of Californians while ensuring law enforcement tools are used responsibly before it’s too late,” the author of this year’s legislation, Riverside Democratic Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/sabrina-cervantes-36813\">Sabrina Cervantes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279703#t=168&f=03e459111a80032d25ad98083c53988e\">told the Assembly privacy committee\u003c/a> last month. She did not respond to a request for an interview from CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Critics of the technology cite high-profile examples of California police using license plate data inappropriately, including to stalk or harass innocent people. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/10/newsom-vetoes-license-plate-reader-regulations/\">As CalMatters reported last year\u003c/a>, California officers have repeatedly violated an 11-year-old state law that prohibits sharing the data with federal authorities and others outside the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>404 Media also \u003ca href=\"https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/\">reported last year\u003c/a> that a Texas cop searched a national license plate database to try to locate a woman who had an abortion, leading to fears that conservative states that criminalize abortion are accessing California’s plate data to hunt down patients or providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cervantes’ bill would generally limit to 30 days the amount of time agencies could keep license plate data, unless it pertains to an active investigation or is part of a search for missing people. It also sets limits around who can access the data and adds training and search-tracking requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police and sheriffs’ departments would be prohibited from entering into contracts with camera companies that provide default access to plate databases that federal and out-of-state police can search.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That provision is in response to Flock Safety, a prominent license plate reader company that allowed federal authorities to search local license plate data \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082887/berkeley-extends-surveillance-contract-with-flock-safety-but-rejects-major-expansion\">as part of a pilot program\u003c/a>, said Tracy Rosenberg of Oakland Privacy, one of the bill’s supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082871\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082871\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A protester holds a sign during a rally opposing Berkeley’s proposed contract expansion with surveillance company Flock Safety outside the Berkeley Unified School District boardroom in Berkeley on May 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“(Police departments) learned after the fact, like our advocates did,” Rosenberg said. “And we all said, ‘What the …’ You know, pick your four-letter word.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flock Safety did not respond to CalMatters’ request for an interview, but the company says on \u003ca href=\"https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/does-flock-share-data-with-ice\">its website\u003c/a> that it doesn’t work with immigration agencies and it stopped its federal pilot programs. Local agencies have total control over the data Flock readers collect, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By default, sharing with federal agencies is disabled,” the company wrote. “ICE does not have direct access to Flock cameras, systems or data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why police are opposed\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At least 39 police agencies and officers’ unions oppose \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1013\">Senate Bill 1013\u003c/a>. Combined, they have spent at least $5.6 million on legislative campaigns since 2000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Police say the technology has proven invaluable at helping them solve crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tustin Police Chief Sean Thuilliez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said the technology helped clear an innocent man. It also identified a suspected killer when \u003ca href=\"https://abc7.com/post/juan-marquez-arrested-killing-former-girlfriend-sandra-fernandez-tustin-fleeing-mexico-police-say/19120273/\">a woman was shot and killed\u003c/a> on a street in the Orange County city in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman had just testified against her ex-husband in a restraining order case, making him a prime suspect, Thuilliez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12050362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12050362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Berkeley Police Department squad car in Berkeley on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Thuilliez said that thanks to the city’s 102 license plate readers, eight of which are from Flock, detectives quickly ruled out her ex-husband and were able to apprehend \u003ca href=\"https://orangecountytribune.com/2026/05/18/man-arrested-in-fatal-shooting-shooting-of-anaheim-woman/\">her former boyfriend\u003c/a> at the Mexico border. He’s now charged with first-degree murder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s technology mixed with good investigative work,” he said in an interview. “But within one weekend, we were able to arrest the suspect for this person’s murder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Police Department noted similar successes after \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/07/13/flock-safety-cameras-berkeley-license-plate-readers\">52 Flock cameras\u003c/a> were installed last year. In \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/2026-03-24%20Special%20Item%2001%202025%20Berkeley%20Police%20Department%20Annual.pdf\">a report\u003c/a> to the Berkeley City Council, the department noted license plate readers had been used in 121 cases, contributed to 58 arrests and led to the recovery of 37 stolen vehicles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The department noted its rate for solving robbery cases climbed from 34% in 2024 to 49% the following year, thanks in part to the license plate data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The technology has fundamentally improved how officers patrol and how detectives investigate crimes spanning a range of serious offenses including robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, burglary, weapons violations, organized retail theft, stolen property and DUI,” the report said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why Newsom vetoed last year’s bill\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Such investigative success stories may have helped persuade Newsom to veto last year’s bill, which would have required police to dump their license plate data within 60 days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-274-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a>, he said the restrictions on sharing data and forcing departments to purge it could hinder officers’ ability to solve cold cases and find missing people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom also said there was no money in the budget to pay for the mandatory California Department of Justice audits last year’s bill would have required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070630\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070630\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at the Friendship House Association of American Indians in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To address Newsom’s concerns, this year’s proposal allows police to retain data to locate missing people and it makes a state audit program contingent on future funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom’s press office declined to say whether he has a position on the latest bill, which has advanced through the Legislature with only Republicans voting against it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The measure is now pending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, at least one Republican lawmaker is taking the issue to Congress.[aside postID=news_12090103 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/CAT_Flock-Out_img.png']U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky recently shared a meme of a “Don’t Tread on Me” snake wrapped around a camera. The riff on the yellow Gadsden flag says, “Don’t Flock me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ll soon be sponsoring a bill to withhold federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock (and other style) cameras to surveil law-abiding citizens,” Massie \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/RepThomasMassie/posts/pfbid0ZRCz5XLjEKZ2QtdHT9ibRbHV5wiMVovmTmWJ6NmSeSeUqECmYgqjgDU8t3gwsrjsl\">wrote\u003c/a> on Facebook.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosenberg of Oakland Privacy said she understands the cameras’ usefulness to California police, but she thinks they’ve become ubiquitous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police, she said, also shouldn’t have a permanent pass to keep “mountains” of data for as long as they want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is kind of a balancing act. We as human beings also need some camera-free space,” she said. “We don’t want to be on camera every minute of every single day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/08/california-flock-license-plates-bill/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Every day, untold numbers of Californians drive past the thousands of cameras that at least 230 police and sheriffs’ departments have posted along roadways or installed on their patrol cars.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past year alone, they’ve helped catch suspected murderers, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sjpd.org/Home/Components/News/News/2699/262\">bank robbers\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/redwood-city-police-solve-fatal-hit-and-run/\">hit-and-run drivers\u003c/a>. They’ve located dozens of stolen cars and helped send a wildland arsonist to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/prison\">prison\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also distrusted and despised by privacy rights activists on the left and on the right. Just last month, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ktvu.com/news/monterey-county-man-vandalizes-flock-cameras\">police accused a suspect\u003c/a> in Monterey County of yanking down three of them with his pickup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re called automated license plate readers. Every day, untold numbers of Californians drive past the thousands of cameras that at least 230 police and sheriffs’ departments have posted along roadways or installed on their patrol cars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cameras in real time capture and read plate numbers, then \u003ca href=\"https://ncric.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/California-Law-Enforcement-ALPR-FAQ.pdf\">cross-referenc\u003c/a>e them with law enforcement databases of vehicles police want to locate, such as stolen cars, getaway vehicles or those that may be carrying a missing or wanted person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2019, California Democratic lawmakers have unsuccessfully sought to further restrict how police use the technology. They’re trying again this year \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1013\">with a bill\u003c/a> that would add limits on how long police may retain license plate data, how they access it and with whom they share it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police agencies and officers’ unions across the state oppose the latest measure, which is similar to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb274\">a bill\u003c/a> Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed last year. “This bill is about one simple principle: Protecting the privacy and safety of Californians while ensuring law enforcement tools are used responsibly before it’s too late,” the author of this year’s legislation, Riverside Democratic Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/sabrina-cervantes-36813\">Sabrina Cervantes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/hearings/279703#t=168&f=03e459111a80032d25ad98083c53988e\">told the Assembly privacy committee\u003c/a> last month. She did not respond to a request for an interview from CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/GETTYIMAGES-2265184865-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera is seen near the intersection of Marine Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on March 5, 2026. \u003ccite>(Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Critics of the technology cite high-profile examples of California police using license plate data inappropriately, including to stalk or harass innocent people. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/10/newsom-vetoes-license-plate-reader-regulations/\">As CalMatters reported last year\u003c/a>, California officers have repeatedly violated an 11-year-old state law that prohibits sharing the data with federal authorities and others outside the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>404 Media also \u003ca href=\"https://www.404media.co/a-texas-cop-searched-license-plate-cameras-nationwide-for-a-woman-who-got-an-abortion/\">reported last year\u003c/a> that a Texas cop searched a national license plate database to try to locate a woman who had an abortion, leading to fears that conservative states that criminalize abortion are accessing California’s plate data to hunt down patients or providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cervantes’ bill would generally limit to 30 days the amount of time agencies could keep license plate data, unless it pertains to an active investigation or is part of a search for missing people. It also sets limits around who can access the data and adds training and search-tracking requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police and sheriffs’ departments would be prohibited from entering into contracts with camera companies that provide default access to plate databases that federal and out-of-state police can search.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That provision is in response to Flock Safety, a prominent license plate reader company that allowed federal authorities to search local license plate data \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082887/berkeley-extends-surveillance-contract-with-flock-safety-but-rejects-major-expansion\">as part of a pilot program\u003c/a>, said Tracy Rosenberg of Oakland Privacy, one of the bill’s supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082871\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082871\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/050726BERKELEY-FLOCK-RALLY_GH_010-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A protester holds a sign during a rally opposing Berkeley’s proposed contract expansion with surveillance company Flock Safety outside the Berkeley Unified School District boardroom in Berkeley on May 7, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“(Police departments) learned after the fact, like our advocates did,” Rosenberg said. “And we all said, ‘What the …’ You know, pick your four-letter word.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flock Safety did not respond to CalMatters’ request for an interview, but the company says on \u003ca href=\"https://www.flocksafety.com/blog/does-flock-share-data-with-ice\">its website\u003c/a> that it doesn’t work with immigration agencies and it stopped its federal pilot programs. Local agencies have total control over the data Flock readers collect, the company said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By default, sharing with federal agencies is disabled,” the company wrote. “ICE does not have direct access to Flock cameras, systems or data.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why police are opposed\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At least 39 police agencies and officers’ unions oppose \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb1013\">Senate Bill 1013\u003c/a>. Combined, they have spent at least $5.6 million on legislative campaigns since 2000, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/\">CalMatters Digital Democracy database\u003c/a>. Police say the technology has proven invaluable at helping them solve crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tustin Police Chief Sean Thuilliez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said the technology helped clear an innocent man. It also identified a suspected killer when \u003ca href=\"https://abc7.com/post/juan-marquez-arrested-killing-former-girlfriend-sandra-fernandez-tustin-fleeing-mexico-police-say/19120273/\">a woman was shot and killed\u003c/a> on a street in the Orange County city in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The woman had just testified against her ex-husband in a restraining order case, making him a prime suspect, Thuilliez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12050362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12050362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250730-BERKELEY-POLICE-DEPARTMENT-BPD-FILE-MD-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Berkeley Police Department squad car in Berkeley on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Thuilliez said that thanks to the city’s 102 license plate readers, eight of which are from Flock, detectives quickly ruled out her ex-husband and were able to apprehend \u003ca href=\"https://orangecountytribune.com/2026/05/18/man-arrested-in-fatal-shooting-shooting-of-anaheim-woman/\">her former boyfriend\u003c/a> at the Mexico border. He’s now charged with first-degree murder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s technology mixed with good investigative work,” he said in an interview. “But within one weekend, we were able to arrest the suspect for this person’s murder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Police Department noted similar successes after \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/07/13/flock-safety-cameras-berkeley-license-plate-readers\">52 Flock cameras\u003c/a> were installed last year. In \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/2026-03-24%20Special%20Item%2001%202025%20Berkeley%20Police%20Department%20Annual.pdf\">a report\u003c/a> to the Berkeley City Council, the department noted license plate readers had been used in 121 cases, contributed to 58 arrests and led to the recovery of 37 stolen vehicles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The department noted its rate for solving robbery cases climbed from 34% in 2024 to 49% the following year, thanks in part to the license plate data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The technology has fundamentally improved how officers patrol and how detectives investigate crimes spanning a range of serious offenses including robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, burglary, weapons violations, organized retail theft, stolen property and DUI,” the report said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why Newsom vetoed last year’s bill\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Such investigative success stories may have helped persuade Newsom to veto last year’s bill, which would have required police to dump their license plate data within 60 days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SB-274-Veto.pdf\">veto message\u003c/a>, he said the restrictions on sharing data and forcing departments to purge it could hinder officers’ ability to solve cold cases and find missing people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom also said there was no money in the budget to pay for the mandatory California Department of Justice audits last year’s bill would have required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12070630\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12070630\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/260116-NewsomLuriePresser-32-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at the Friendship House Association of American Indians in San Francisco on Jan. 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To address Newsom’s concerns, this year’s proposal allows police to retain data to locate missing people and it makes a state audit program contingent on future funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom’s press office declined to say whether he has a position on the latest bill, which has advanced through the Legislature with only Republicans voting against it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The measure is now pending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, at least one Republican lawmaker is taking the issue to Congress.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky recently shared a meme of a “Don’t Tread on Me” snake wrapped around a camera. The riff on the yellow Gadsden flag says, “Don’t Flock me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ll soon be sponsoring a bill to withhold federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock (and other style) cameras to surveil law-abiding citizens,” Massie \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/RepThomasMassie/posts/pfbid0ZRCz5XLjEKZ2QtdHT9ibRbHV5wiMVovmTmWJ6NmSeSeUqECmYgqjgDU8t3gwsrjsl\">wrote\u003c/a> on Facebook.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rosenberg of Oakland Privacy said she understands the cameras’ usefulness to California police, but she thinks they’ve become ubiquitous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police, she said, also shouldn’t have a permanent pass to keep “mountains” of data for as long as they want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is kind of a balancing act. We as human beings also need some camera-free space,” she said. “We don’t want to be on camera every minute of every single day.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/08/california-flock-license-plates-bill/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "la-fire-survivors-say-newsom-is-trying-to-help-utilities-reduce-their-wildfire-costs-again",
"title": "LA Fire Survivors Say Newsom Is Trying to Help Utilities Reduce Their Wildfire Costs, Again",
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"headTitle": "LA Fire Survivors Say Newsom Is Trying to Help Utilities Reduce Their Wildfire Costs, Again | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>, chances are you’ve seen the ads that say “Home insurance rates skyrocket” and “The FAIR Plan is broken.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They urge you to contact your state representative to ask them to “fix our wildfire problem to make California more affordable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those ads are connected to what Los Angeles fire survivors, consumer advocacy groups and the insurance industry say is a secretive, last-minute attempt by Gov. Gavin Newsom to help utilities reduce how much they pay for wildfires they cause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the legislative session set to resume next week and run through the end of the month, the governor’s staff has been talking with state lawmakers about addressing challenges around wildfire recovery and rising catastrophic risk in California, a spokesperson for his office confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lawmakers have not released the text of the proposals. Newsom spokesperson Anthony Martinez would not say whether the legislation will do the following, as alleged by fire survivors and a consumer advocacy group:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Limit compensation for fire victims’ pain and suffering.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Eliminate insurance companies’ right to recover wildfire costs from utilities or other corporations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cap attorneys’ fees, making it harder for fire survivors to get representation.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Every Fire Survivor’s Network, a group started by survivors of last year’s Eaton Fire, and Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group that focuses on insurance and other issues, say the bills would shift recovery costs from utility companies to insurance policyholders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Eaton Fire disproportionately ravaged Altadena’s historic Black neighborhoods, including the home that once stood on this lot at the corner of Glenrose Avenue and West Terrace Street. \u003ccite>(Photo Courtesy:William Jenkins/AfroLA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Insurance industry representatives agree. The strange bedfellows are calling out the late political maneuvering known as “gut-and-amend,” which lawmakers use to create bills by gutting other pending bills and replacing their language for a different purpose and are meant to be fast-tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The groups are speaking out against the purported bill package, which appears to align with the goals of Wildfire Victims First, a campaign funded by utilities that, despite its name, has no wildfire survivors groups among its supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Californians deserve a government that works in the open, not behind closed doors,” said Joy Chen, leader of the Every Fire Survivor’s Network, in a press conference last week. She urged the governor to “choose democracy over corporate special interests.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an open \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KPrBXx7Rh6rX_I8fmuJE_FZipdKQGp0ARkYyapDFP4E/edit?tab=t.cpm7mapxvld9#heading=h.btckwp8x4d9d\">letter\u003c/a> to the governor, Chen laid out how she said Newsom has, over the years, already helped utilities shift responsibility for wildfires they cause.[aside postID=news_12093383 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260731-WOODSIDE-FIRE-01-KQED.jpg']The state’s three major utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric, have tremendous influence in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have what seems to be an unlimited number of names, entities and affiliates; donate to campaigns by Democrats and Republicans; and together employ hundreds of lobbyists who advocate for hundreds of bills every session. In the 2025-26 session, their donations to sitting legislators totaled more than $1.2 million, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/financials#giver%5B%5D=oid--10505&giver%5B%5D=oid--8938&giver%5B%5D=oid--4887&transaction_type%5B%5D=Candidate+Donations&transaction_type%5B%5D=Gift&transaction_type%5B%5D=Independent+Expenditures&transaction_type%5B%5D=Party+Committees&transaction_type%5B%5D=Sponsored+Travel&year%5B%5D=2025&year%5B%5D=2026&page=31\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy Database\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Martinez said the discussions between the governor’s office and California lawmakers are informed by a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cawildfirefund.com/sb-254-natural-catastrophe-resilience-study\">report\u003c/a> released in April by the California Earthquake Authority, which under \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb254\">Senate Bill 254\u003c/a> was tasked with studying how the state should “responsibly and equitably allocate the burdens from natural catastrophes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That bill — rewritten so late last year that it required the Legislature \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-cap-and-trade-extension/\">to extend its session\u003c/a> — also allows utilities to shift additional wildfire costs to consumers if their costs exceed a wildfire fund created in 2019 through legislation also backed by the governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three major utilities paid half of the $21 billion fund. Californians paid the other half through monthly surcharges on their electric bills. Eaton Fire survivors have \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-08-01/this-fire-could-have-been-prevented-how-utilities-fought-removal-of-old-powerlines\">sued\u003c/a> Edison over what they say is negligence that led to the fire; the cost of claims from the fire are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-07-23/eaton-fire-could-wipe-out-21-billion-state-wildfire-fund-new-documents-say\">exceed what’s in the fund\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1367\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference of housing & homelessness with new legislation and funding and bills signing, along with other local, state and federal leaders are gathered in San Francisco, California, United States on Sept. 19, 2024. \u003ccite>(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Among the April report’s many recommendations is to put more money in the wildfire fund by increasing the surcharge on utility customers by $8.50 a month, bringing the total to $11 a month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nathan Click, a spokesperson for Wildfire Victims First, said the campaign is calling on lawmakers to “urgently implement” many of the conclusions in the SB 254 report, which he said “highlighted how payouts to financial middlemen — like trial attorneys, hedge funds and insurance companies — are often paid out before wildfire victims receive a single dollar for rebuilding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click did not answer CalMatters’ question about why there are no fire survivors groups on the list of more than 200 organizations that support the effort. Most are local chambers of commerce or business groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CalMatters contacted nearly a dozen of the organizations. Ten did not respond or would not make their executives available for an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the chief executive of one of them, Jennifer Gray Thompson, said she changed her mind about participating once she realized the coalition did not include fire victims groups. Her organization, After the Fire, which helps support leaders in communities around the country that have experienced mega fires, was briefly on the list but was removed promptly at her request, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m from Sonoma,” Thompson told CalMatters. “I’m a national advocate for fire victims. I’m definitely not on their side,” she added. Former state Sen. Bill Dodd, a Democrat whom she said did a lot of good for fire survivors when he was in office, was among those who contacted her to solicit her group’s support for the effort, according to emails she shared with CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A PG&E substation on Mission and 8th Streets in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dodd did not return a phone call and text message from CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Council, another supporter, counts PG&E among its member businesses. Spokesperson Rufus Jeffris said the council “generally supports sensible policies and investments that reduce wildfire risk and increase community wildfire resilience and balance the diverse needs of business, consumers and residents.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Consumer Watchdog analysis of utilities’ required financial disclosures shows that 66% of the non-governmental organizations on the list have received utility-industry contributions, grants, sponsorships and more worth about $7.3 million from 2023 to 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click called Consumer Watchdog a “shadow lobby firm for trial attorneys” and said “it should come as no surprise that they are trying to protect a system that prioritizes trial attorneys over wildfire victims.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spokespeople for PG&E, Edison and SDG&E referred CalMatters to the Wildfire Victims First campaign regarding the campaign and the legislative proposal.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What state lawmakers are saying or not saying\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/benjamin-allen-70\">Ben Allen\u003c/a>, a Democrat from the Los Angeles area whose constituents include survivors of the Palisades Fire, attended the Friday press conference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>Any solutions that we have have to (hold) the responsible parties accountable,\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong> Allen said in a room full of fire survivors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who’s responsible for the costs of wildfire recovery is important to both Allen’s current job and possibly his future one: He is chair of the Senate energy and utilities committee, and is \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/06/california-insurance-commissioner-top-two/\">running for\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2026/insurance-commissioner/\">insurance commissioner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079349\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079349\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ben Allen, a California state senator, speaks during a forum for candidates for California insurance commissioner at the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) in San Francisco on April 9, 2026. The event brought together candidates to discuss the state’s insurance market, including affordability and coverage challenges facing homeowners. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Allen’s spokesperson, Ben Cheever, said the senator was not available for an interview about the specifics of the legislative package.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he sent the following statement from Allen: “I will carefully review any proposal put forth to ensure we hold responsible parties accountable while meaningfully reducing risk to improve affordability. We should not simply shift around the costs consumers pay without addressing this more holistically.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fellow Democrat Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, who represents Eaton Fire survivors, said in an interview with CalMatters that if a legislative package contains the proposals fire survivors suspect they do, she would have a “tremendous issue” with them being presented at the last minute. She also said she has talked with other members of the Legislature who “are very upset with what’s taking place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perez said she would oppose any proposal that limits non-economic damages for fire survivors: “I represent Altadena. I have a friend who lost his sister in the fire. How do you put a price tag on losing your sibling?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The senator also said she was “so frustrated and shocked” that SB 254, which started off as a bill intended to reduce profits for investor-owned utilities, ended up helping utilities instead during the last three days of last year’s session.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12093339\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12093339\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A wall of demonstration EV Chargers and smart electrical panels made by Tesla, GM and Span are on display at PG&E’s PowerHouse in San Ramon on July 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“That’s not the way government should work,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CalMatters also contacted several other lawmakers or their offices, especially ones who lead related committees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following Democratic lawmakers’ offices did not respond: Assembly Speaker \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/robert-rivas-165041\">Robert Rivas\u003c/a>; Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lisa-calderon-165426\">Lisa Calderon\u003c/a>, who leads the insurance committee; and Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/cottie-petrie-norris-165040\">Cottie Petrie-Norris\u003c/a>, who leads the utilities and energy committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spokespeople for Senate President Pro Tem \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/monique-limon-13069\">Monique Limon\u003c/a> and Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/josh-becker-165449\">Josh Becker\u003c/a> responded with emailed statements similar to that sent by Newsom spokesperson Martinez: “The current system is unsustainable and not working for fire survivors, utility customers, or insurance policyholders.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The insurance industry’s concerns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Insurance industry representatives say if insurance companies can’t recover wildfire costs from utilities, also known as subrogation, they will inevitably raise premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t think it’s fair to make insurance policyholders pay more to bail out utility shareholders,\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong> said Denni Ritter, a vice president at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritter also pushed back against the assertion by the utilities’ campaign that insurance companies usually recover their costs from utilities before paying out claims to their policyholders: “It’s not like AAA goes, ‘OK, we’ll pay you once we’ve recovered from the utilities’.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068294\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068294\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E employees work to repair a substation on Mission and 8th Streets in San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2025, after a fire at the site over the weekend contributed to a major citywide power outage. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rex Frazier is president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, which represents the largest insurers operating in the state. He said this campaign is the latest attempt by utilities to chip away at their industry’s possible liability for wildfires. Sometimes, the insurance industry has had conversations with utilities, he said. That’s not happening this time, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now he, like other Californians, is seeing the ads from the Wildfire Victims First campaign, whose website says it’s funded by PG&E, SDG&E and SCE shareholders and three other organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to understand why they’re talking about the insurance market,” Frazier said. “We can’t get a clear answer about what they have in mind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jeanne Kuang contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/07/wildfire-liability-battle/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "LA Fire Survivors Say Newsom Is Trying to Help Utilities Reduce Their Wildfire Costs, Again | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>, chances are you’ve seen the ads that say “Home insurance rates skyrocket” and “The FAIR Plan is broken.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They urge you to contact your state representative to ask them to “fix our wildfire problem to make California more affordable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those ads are connected to what Los Angeles fire survivors, consumer advocacy groups and the insurance industry say is a secretive, last-minute attempt by Gov. Gavin Newsom to help utilities reduce how much they pay for wildfires they cause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the legislative session set to resume next week and run through the end of the month, the governor’s staff has been talking with state lawmakers about addressing challenges around wildfire recovery and rising catastrophic risk in California, a spokesperson for his office confirmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lawmakers have not released the text of the proposals. Newsom spokesperson Anthony Martinez would not say whether the legislation will do the following, as alleged by fire survivors and a consumer advocacy group:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Limit compensation for fire victims’ pain and suffering.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Eliminate insurance companies’ right to recover wildfire costs from utilities or other corporations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cap attorneys’ fees, making it harder for fire survivors to get representation.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Every Fire Survivor’s Network, a group started by survivors of last year’s Eaton Fire, and Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group that focuses on insurance and other issues, say the bills would shift recovery costs from utility companies to insurance policyholders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12076327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12076327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/blackhomesmatter_-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Eaton Fire disproportionately ravaged Altadena’s historic Black neighborhoods, including the home that once stood on this lot at the corner of Glenrose Avenue and West Terrace Street. \u003ccite>(Photo Courtesy:William Jenkins/AfroLA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Insurance industry representatives agree. The strange bedfellows are calling out the late political maneuvering known as “gut-and-amend,” which lawmakers use to create bills by gutting other pending bills and replacing their language for a different purpose and are meant to be fast-tracked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The groups are speaking out against the purported bill package, which appears to align with the goals of Wildfire Victims First, a campaign funded by utilities that, despite its name, has no wildfire survivors groups among its supporters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Californians deserve a government that works in the open, not behind closed doors,” said Joy Chen, leader of the Every Fire Survivor’s Network, in a press conference last week. She urged the governor to “choose democracy over corporate special interests.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an open \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KPrBXx7Rh6rX_I8fmuJE_FZipdKQGp0ARkYyapDFP4E/edit?tab=t.cpm7mapxvld9#heading=h.btckwp8x4d9d\">letter\u003c/a> to the governor, Chen laid out how she said Newsom has, over the years, already helped utilities shift responsibility for wildfires they cause.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The state’s three major utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric, have tremendous influence in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have what seems to be an unlimited number of names, entities and affiliates; donate to campaigns by Democrats and Republicans; and together employ hundreds of lobbyists who advocate for hundreds of bills every session. In the 2025-26 session, their donations to sitting legislators totaled more than $1.2 million, according to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/financials#giver%5B%5D=oid--10505&giver%5B%5D=oid--8938&giver%5B%5D=oid--4887&transaction_type%5B%5D=Candidate+Donations&transaction_type%5B%5D=Gift&transaction_type%5B%5D=Independent+Expenditures&transaction_type%5B%5D=Party+Committees&transaction_type%5B%5D=Sponsored+Travel&year%5B%5D=2025&year%5B%5D=2026&page=31\">CalMatters’ Digital Democracy Database\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Martinez said the discussions between the governor’s office and California lawmakers are informed by a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cawildfirefund.com/sb-254-natural-catastrophe-resilience-study\">report\u003c/a> released in April by the California Earthquake Authority, which under \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb254\">Senate Bill 254\u003c/a> was tasked with studying how the state should “responsibly and equitably allocate the burdens from natural catastrophes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That bill — rewritten so late last year that it required the Legislature \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-cap-and-trade-extension/\">to extend its session\u003c/a> — also allows utilities to shift additional wildfire costs to consumers if their costs exceed a wildfire fund created in 2019 through legislation also backed by the governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three major utilities paid half of the $21 billion fund. Californians paid the other half through monthly surcharges on their electric bills. Eaton Fire survivors have \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-08-01/this-fire-could-have-been-prevented-how-utilities-fought-removal-of-old-powerlines\">sued\u003c/a> Edison over what they say is negligence that led to the fire; the cost of claims from the fire are expected to \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2025-07-23/eaton-fire-could-wipe-out-21-billion-state-wildfire-fund-new-documents-say\">exceed what’s in the fund\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1980px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082708\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1367\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference of housing & homelessness with new legislation and funding and bills signing, along with other local, state and federal leaders are gathered in San Francisco, California, United States on Sept. 19, 2024. \u003ccite>(Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Among the April report’s many recommendations is to put more money in the wildfire fund by increasing the surcharge on utility customers by $8.50 a month, bringing the total to $11 a month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nathan Click, a spokesperson for Wildfire Victims First, said the campaign is calling on lawmakers to “urgently implement” many of the conclusions in the SB 254 report, which he said “highlighted how payouts to financial middlemen — like trial attorneys, hedge funds and insurance companies — are often paid out before wildfire victims receive a single dollar for rebuilding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click did not answer CalMatters’ question about why there are no fire survivors groups on the list of more than 200 organizations that support the effort. Most are local chambers of commerce or business groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CalMatters contacted nearly a dozen of the organizations. Ten did not respond or would not make their executives available for an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the chief executive of one of them, Jennifer Gray Thompson, said she changed her mind about participating once she realized the coalition did not include fire victims groups. Her organization, After the Fire, which helps support leaders in communities around the country that have experienced mega fires, was briefly on the list but was removed promptly at her request, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m from Sonoma,” Thompson told CalMatters. “I’m a national advocate for fire victims. I’m definitely not on their side,” she added. Former state Sen. Bill Dodd, a Democrat whom she said did a lot of good for fire survivors when he was in office, was among those who contacted her to solicit her group’s support for the effort, according to emails she shared with CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-PGEBREAKUPPRICING-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A PG&E substation on Mission and 8th Streets in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dodd did not return a phone call and text message from CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area Council, another supporter, counts PG&E among its member businesses. Spokesperson Rufus Jeffris said the council “generally supports sensible policies and investments that reduce wildfire risk and increase community wildfire resilience and balance the diverse needs of business, consumers and residents.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Consumer Watchdog analysis of utilities’ required financial disclosures shows that 66% of the non-governmental organizations on the list have received utility-industry contributions, grants, sponsorships and more worth about $7.3 million from 2023 to 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click called Consumer Watchdog a “shadow lobby firm for trial attorneys” and said “it should come as no surprise that they are trying to protect a system that prioritizes trial attorneys over wildfire victims.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spokespeople for PG&E, Edison and SDG&E referred CalMatters to the Wildfire Victims First campaign regarding the campaign and the legislative proposal.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What state lawmakers are saying or not saying\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/benjamin-allen-70\">Ben Allen\u003c/a>, a Democrat from the Los Angeles area whose constituents include survivors of the Palisades Fire, attended the Friday press conference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>Any solutions that we have have to (hold) the responsible parties accountable,\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong> Allen said in a room full of fire survivors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Who’s responsible for the costs of wildfire recovery is important to both Allen’s current job and possibly his future one: He is chair of the Senate energy and utilities committee, and is \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/06/california-insurance-commissioner-top-two/\">running for\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2026/insurance-commissioner/\">insurance commissioner\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12079349\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12079349\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260409-InsuranceCandidateForum-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ben Allen, a California state senator, speaks during a forum for candidates for California insurance commissioner at the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) in San Francisco on April 9, 2026. The event brought together candidates to discuss the state’s insurance market, including affordability and coverage challenges facing homeowners. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Allen’s spokesperson, Ben Cheever, said the senator was not available for an interview about the specifics of the legislative package.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But he sent the following statement from Allen: “I will carefully review any proposal put forth to ensure we hold responsible parties accountable while meaningfully reducing risk to improve affordability. We should not simply shift around the costs consumers pay without addressing this more holistically.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fellow Democrat Sen. Sasha Renee Perez, who represents Eaton Fire survivors, said in an interview with CalMatters that if a legislative package contains the proposals fire survivors suspect they do, she would have a “tremendous issue” with them being presented at the last minute. She also said she has talked with other members of the Legislature who “are very upset with what’s taking place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perez said she would oppose any proposal that limits non-economic damages for fire survivors: “I represent Altadena. I have a friend who lost his sister in the fire. How do you put a price tag on losing your sibling?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The senator also said she was “so frustrated and shocked” that SB 254, which started off as a bill intended to reduce profits for investor-owned utilities, ended up helping utilities instead during the last three days of last year’s session.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12093339\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12093339\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260729-POWER-HOUSE-MD-06-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A wall of demonstration EV Chargers and smart electrical panels made by Tesla, GM and Span are on display at PG&E’s PowerHouse in San Ramon on July 30, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“That’s not the way government should work,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CalMatters also contacted several other lawmakers or their offices, especially ones who lead related committees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following Democratic lawmakers’ offices did not respond: Assembly Speaker \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/robert-rivas-165041\">Robert Rivas\u003c/a>; Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/lisa-calderon-165426\">Lisa Calderon\u003c/a>, who leads the insurance committee; and Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/cottie-petrie-norris-165040\">Cottie Petrie-Norris\u003c/a>, who leads the utilities and energy committee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spokespeople for Senate President Pro Tem \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/monique-limon-13069\">Monique Limon\u003c/a> and Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/josh-becker-165449\">Josh Becker\u003c/a> responded with emailed statements similar to that sent by Newsom spokesperson Martinez: “The current system is unsustainable and not working for fire survivors, utility customers, or insurance policyholders.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The insurance industry’s concerns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Insurance industry representatives say if insurance companies can’t recover wildfire costs from utilities, also known as subrogation, they will inevitably raise premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t think it’s fair to make insurance policyholders pay more to bail out utility shareholders,\u003cstrong>”\u003c/strong> said Denni Ritter, a vice president at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritter also pushed back against the assertion by the utilities’ campaign that insurance companies usually recover their costs from utilities before paying out claims to their policyholders: “It’s not like AAA goes, ‘OK, we’ll pay you once we’ve recovered from the utilities’.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068294\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068294\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251222-PGEUpdates-18-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">PG&E employees work to repair a substation on Mission and 8th Streets in San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2025, after a fire at the site over the weekend contributed to a major citywide power outage. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Rex Frazier is president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California, which represents the largest insurers operating in the state. He said this campaign is the latest attempt by utilities to chip away at their industry’s possible liability for wildfires. Sometimes, the insurance industry has had conversations with utilities, he said. That’s not happening this time, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now he, like other Californians, is seeing the ads from the Wildfire Victims First campaign, whose website says it’s funded by PG&E, SDG&E and SCE shareholders and three other organizations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re trying to understand why they’re talking about the insurance market,” Frazier said. “We can’t get a clear answer about what they have in mind.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jeanne Kuang contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/economy/2026/07/wildfire-liability-battle/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-cant-replant-its-forests-fast-enough-to-keep-up-with-wildfires",
"title": "California Can’t Replant Its Forests Fast Enough to Keep Up With Wildfires",
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"headTitle": "California Can’t Replant Its Forests Fast Enough to Keep Up With Wildfires | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A windowless warehouse on the outskirts of Davis shelters pieces of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> forests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Icy air swirls and fogs around 42,000 pounds of seeds — the past and the future of these trees, frozen in cardboard boxes. It smells like the woods on a snowy day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is like the mothership of forestry in California right here,” said Stewart McMorrow, staff chief for wildfire resilience at Cal Fire, standing outside the heavy metal door of the state seed bank at Cal Fire’s Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Private landowners especially rely on these seeds — some now more than a half-century old — to reforest property destroyed by wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the pace California is burning, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://sbud.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-04/04.16.2026-agenda-apr16-cnra-ii-wildfire-4.14.pdf\">nowhere near enough\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Climate change and more than a century of overzealous fire suppression are now fueling wildfires so severe that they’re \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2532829123\">wiping out the very forests\u003c/a> that need fire to thrive — leaving iconic landscapes at risk of turning into brush and scrub, permanently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the past quarter century, high-severity wildfires have burned 2.3 million acres of California’s forestland so completely that the trees are unlikely to return on their own — according to a working draft of the state’s new reforestation strategy obtained by CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092570\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092570\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sheet of Douglas fir seeds are scanned by x-ray for insect larvae by Lily Hessl, a Cal Fire forestry aide, at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California is counting on these forests to store carbon, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/tracking-headwaters-management-for-wildfire-resilience-in-california/\">protect water supplies\u003c/a>, clean the air, and shelter wildlife. By 2071, \u003ca href=\"https://datastories.americanforests.org/california-forests/\">one recent analysis reports\u003c/a>, half of California’s forest area could be gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Reforestation,” said Malcolm North, a scientist with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, “is pretty damn important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet to replant even a quarter of the privately owned forestlands in the state, California would need to increase seed bank capacity by roughly 300%, \u003ca href=\"https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/wildfire-resilience/reforestation-services/2025_rsp_at_a_glance.pdf?rev=d9519c34d3164306bf9feafb3e6ed81f&hash=0785BB05DE064440D7DA93D1E74FD147\">according to Cal Fire\u003c/a> — which means more seeds, more people, more space. And that wouldn’t solve the problem on federal land, which accounts for more than half the forests in the state and most of the lands that need replanting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But both Sacramento and Washington have spent decades letting the money and staff needed to grow back California’s forests wither.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to focus on reforestation as an emergency, as a state,” McMorrow said. “We are slowly losing our forestland, and we’re not catching up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bleeding the federal workforce\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Timber harvests once paid for much of the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to replant trees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as new laws tightened \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/57828.pdf\">endangered species and other public lands protections\u003c/a>, logging in national forests declined. Severe wildfires also increased.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The combination devoured the \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64690.pdf\">Forest Service’s resources, and people\u003c/a>: from 1998 to 2015, non-fire staff tasked with managing National Forest System lands decreased by 39%, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2015-Fire-Budget-Report.pdf\">according to a 2015 report\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092571\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assistant Nursery Manager Maya Hotz examines white fir seedlings in a greenhouse at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With ever-increasing demands, a \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64690.pdf\">2022 Forest Service document warned\u003c/a>, there is a “critical need” to increase the number of staff “substantially dedicated” to reforestation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congress and the Biden Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/REPLANT%20Factsheet.pdf\">unstoppered additional money\u003c/a> for a reforestation trust fund in 2021, a move championed by the conservation non-profit American Forests. Just a few years later, the Forest Service reported that it had replanted roughly 285,000 acres nationwide — \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs-fy27-congressional-budget-justification.pdf\">the highest yearly total\u003c/a> in more than a quarter century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the need still dwarfs action, and federally-directed work is lengthy and intense. Crews must clear dead and dying trees quickly to reduce the danger to people and the chance of reburns, a Forest Service spokesperson said.[aside postID=news_12092116 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/LittleFireGetty3.jpg']Finding seeds and growing seedlings can take a year or two, even before planting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal government’s capacity to replant forests eroded away over time, and it will take time to rebuild it, said Solomon Dobrowski, a professor of landscape ecology at the University of Montana. Dobrowski’s research found that the reforestation gap spans \u003ca href=\"https://northlab.faculty.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/195/2024/05/Mind-the-gap-reforestation-needs-vs-capacity-Dobrowski-Front-For-Clim-Change-2024.pdf\">millions of acres\u003c/a> across the West and is likely to double or even triple in the coming decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t turn that ship around on a dime,” Dobrowski said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the Trump administration cut the Forest Service significantly. The agency lost \u003ca href=\"https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-26-107993/index.html?_gl=1*sas2py*_ga*MTQyODQzNDg2MC4xNzgxODg1NzIy*_ga_V393SNS3SR*czE3ODM0NDMxODckbzMkZzEkdDE3ODM0NDMzMTEkajkkbDAkaDA\">20% of its staff last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It just makes me cry at night … it’s basically a child swinging a wrecking ball,” said Hugh Safford, a forest and fire ecologist with the UC Davis Environmental Science and Policy Department and a former regional ecologist for the Forest Service. “Morale is down, capacity already was really minimal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And California keeps burning.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A widening gap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The loss of forests “is one of the least-known impacts of climate change and megafires,” said wildfire task force director Patrick Wright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The draft strategy for California obtained by CalMatters comes with no dedicated funding. The goal, Wright said, is to put every agency and organization trying to replant California’s scorched forests on the same page.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The strategy calls for streamlining planning, prioritizing projects tackling critical human safety concerns and ecosystem issues like water supply, and increasing the supply of seeds, seedlings and workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092572\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092572\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Burned and fallen trees leave a section of hillside bare near Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It urges land managers to avoid adding more fuel to the fires, and recommends replanting at lower densities and with more natural spacing instead of the classic, closely-packed “pines in lines” grid. Scientists have linked \u003ca href=\"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70400\">high-density plantings\u003c/a> to high-severity fires.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most startling pieces, though, come from the draft strategy’s look at the current landscape. California would need to scale up reforestation by 35% annually to meet the state’s existing \u003ca href=\"https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions/NBS-Climate-Targets-Appendix-1---Methodology.pdf\">post-fire replanting goals\u003c/a>, which start at 280,000 acres per year in 2030. The increase would take “significant funds,” the report said, because reforestation can cost up to $6,400 an acre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the current pace is lagging. Statewide, land managers have replanted roughly 254,000 acres of severely burned forest since 2020 — or around 16% of the area stripped of forest cover by high severity fires between 2020 and 2024 alone. The number is just 8% on federal lands, outside of wilderness areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Safford said the numbers are actually even more dire: Factoring in both wilderness areas and excluding forests likely to regrow on their own, \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2026.1764379/full\">his recent study reports\u003c/a> that the U.S. Forest Service replanted just 1.2% of the agency’s California lands that wildfire denuded between 2016 and 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t always like this, said Safford. The Forest Service’s replanting efforts mostly kept pace with wildfires until around 2006.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And then,” Safford said, “it just falls to shit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Nowhere near prepared’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For all the vitriol between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/07/01/governor-newsom-challenges-president-trump-to-adopt-model-executive-order-to-help-make-america-rake-again/\">the care and raking of California’s forests\u003c/a>, state and federal money — and people — often intersect on the landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On California’s end, Cal Fire \u003ca href=\"https://reforestationtools.org/climate-adapted-seed-tool/\">funds\u003c/a> and conducts research, and provides \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/forest-health\">grants\u003c/a> for forest restoration on \u003ca href=\"https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/2026-wildfire-resilience-block-grants/\">private\u003c/a>, state and even federal land. Cal Fire also runs the reforestation center in Davis, where flats of glossy young conifers are gently misted with water in the summer heat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McMorrow — tall and crisp in his navy Cal Fire uniform — can’t help but dig his hands into the dirt to pull out weeds tangling with the seedlings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092575\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092575\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assistant Nursery Manager Maya Hotz checks on a batch of Douglas fir seedlings in a nursery at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of the most challenging chokepoints, McMorrow said, is finding the right seeds to grow these seedlings — getting climbers to the right spot, at the right time, to pluck ripe cones from the treetops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Believe me, I do it,” said McMorrow, who created a tree-climbing program at Cal Fire. “We are trying to meet the demand that’s in front of us, and it’s crushing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the money for Cal Fire’s efforts — cobbled together from the state budget, federal grants and other one-time funds — represents a relatively \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/resources/2026/State-Wildfire-Resilience-Funding-051326.pdf\">small and ever-changing fraction\u003c/a> of Cal Fire’s \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952#How_has_state_spending_on_wildfire_resilience_changed_over_time.3F\">multibillion-dollar budget\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The nursery in Davis shut down \u003ca href=\"https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/wildfire-resilience/reforestation-services/cal_fire_seed_bank_aon_2025_v5_20_signed.pdf?rev=8965d92777cb4ffab11b3387e4987b5e&hash=558CF1247F1837FA3E954E453DD2CE20\">in the early 2000s\u003c/a>, a casualty of across-the-board state budget cuts. Though the seed bank freezer stayed on, the reforestation center didn’t fully reopen until after the Legislature in 2017 tapped a 2012 fee \u003ca href=\"https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Forest-Stewardship/Timber-Regulation-and-Forest-Restoration-Program\">on wood products\u003c/a> to bring it back online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scaling up and upgrading the facility now carries an estimated\u003ca href=\"https://bcp.dof.ca.gov/2627/FY2627_ORG3540_BCP8896.pdf\"> $26.2 million\u003c/a> price tag; this year’s state budget included about\u003ca href=\"https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/floor-report-of-the-2026-27-budget-june-27-2026_5.pdf\"> $1.2 million\u003c/a> to fund preliminary planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, other funding is on the line. California’s climate regulators — chaired by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/climate-change/2025/09/air-resources-board-chair-transition/\">Newsom appointee Lauren Sanchez\u003c/a> — voted in May to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/05/newsom-california-safe-drinking-water/\">overhaul a key climate program \u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://senv.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-05/lao-handout.pdf\">in ways that\u003c/a> could substantially reduce, or even eliminate, up to $200 million a year for wildfire resilience. Grants for reforestation are among the many competing priorities for this funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092576\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092576\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09-160x120.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leilani Villeda prepares to fire a weighted line into the high branches of a pine tree using an air-powered launcher during Cone Camp, an annual training session where participants learn how to survey and collect pine cones, in Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://wildfiretaskforce.org/california-passes-proposition-4-providing-1-5-billion-for-wildfire-resilience/\">the Proposition 4\u003c/a> climate bond includes \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115\">$1.5 billion\u003c/a> for wildfire and forest resilience, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/11/california-budget-earmarks-2025/\">state leaders\u003c/a> are \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/resources/2026/State-Wildfire-Resilience-Funding-051326.pdf\">spending down the bond quickly\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The truth of the matter is that California is probably, infrastructurally speaking, in a better place than any other western state,” Safford said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What that tells you is how piss-poor the capacity is in general in the Western U.S., because California is nowhere near prepared for the scale of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cone hunting\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the banks of \u003ca href=\"https://www.jenkinsonlake.com/\">Jenkinson Lake\u003c/a> in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Stella Krone and Elyse Wohlenberg wrestled with a slingshot that towered over the two of them. It took their combined strength to slot the bungee into position, then Wohlenberg stepped back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All clear?” Krone asked, kneeling in a clearing and pointing the slingshot at a Douglas fir 50 yards away. “Firing!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krone, Wohlenberg, and dozens of other hard-hatted people were there, crunching over conifer needles, \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanforests.org/article/the-camp-thats-training-a-new-generation-of-cone-collectors/\">for Cone Camp\u003c/a> — a training program led by American Forests with support from Cal Fire and the Forest Service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092578\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092578\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cone Camp participants search for the right pine tree to collect cones from on the shores of Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. Cone collection helps contribute to Cal Fire’s seed bank and reforestation program. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The campers — some forestry professionals, some interested laypeople — peeled off with oversized slingshots and souped-up potato guns to learn how to knock cones loose from tree branches. That’s how they check the cones for ripeness and viability, before sending someone up the tree to collect them for a seed bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem was, there were hardly any. Last year’s dry cones rattled to the forest floor as Krone and another camper jiggled the rope they’d shot into the canopy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So far, not a great cone year,” said Leana Weissberg, American Forests’ California director.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the clearing, the instructor asked whether the group was ready to try again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let’s go,” Krone said. “We’re cone hunters for a reason.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2026/07/wildfires-california-forest-reforestation-seed/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California’s wildfires are destroying forests faster than the state can replant them, and federal cuts are making the gap worse.",
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"title": "California Can’t Replant Its Forests Fast Enough to Keep Up With Wildfires | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A windowless warehouse on the outskirts of Davis shelters pieces of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> forests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Icy air swirls and fogs around 42,000 pounds of seeds — the past and the future of these trees, frozen in cardboard boxes. It smells like the woods on a snowy day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is like the mothership of forestry in California right here,” said Stewart McMorrow, staff chief for wildfire resilience at Cal Fire, standing outside the heavy metal door of the state seed bank at Cal Fire’s Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Private landowners especially rely on these seeds — some now more than a half-century old — to reforest property destroyed by wildfire.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the pace California is burning, it’s \u003ca href=\"https://sbud.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-04/04.16.2026-agenda-apr16-cnra-ii-wildfire-4.14.pdf\">nowhere near enough\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Climate change and more than a century of overzealous fire suppression are now fueling wildfires so severe that they’re \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2532829123\">wiping out the very forests\u003c/a> that need fire to thrive — leaving iconic landscapes at risk of turning into brush and scrub, permanently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the past quarter century, high-severity wildfires have burned 2.3 million acres of California’s forestland so completely that the trees are unlikely to return on their own — according to a working draft of the state’s new reforestation strategy obtained by CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092570\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092570\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_01-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sheet of Douglas fir seeds are scanned by x-ray for insect larvae by Lily Hessl, a Cal Fire forestry aide, at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California is counting on these forests to store carbon, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/tracking-headwaters-management-for-wildfire-resilience-in-california/\">protect water supplies\u003c/a>, clean the air, and shelter wildlife. By 2071, \u003ca href=\"https://datastories.americanforests.org/california-forests/\">one recent analysis reports\u003c/a>, half of California’s forest area could be gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Reforestation,” said Malcolm North, a scientist with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, “is pretty damn important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet to replant even a quarter of the privately owned forestlands in the state, California would need to increase seed bank capacity by roughly 300%, \u003ca href=\"https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/wildfire-resilience/reforestation-services/2025_rsp_at_a_glance.pdf?rev=d9519c34d3164306bf9feafb3e6ed81f&hash=0785BB05DE064440D7DA93D1E74FD147\">according to Cal Fire\u003c/a> — which means more seeds, more people, more space. And that wouldn’t solve the problem on federal land, which accounts for more than half the forests in the state and most of the lands that need replanting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But both Sacramento and Washington have spent decades letting the money and staff needed to grow back California’s forests wither.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We need to focus on reforestation as an emergency, as a state,” McMorrow said. “We are slowly losing our forestland, and we’re not catching up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bleeding the federal workforce\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Timber harvests once paid for much of the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to replant trees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But as new laws tightened \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/57828.pdf\">endangered species and other public lands protections\u003c/a>, logging in national forests declined. Severe wildfires also increased.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The combination devoured the \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64690.pdf\">Forest Service’s resources, and people\u003c/a>: from 1998 to 2015, non-fire staff tasked with managing National Forest System lands decreased by 39%, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2015-Fire-Budget-Report.pdf\">according to a 2015 report\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092571\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_08-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assistant Nursery Manager Maya Hotz examines white fir seedlings in a greenhouse at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With ever-increasing demands, a \u003ca href=\"https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64690.pdf\">2022 Forest Service document warned\u003c/a>, there is a “critical need” to increase the number of staff “substantially dedicated” to reforestation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Congress and the Biden Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/REPLANT%20Factsheet.pdf\">unstoppered additional money\u003c/a> for a reforestation trust fund in 2021, a move championed by the conservation non-profit American Forests. Just a few years later, the Forest Service reported that it had replanted roughly 285,000 acres nationwide — \u003ca href=\"https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs-fy27-congressional-budget-justification.pdf\">the highest yearly total\u003c/a> in more than a quarter century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the need still dwarfs action, and federally-directed work is lengthy and intense. Crews must clear dead and dying trees quickly to reduce the danger to people and the chance of reburns, a Forest Service spokesperson said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Finding seeds and growing seedlings can take a year or two, even before planting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal government’s capacity to replant forests eroded away over time, and it will take time to rebuild it, said Solomon Dobrowski, a professor of landscape ecology at the University of Montana. Dobrowski’s research found that the reforestation gap spans \u003ca href=\"https://northlab.faculty.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/195/2024/05/Mind-the-gap-reforestation-needs-vs-capacity-Dobrowski-Front-For-Clim-Change-2024.pdf\">millions of acres\u003c/a> across the West and is likely to double or even triple in the coming decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t turn that ship around on a dime,” Dobrowski said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the Trump administration cut the Forest Service significantly. The agency lost \u003ca href=\"https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-26-107993/index.html?_gl=1*sas2py*_ga*MTQyODQzNDg2MC4xNzgxODg1NzIy*_ga_V393SNS3SR*czE3ODM0NDMxODckbzMkZzEkdDE3ODM0NDMzMTEkajkkbDAkaDA\">20% of its staff last year\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It just makes me cry at night … it’s basically a child swinging a wrecking ball,” said Hugh Safford, a forest and fire ecologist with the UC Davis Environmental Science and Policy Department and a former regional ecologist for the Forest Service. “Morale is down, capacity already was really minimal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And California keeps burning.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A widening gap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The loss of forests “is one of the least-known impacts of climate change and megafires,” said wildfire task force director Patrick Wright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The draft strategy for California obtained by CalMatters comes with no dedicated funding. The goal, Wright said, is to put every agency and organization trying to replant California’s scorched forests on the same page.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The strategy calls for streamlining planning, prioritizing projects tackling critical human safety concerns and ecosystem issues like water supply, and increasing the supply of seeds, seedlings and workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092572\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092572\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_11-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Burned and fallen trees leave a section of hillside bare near Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It urges land managers to avoid adding more fuel to the fires, and recommends replanting at lower densities and with more natural spacing instead of the classic, closely-packed “pines in lines” grid. Scientists have linked \u003ca href=\"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70400\">high-density plantings\u003c/a> to high-severity fires.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most startling pieces, though, come from the draft strategy’s look at the current landscape. California would need to scale up reforestation by 35% annually to meet the state’s existing \u003ca href=\"https://resources.ca.gov/-/media/CNRA-Website/Files/Initiatives/Expanding-Nature-Based-Solutions/NBS-Climate-Targets-Appendix-1---Methodology.pdf\">post-fire replanting goals\u003c/a>, which start at 280,000 acres per year in 2030. The increase would take “significant funds,” the report said, because reforestation can cost up to $6,400 an acre.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the current pace is lagging. Statewide, land managers have replanted roughly 254,000 acres of severely burned forest since 2020 — or around 16% of the area stripped of forest cover by high severity fires between 2020 and 2024 alone. The number is just 8% on federal lands, outside of wilderness areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Safford said the numbers are actually even more dire: Factoring in both wilderness areas and excluding forests likely to regrow on their own, \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2026.1764379/full\">his recent study reports\u003c/a> that the U.S. Forest Service replanted just 1.2% of the agency’s California lands that wildfire denuded between 2016 and 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn’t always like this, said Safford. The Forest Service’s replanting efforts mostly kept pace with wildfires until around 2006.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And then,” Safford said, “it just falls to shit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Nowhere near prepared’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For all the vitriol between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/07/01/governor-newsom-challenges-president-trump-to-adopt-model-executive-order-to-help-make-america-rake-again/\">the care and raking of California’s forests\u003c/a>, state and federal money — and people — often intersect on the landscape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On California’s end, Cal Fire \u003ca href=\"https://reforestationtools.org/climate-adapted-seed-tool/\">funds\u003c/a> and conducts research, and provides \u003ca href=\"https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/grants/forest-health\">grants\u003c/a> for forest restoration on \u003ca href=\"https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/2026-wildfire-resilience-block-grants/\">private\u003c/a>, state and even federal land. Cal Fire also runs the reforestation center in Davis, where flats of glossy young conifers are gently misted with water in the summer heat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>McMorrow — tall and crisp in his navy Cal Fire uniform — can’t help but dig his hands into the dirt to pull out weeds tangling with the seedlings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092575\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092575\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_05-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assistant Nursery Manager Maya Hotz checks on a batch of Douglas fir seedlings in a nursery at the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of the most challenging chokepoints, McMorrow said, is finding the right seeds to grow these seedlings — getting climbers to the right spot, at the right time, to pluck ripe cones from the treetops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Believe me, I do it,” said McMorrow, who created a tree-climbing program at Cal Fire. “We are trying to meet the demand that’s in front of us, and it’s crushing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet the money for Cal Fire’s efforts — cobbled together from the state budget, federal grants and other one-time funds — represents a relatively \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/resources/2026/State-Wildfire-Resilience-Funding-051326.pdf\">small and ever-changing fraction\u003c/a> of Cal Fire’s \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4952#How_has_state_spending_on_wildfire_resilience_changed_over_time.3F\">multibillion-dollar budget\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The nursery in Davis shut down \u003ca href=\"https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/wildfire-resilience/reforestation-services/cal_fire_seed_bank_aon_2025_v5_20_signed.pdf?rev=8965d92777cb4ffab11b3387e4987b5e&hash=558CF1247F1837FA3E954E453DD2CE20\">in the early 2000s\u003c/a>, a casualty of across-the-board state budget cuts. Though the seed bank freezer stayed on, the reforestation center didn’t fully reopen until after the Legislature in 2017 tapped a 2012 fee \u003ca href=\"https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Forest-Stewardship/Timber-Regulation-and-Forest-Restoration-Program\">on wood products\u003c/a> to bring it back online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scaling up and upgrading the facility now carries an estimated\u003ca href=\"https://bcp.dof.ca.gov/2627/FY2627_ORG3540_BCP8896.pdf\"> $26.2 million\u003c/a> price tag; this year’s state budget included about\u003ca href=\"https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/floor-report-of-the-2026-27-budget-june-27-2026_5.pdf\"> $1.2 million\u003c/a> to fund preliminary planning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, other funding is on the line. California’s climate regulators — chaired by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/climate-change/2025/09/air-resources-board-chair-transition/\">Newsom appointee Lauren Sanchez\u003c/a> — voted in May to \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/05/newsom-california-safe-drinking-water/\">overhaul a key climate program \u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://senv.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2026-05/lao-handout.pdf\">in ways that\u003c/a> could substantially reduce, or even eliminate, up to $200 million a year for wildfire resilience. Grants for reforestation are among the many competing priorities for this funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092576\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092576\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09-160x120.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_09-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Leilani Villeda prepares to fire a weighted line into the high branches of a pine tree using an air-powered launcher during Cone Camp, an annual training session where participants learn how to survey and collect pine cones, in Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://wildfiretaskforce.org/california-passes-proposition-4-providing-1-5-billion-for-wildfire-resilience/\">the Proposition 4\u003c/a> climate bond includes \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5115\">$1.5 billion\u003c/a> for wildfire and forest resilience, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/11/california-budget-earmarks-2025/\">state leaders\u003c/a> are \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/resources/2026/State-Wildfire-Resilience-Funding-051326.pdf\">spending down the bond quickly\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The truth of the matter is that California is probably, infrastructurally speaking, in a better place than any other western state,” Safford said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What that tells you is how piss-poor the capacity is in general in the Western U.S., because California is nowhere near prepared for the scale of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cone hunting\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the banks of \u003ca href=\"https://www.jenkinsonlake.com/\">Jenkinson Lake\u003c/a> in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Stella Krone and Elyse Wohlenberg wrestled with a slingshot that towered over the two of them. It took their combined strength to slot the bungee into position, then Wohlenberg stepped back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“All clear?” Krone asked, kneeling in a clearing and pointing the slingshot at a Douglas fir 50 yards away. “Firing!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krone, Wohlenberg, and dozens of other hard-hatted people were there, crunching over conifer needles, \u003ca href=\"https://www.americanforests.org/article/the-camp-thats-training-a-new-generation-of-cone-collectors/\">for Cone Camp\u003c/a> — a training program led by American Forests with support from Cal Fire and the Forest Service.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12092578\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12092578\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/071526_Reforestation_AHK_CM_10-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cone Camp participants search for the right pine tree to collect cones from on the shores of Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines on July 15, 2026. Cone collection helps contribute to Cal Fire’s seed bank and reforestation program. \u003ccite>(Anna Hoch-Kenney/CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The campers — some forestry professionals, some interested laypeople — peeled off with oversized slingshots and souped-up potato guns to learn how to knock cones loose from tree branches. That’s how they check the cones for ripeness and viability, before sending someone up the tree to collect them for a seed bank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem was, there were hardly any. Last year’s dry cones rattled to the forest floor as Krone and another camper jiggled the rope they’d shot into the canopy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So far, not a great cone year,” said Leana Weissberg, American Forests’ California director.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the clearing, the instructor asked whether the group was ready to try again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Let’s go,” Krone said. “We’re cone hunters for a reason.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2026/07/wildfires-california-forest-reforestation-seed/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-reading-scores-are-up-thanks-to-literacy-investments-can-the-state-do-more",
"title": "California Reading Scores Are Up, Thanks to Literacy Investments. Can the State Do More?",
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"headTitle": "California Reading Scores Are Up, Thanks to Literacy Investments. Can the State Do More? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not quite the “Mississippi Miracle,” but California’s reading scores have been inching upwards since the state poured billions into changing the way students learn to read. A shortage of literacy coaches, however, may be preventing students from improving even more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2013, before California \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/The-Golden-State-Literacy-Plan.pdf\">overhauled its literacy program\u003c/a> in K-12 schools, the state ranked \u003ca href=\"https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subject/publications/stt2013/pdf/2014464CA4.pdf\">47th nationally\u003c/a> for fourth grade reading skills on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card. Only 27% of students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on the reading test, given every two years to students across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following year California released a new English language arts framework that encourages schools to focus on phonics, vocabulary and other nuts-and-bolts methods when teaching children to read. Phonics-based instruction won’t \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/10/phonics-california/\">become mandatory\u003c/a> until next year, but most schools have been gradually adopting the method.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Next came new curriculum materials, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/04/reading-california-phonics/\">a dyslexia screener\u003c/a> and updates to teacher credential programs. The state also expanded \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/08/california-tk/\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a> and implemented new guidelines for English learners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But perhaps the biggest literacy investment came in 2023 with $500 million in grants set aside for schools to hire literacy coaches and take other steps to boost reading skills. The coaches – typically, former classroom teachers with extra training in reading – work directly with teachers to help them effectively teach children to read. Last year the state added $215 million, and the most recent budget includes an \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Enacted/BudgetSummary/TK-12Education.pdf\">additional $350 million\u003c/a> for literacy coaches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mississippi, whose reading scores went from 49th in the country in 2013 to 9th in 2024, partially credits the turnaround to literacy coaches and other teacher training tactics. Mississippi’s reading framework is similar to California’s, but Mississippi invested heavily in training teachers to implement it, while California rolled out its training program over several years.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reading scores inch up\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s reading scores have improved gradually – but significantly – since 2013. Last year, California ranked \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/states/achievement/?grade=4\">around the middle of the pack\u003c/a> nationwide, with 13 states scoring higher and the rest scoring the same or lower. This happened at the same time that national scores began falling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On statewide tests, the number of fourth graders reading at grade level jumped from \u003ca href=\"https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/caaspp/DashViewReportSB?ps=true&lstTestYear=2015&lstTestType=B&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1&lstGrade=4&lstSchoolType=A&lstCounty=00&lstDistrict=00000&lstSchool=0000000&lstFocus=a\">40%\u003c/a> in 2014 to \u003ca href=\"https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/caaspp/DashViewReportSB?ps=true&lstTestYear=2025&lstTestType=B&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1&lstGrade=4&lstSchoolType=A&lstCounty=00&lstDistrict=00000&lstSchool=0000000&lstFocus=a\">46%\u003c/a> last year. Before the pandemic, the percentage was close to 50%, dropped a few points when schools switched to remote learning, but has been inching back up since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1374\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty-1536x1055.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom walks with students from Clinton Elementary School to announce support for literacy with The Golden State Literacy Plan at Clinton Elementary School in Compton on June 5, 2025. \u003ccite>(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fourth grade is a key benchmark for literacy because by fifth grade, students need reading skills sufficient to understand other subjects such as history and science. Students who aren’t proficient readers by fourth grade are more likely to lag academically in other subjects. \u003ca href=\"https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/child-illiteracy\">Studies\u003c/a> have found that adults with low literacy skills are more likely to be unemployed, incarcerated or face other challenges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sarah Novicoff, a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-lessons-from-californias-early-literacy-policies/\">conducted a study\u003c/a> that found that California’s literacy investments have paid off – with a caveat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’ve absolutely had a positive impact,” Novicoff said. “But we have an opportunity to do an even better job.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Novicoff found that nearly 60% of school districts used their grant money to hire literacy coaches to work with teachers, reading specialists to work directly with students, or otherwise arranged for teacher training related to literacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>School districts that made those investments saw significant improvements in reading scores, including among English learners, she found. Results varied by district, but in general students scored 6 points higher on state tests within two years of the investments, she found. She expects the scores to rise further over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Some districts struggle to hire literacy coaches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But plenty of school districts hired no literacy coaches. Not because they didn’t want to, but because there were none to hire. In fact, 42% of districts said they had trouble hiring coaches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’d love to hire a literacy coach,” said Patricia Gunderson, superintendent of the Lassen County Office of Education. “It’s great the state is offering the money, but we just can’t do it. We don’t have the capacity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In remote and rural parts of the state, finding literacy coaches has proved to be nearly impossible – and has hindered improvement, Novicoff found. For example, Lassen County, along the northern Nevada border, can barely find enough credentialed teachers, let alone education professionals with advanced specialty degrees. And even if schools could hire literacy coaches, they couldn’t find enough substitutes to fill in for teachers undergoing training.[aside postID=news_12089920 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/260717-RUSSIANJOURNALISTSEXILE-05-BL-KQED.jpg']But Lassen has been creative in finding ways to boost literacy. In 2023, for example, it held a weeklong summer training course for teachers, where teachers were paid to learn the new curriculum and the course didn’t interrupt the school year. Gunderson said it was a big success; state reading test scores jumped more than 7 percentage points, although still lag behind the state average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Siskiyou County, along the Oregon border, county superintendent Allan Carver said he welcomes the state’s investment in literacy coaches, but it’s created another problem: Teachers are opting to become literacy coaches, possibly because it’s less stressful or pays a bit more, leaving vacancies in the classroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We work to solve one issue and further exacerbate the teacher shortage,” Carver said. “We have to develop the literacy coach pipeline before we simply allocate funds and expectations for training.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Baldwin Park, in the San Gabriel Valley, principal Laura Rodriguez said literacy coaches have been instrumental in turning around her school’s reading scores. Using state grant money, Tracy Elementary has added a literacy coach who works closely with the school’s teachers, aides and reading specialist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The literacy coach, Claudia Barba, holds workshops for teachers and parents, trains the aides, assesses the students, analyzes data, and gives feedback to teachers. She’s also devised a literacy plan that looks closely at the causes for the low scores and specifically addresses the reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086386\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rocio Guzman, a two-way immersion teacher, works with students during a reading session at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School in Berkeley on June 3, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“She is amazing,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve seen such a difference since we started this. It has changed our campus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tracy Elementary, a Spanish-English dual immersion school, is mostly low-income. More than 30% of students are English learners. The literacy plan teaches children to read in Spanish first, then English, by focusing on vocabulary and phonics in both languages. By third grade, when the state first tests students’ reading skills, students are fairly fluent readers in both languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In just two years, after hiring the literacy coach, Tracy’s reading scores jumped more than 10 percentage points. Even English learners saw their scores significantly increase. Other metrics also improved: Chronic absenteeism dropped from 44% just after the pandemic to 11% last year. Math scores are increasing, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Literacy is the key to everything. If a child can read, they can access knowledge. They start to enjoy school,” Rodriguez said. “They can get a better education.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2026/07/literacy-california/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "In 2023 California allocated $500 million in grants for schools to hire literacy coaches and take other steps to boost reading skills.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not quite the “Mississippi Miracle,” but California’s reading scores have been inching upwards since the state poured billions into changing the way students learn to read. A shortage of literacy coaches, however, may be preventing students from improving even more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2013, before California \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/The-Golden-State-Literacy-Plan.pdf\">overhauled its literacy program\u003c/a> in K-12 schools, the state ranked \u003ca href=\"https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subject/publications/stt2013/pdf/2014464CA4.pdf\">47th nationally\u003c/a> for fourth grade reading skills on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card. Only 27% of students scored “proficient” or “advanced” on the reading test, given every two years to students across the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The following year California released a new English language arts framework that encourages schools to focus on phonics, vocabulary and other nuts-and-bolts methods when teaching children to read. Phonics-based instruction won’t \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/10/phonics-california/\">become mandatory\u003c/a> until next year, but most schools have been gradually adopting the method.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>Next came new curriculum materials, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/04/reading-california-phonics/\">a dyslexia screener\u003c/a> and updates to teacher credential programs. The state also expanded \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2025/08/california-tk/\">transitional kindergarten\u003c/a> and implemented new guidelines for English learners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But perhaps the biggest literacy investment came in 2023 with $500 million in grants set aside for schools to hire literacy coaches and take other steps to boost reading skills. The coaches – typically, former classroom teachers with extra training in reading – work directly with teachers to help them effectively teach children to read. Last year the state added $215 million, and the most recent budget includes an \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2026-27/pdf/Enacted/BudgetSummary/TK-12Education.pdf\">additional $350 million\u003c/a> for literacy coaches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mississippi, whose reading scores went from 49th in the country in 2013 to 9th in 2024, partially credits the turnaround to literacy coaches and other teacher training tactics. Mississippi’s reading framework is similar to California’s, but Mississippi invested heavily in training teachers to implement it, while California rolled out its training program over several years.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Reading scores inch up\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s reading scores have improved gradually – but significantly – since 2013. Last year, California ranked \u003ca href=\"https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/states/achievement/?grade=4\">around the middle of the pack\u003c/a> nationwide, with 13 states scoring higher and the rest scoring the same or lower. This happened at the same time that national scores began falling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On statewide tests, the number of fourth graders reading at grade level jumped from \u003ca href=\"https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/caaspp/DashViewReportSB?ps=true&lstTestYear=2015&lstTestType=B&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1&lstGrade=4&lstSchoolType=A&lstCounty=00&lstDistrict=00000&lstSchool=0000000&lstFocus=a\">40%\u003c/a> in 2014 to \u003ca href=\"https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/caaspp/DashViewReportSB?ps=true&lstTestYear=2025&lstTestType=B&lstGroup=1&lstSubGroup=1&lstGrade=4&lstSchoolType=A&lstCounty=00&lstDistrict=00000&lstSchool=0000000&lstFocus=a\">46%\u003c/a> last year. Before the pandemic, the percentage was close to 50%, dropped a few points when schools switched to remote learning, but has been inching back up since then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089327\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1374\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GavinNewsomEducationGetty-1536x1055.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom walks with students from Clinton Elementary School to announce support for literacy with The Golden State Literacy Plan at Clinton Elementary School in Compton on June 5, 2025. \u003ccite>(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fourth grade is a key benchmark for literacy because by fifth grade, students need reading skills sufficient to understand other subjects such as history and science. Students who aren’t proficient readers by fourth grade are more likely to lag academically in other subjects. \u003ca href=\"https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/child-illiteracy\">Studies\u003c/a> have found that adults with low literacy skills are more likely to be unemployed, incarcerated or face other challenges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sarah Novicoff, a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/policy-brief-lessons-from-californias-early-literacy-policies/\">conducted a study\u003c/a> that found that California’s literacy investments have paid off – with a caveat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’ve absolutely had a positive impact,” Novicoff said. “But we have an opportunity to do an even better job.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Novicoff found that nearly 60% of school districts used their grant money to hire literacy coaches to work with teachers, reading specialists to work directly with students, or otherwise arranged for teacher training related to literacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>School districts that made those investments saw significant improvements in reading scores, including among English learners, she found. Results varied by district, but in general students scored 6 points higher on state tests within two years of the investments, she found. She expects the scores to rise further over time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Some districts struggle to hire literacy coaches\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But plenty of school districts hired no literacy coaches. Not because they didn’t want to, but because there were none to hire. In fact, 42% of districts said they had trouble hiring coaches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’d love to hire a literacy coach,” said Patricia Gunderson, superintendent of the Lassen County Office of Education. “It’s great the state is offering the money, but we just can’t do it. We don’t have the capacity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In remote and rural parts of the state, finding literacy coaches has proved to be nearly impossible – and has hindered improvement, Novicoff found. For example, Lassen County, along the northern Nevada border, can barely find enough credentialed teachers, let alone education professionals with advanced specialty degrees. And even if schools could hire literacy coaches, they couldn’t find enough substitutes to fill in for teachers undergoing training.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But Lassen has been creative in finding ways to boost literacy. In 2023, for example, it held a weeklong summer training course for teachers, where teachers were paid to learn the new curriculum and the course didn’t interrupt the school year. Gunderson said it was a big success; state reading test scores jumped more than 7 percentage points, although still lag behind the state average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Siskiyou County, along the Oregon border, county superintendent Allan Carver said he welcomes the state’s investment in literacy coaches, but it’s created another problem: Teachers are opting to become literacy coaches, possibly because it’s less stressful or pays a bit more, leaving vacancies in the classroom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We work to solve one issue and further exacerbate the teacher shortage,” Carver said. “We have to develop the literacy coach pipeline before we simply allocate funds and expectations for training.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Baldwin Park, in the San Gabriel Valley, principal Laura Rodriguez said literacy coaches have been instrumental in turning around her school’s reading scores. Using state grant money, Tracy Elementary has added a literacy coach who works closely with the school’s teachers, aides and reading specialist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The literacy coach, Claudia Barba, holds workshops for teachers and parents, trains the aides, assesses the students, analyzes data, and gives feedback to teachers. She’s also devised a literacy plan that looks closely at the causes for the low scores and specifically addresses the reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086386\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086386\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-12-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rocio Guzman, a two-way immersion teacher, works with students during a reading session at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School in Berkeley on June 3, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“She is amazing,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve seen such a difference since we started this. It has changed our campus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tracy Elementary, a Spanish-English dual immersion school, is mostly low-income. More than 30% of students are English learners. The literacy plan teaches children to read in Spanish first, then English, by focusing on vocabulary and phonics in both languages. By third grade, when the state first tests students’ reading skills, students are fairly fluent readers in both languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In just two years, after hiring the literacy coach, Tracy’s reading scores jumped more than 10 percentage points. Even English learners saw their scores significantly increase. Other metrics also improved: Chronic absenteeism dropped from 44% just after the pandemic to 11% last year. Math scores are increasing, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Literacy is the key to everything. If a child can read, they can access knowledge. They start to enjoy school,” Rodriguez said. “They can get a better education.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/k-12-education/2026/07/literacy-california/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "how-does-californias-3500-ev-rebate-work",
"title": "How Does California’s $3,500 EV Rebate Work?",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024. (Eric Thayer/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024. (Saul Gonzalez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>That you qualify for the MyFirstEV discount\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2274\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2274px) 100vw, 2274px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "First-time electric vehicle buyers in California could soon get thousands of dollars off the sticker price. Here’s how to apply.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thinking about buying or leasing an \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/evs\">electric car\u003c/a> in the near future? California will soon be making that cheaper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that sets aside millions of dollars in state funds to fund rebates for residents who buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle — a category that includes battery-electric cars and \u003ca href=\"https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell\">hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First-time EV buyers can qualify for a $3,500 discount when buying or leasing a new electric vehicle, as long as the retail price is under $50,000. If you’re looking for a \u003cem>used\u003c/em> electric car, there’s still a price reduction available — a smaller one, however: $1,750 off for vehicles retailing for under $25,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12018474\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/GavinNewsomAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024. (Eric Thayer/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s program — called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/13/as-trump-cedes-global-clean-car-race-to-china-governor-newsom-fights-back-with-instant-zev-rebates-for-first-time-buyers/\">MyFirstEV\u003c/a>” — comes a year after President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax plan known as the One Big Beautiful Bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb\">ended\u003c/a> federal tax credits for EVs nationwide. Previously, American consumers could claim a $7,500 tax credit after buying a new EV or $4,000 for used EVs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom said on Monday that as the federal government pulls back from supporting EVs, California would instead be “putting its foot on the accelerator” — and that the instant rebate program would “[make] it easier for families to drive clean, breathe clean, and keep more money in their pockets.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The program has secured $270 million in funding — half of that from the state budget and the other from participating EV automakers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: Despite the fanfare, the MyFirstEV program has not yet started — and we don’t have an official start date either. State officials will reveal next month which car brands are actually included, so don’t expect to receive this discount if you purchase an EV today. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn what we know right now about California’s instant rebate program for EV purchases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Who qualifies for this program?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Only California residents who are buying or leasing an EV for the first time are eligible for this rebate.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And consumers will have to confirm that this is the first time they are buying or leasing an EV before taking their car home, said Lindsay Buckley, communications director of the California Air Resources Board, the agency tasked with managing the program.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Participants will be required to sign a legal document declaring that this is in fact their first purchase or lease of an electric vehicle,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you’ve already bought or leased an electric vehicle in the past, then you wouldn’t be eligible for this program.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Limiting the program to first-time buyers could actually help boost the popularity of EVs among people who have never bought them, said Scott Moura, a UC Berkeley professor of civil engineering.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Providing incentive to people who have bought EVs before isn’t really adding to the number of people who purchase EVs,” he said. “The funds can be used most effectively if they’re targeted towards first-time EV buyers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to apply ahead of time?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — there’s no application to fill out ahead of time. Once state officials announce that the MyFirstEV program has officially begun, all you need to do is go to a dealership of a participating automaker. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is different from other past state rebate programs — like the now-terminated \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12062645/california-quietly-kills-electric-bike-vouchers-sending-money-to-ev-incentives-instead\">Electric Bicycle Incentive Program\u003c/a> — which have required participants to fill out an application \u003cem>before \u003c/em>making a purchase.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12016485\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/12/IMG_5809-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Toyota electric vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2024. (Saul Gonzalez/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you move forward with making a purchase or lease, confirm two things with the salesperson and the financing team:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>That you qualify for the MyFirstEV discount\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>That there are still state funds available for this specific car brand.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When federal EV rebates were available, buyers had to initially wait until they filed their taxes the year after buying their car to request this money back. But state officials say that folks interested in the FirstEV discount won’t have to wait so long.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once launched, Californians will be able to go down to participating automakers’ dealerships and access the rebates at the point of sale,” Buckley said. “They won’t have any delay in getting this discount.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Can the program help me pay for \u003cem>any\u003c/em> EV I want?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — MyFirstEV discounts will only cover battery-electric cars and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from automakers participating in the program. State officials will confirm next month which car companies are included. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But this means that if an EV brand you really want to purchase is not on the list, you won’t get the discount when buying or leasing the car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hybrid vehicles are also not included in MyFirstEV, state officials confirmed with KQED. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also a price limit: The EV you choose must cost under $50,000 if it’s a new car, and $25,000 if it’s used. There is, however, a \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB168\">small exception\u003c/a> to this price rule if the automaker is headquartered in California — in which case the discounts will apply regardless of the manufacturer’s retail price. More than a \u003ca href=\"https://www.builtinsf.com/articles/silicon-valley-electric-car-companies\">dozen electric car brands\u003c/a> are based in the Golden State, with several selling models priced beyond the $50,000 limit.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I’m really interested in this program. What should I do while I wait for it to open?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While consumers wait for the program to begin, Buckley said they learn as much as they can about different EVs available on the market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Maybe head to a dealership and take a test drive of an electric vehicle that you’re eyeing,” she said. “We do expect this to be a popular program and for [funds] to get gobbled up pretty quickly” — so the more prepared you are when the program officially begins, the better.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2274\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of a parking lot that has EV chargers, with three cars parked in 'EV Charging Only' spots, and a fourth car pulling in to another one.\" class=\"wp-image-11971075\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf.jpg 2274w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/gettyimages-1576817852-98c5c2b1e80ed40f3e2b7969add10f2d9535efdf-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2274px) 100vw, 2274px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Polestar electric car prepares to park at an EV charging station on July 28, 2023, in Corte Madera. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Potential buyers can also learn about what it takes to \u003cem>care \u003c/em>for an EV, like how to find charging stations and battery maintenance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Buckley said the site \u003ca href=\"https://www.electricforall.org/\">ElectricForAll\u003c/a> — created by the nonprofit Veloz — is a good source of information.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will some carmakers have more rebates available than others?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No — funds will be divided equally among the participating automakers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, there may be greater demand for some brands, which could mean that rebates may run out faster at some dealerships.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article includes reporting from KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/lklivans\">Laura Klivans.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "california-lawmakers-look-to-make-abortion-shield-laws-less-dependent-on-whos-governor",
"title": "California Lawmakers Look to Make Abortion Shield Laws Less Dependent on Who's Governor",
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"headTitle": "California Lawmakers Look to Make Abortion Shield Laws Less Dependent on Who’s Governor | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gov-gavin-newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a>, using his executive power, refused to extradite a physician accused of prescribing and mailing abortion pills to a Louisiana woman, he said California would “not ever” allow “extremist politicians” to punish its doctors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom, who is considering a run for president, has long championed reproductive rights, but state lawmakers in the Democratically controlled California legislature know future governors might not have the same political beliefs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host endorsed by President Donald Trump, has vowed to honor these types of extradition requests from other states if he’s elected,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071206/gop-candidate-steve-hilton-would-extradite-california-abortion-doctor-to-louisiana\"> saying that\u003c/a> Louisiana “is trying to uphold what its people voted for, and California is undermining it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His opponent, Democrat Xavier Becerra, has said he would deny the requests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Legislation advancing in Sacramento is the latest chapter in a tit for tat that’s been happening between conservative and liberal states since 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned \u003cem>Roe v. Wade\u003c/em>, ending federal legal protections for abortion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2164\">A bill\u003c/a> by state Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, which is being heard in committee, would take some decisions out of the governor’s hands, requiring governors to deny extradition requests for healthcare providers who prescribe abortion medication or administer gender-affirming care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12005912\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12005912\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19.jpg\" alt=\"A white woman wearing glasses and blue jacket stands in front of a podium with a microphone around other people.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan speaks in support of SCR 135, which would designate May 6, 2024, as California Holocaust Memorial Day on the Assembly floor at the state Capitol in Sacramento on April 29, 2024. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It would also shield anyone in California who helped patients travel to California or another state to receive legal care. While opponents cast “shield laws” as an incursion on other states’ authority, supporters of the bill view it as insurance — even with Becerra leading Hilton 52% to 31%, according to\u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p03f9rh\"> May polling\u003c/a> by the University of California-Berkeley Institute of Government Studies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom spokesperson Marissa Saldivar said the governor doesn’t comment on pending legislation. Hilton and Becerra didn’t return calls for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Protecting providers from prosecution should not rely on shifting political winds or a single person’s decision,” said Alyssa Sherer, a nurse practitioner who spoke in support of the bill at a Senate committee hearing in June. Sherer is also the medical director at Hey Jane, a telehealth medication abortion provider.[aside postID=news_12086530 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/PlannedParenthoodSF.jpg']Thirteen states have banned abortion outright, and 28 other states ban abortion somewhere between six weeks and viability. At the same time, other states that allow abortion have enacted shield laws to protect doctors and nurses from liability when they prescribe across state lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People living in states with total abortion bans are increasingly getting abortion pills prescribed via telehealth, from 74,000 abortions in 2024 to 92,000 abortions in 2025, according to the Guttmacher Institute, citing numbers from its Monthly Abortion Provision Study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics of shield laws say that states have a legitimate interest in enforcing their own statutes and that such laws represent an attempt by some states, like California, to nullify the legal decisions of others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If California says, ‘We’re not going to honor any other state’s laws. We’re going to ship abortion pills into your states. You can’t have a law that says abortion is illegal,’ I don’t know — that doesn’t seem like a workable situation,” said Greg Burt, who is vice president of the California Family Council and has spoken in opposition to shield laws at the State Capitol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twenty-one other states and Washington, D.C., have similar shield laws, but Arizona, California, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania rely on an executive order, which could be reversed by a successor, according to the Guttmacher Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Amanda Barrow, a senior staff attorney at the Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy at UCLA Law, said passing extradition protections would put California on firmer footing because, an executive order “could be revoked by a governor who is anti-abortion or anti-gender-affirming-care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hilton has said he would do just that if elected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just as I wouldn’t want to see Louisiana coming in and undermining something that we voted for here in California,” the GOP candidate told KQED in January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk2e2XSSRXY\"> May gubernatorial debate\u003c/a>, Becerra said he was strident about protecting reproductive rights as the state’s attorney general.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Absolutely no,” Becerra said of allowing California physicians to be extradited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, Hawaii\u003ca href=\"https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1875&year=2026\"> added gender-affirming care\u003c/a> to its existing shield laws. And Oregon\u003ca href=\"https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB4088\"> expanded extradition protections\u003c/a>, including banning law enforcement from cooperating with out-of-state or federal investigations into care that’s legal in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Republican legislators in conservative states have cast telehealth visits as an end run around their laws. And some have moved to restrict abortion pill access.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11779903\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11779903\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a green abortion pill.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bill signed by Gov. Newsom (the first of its kind in the nation) requires campus health centers at public universities to provide abortion pills. \u003ccite>(Phil Walter/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The governors of\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-lawmakers-abortion-pills-cfec4e3223819aeb64df8c9cfc8effab\"> Mississippi\u003c/a>,\u003ca href=\"https://oklahomavoice.com/briefs/governor-signs-oklahoma-bill-criminalizing-providing-abortion-inducing-drugs/\"> Oklahoma\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26881/300950\"> South Dakota\u003c/a> have signed bills this year that criminalize the sale, purchase, or distribution of medication that induces an abortion. Those states make it a felony to provide medication abortion drugs to people who are seeking to end a pregnancy. The laws impose up to 10 years in prison with potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mississippi amended the state’s controlled substances code to add abortion pills as a criminal category. Although the state already prohibits abortion broadly, the measure specifically addresses distribution, which could subject out-of-state providers to prosecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In January, Louisiana tried to extradite \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069971/california-lawmakers-defend-doctor-as-states-clash-over-abortion\">a California doctor, Remy Coeytaux,\u003c/a> accused of mailing abortion pills to a patient. Newsom denied the request.[aside postID=science_2001391 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260629-DOXYPEP-02-BL-KQED.jpg']Likewise, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0k02HsbD8I\">denied\u003c/a> Louisiana’s February 2025 extradition request for a doctor in her state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Texas has taken a slightly different legal tact. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, obtained a default judgment of more than $100,000 against the New York doctor targeted by Louisiana, but a judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/31/texas-lawsuit-new-york-abortion-provider-shield-law-ken-paxton/\">dismissed\u003c/a> it, citing New York’s shield law. Neither Paxton nor Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fear of being charged with a crime for providing quality medical care is contributing to physicians leaving medicine, said Sacramento emergency room doctor Kamara Graham, who is vice president of the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, which is supporting the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really conflicting and hard for us to weigh that concern of: Will I get extradited and charged and potentially be taken away from my family? Or do I do the right thing for my patient?” Graham said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The availability of medication used in most abortions could soon change nationwide. Under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration\u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/fda-launches-study-of-abortion-pill-safety-as-opponents-push-for-limits-a3cee37b?st=6pZecS\"> recently confirmed\u003c/a> it is conducting a safety review of mifepristone, one of two medications in pill form that is used in most U.S. abortions. The FDA maintains the drug is safe and effective.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1274\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_-1536x978.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event on “Making Health Technology Great Again,” in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite>(Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If the FDA were to decide that mifepristone is not safe, such a ruling would supersede state laws, even in states where abortion is legal. If mifepristone is restricted, many telehealth groups have said\u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/courts/louisiana-fda-mifepristone-misoprostol-abortion-pills-mail-federal-court-case/\"> they would switch\u003c/a> to using only the other medication, misoprostol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The elephant in the room is whether the Trump administration, particularly after the midterms, makes some kind of move to put national limits on access to abortions,” said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at UC Davis who has written several books on reproductive health law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everything is something that the legislature can solve for,” Ziegler said, “because there’s some uncertainty about how the federal courts are going to react to all of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us/\">\u003cem>KFF Health News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/about-us/\"> \u003cem>KFF\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "As states with abortion bans target California physicians who prescribe abortion pills across state lines, Democrats want to lock in protections for doctors, no matter who the next governor is.",
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"title": "California Lawmakers Look to Make Abortion Shield Laws Less Dependent on Who's Governor | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gov-gavin-newsom\">Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a>, using his executive power, refused to extradite a physician accused of prescribing and mailing abortion pills to a Louisiana woman, he said California would “not ever” allow “extremist politicians” to punish its doctors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom, who is considering a run for president, has long championed reproductive rights, but state lawmakers in the Democratically controlled California legislature know future governors might not have the same political beliefs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host endorsed by President Donald Trump, has vowed to honor these types of extradition requests from other states if he’s elected,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12071206/gop-candidate-steve-hilton-would-extradite-california-abortion-doctor-to-louisiana\"> saying that\u003c/a> Louisiana “is trying to uphold what its people voted for, and California is undermining it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His opponent, Democrat Xavier Becerra, has said he would deny the requests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Legislation advancing in Sacramento is the latest chapter in a tit for tat that’s been happening between conservative and liberal states since 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned \u003cem>Roe v. Wade\u003c/em>, ending federal legal protections for abortion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2164\">A bill\u003c/a> by state Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, which is being heard in committee, would take some decisions out of the governor’s hands, requiring governors to deny extradition requests for healthcare providers who prescribe abortion medication or administer gender-affirming care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12005912\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12005912\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19.jpg\" alt=\"A white woman wearing glasses and blue jacket stands in front of a podium with a microphone around other people.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/042924-State-Capitol-Session-MG-CM-19-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan speaks in support of SCR 135, which would designate May 6, 2024, as California Holocaust Memorial Day on the Assembly floor at the state Capitol in Sacramento on April 29, 2024. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It would also shield anyone in California who helped patients travel to California or another state to receive legal care. While opponents cast “shield laws” as an incursion on other states’ authority, supporters of the bill view it as insurance — even with Becerra leading Hilton 52% to 31%, according to\u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p03f9rh\"> May polling\u003c/a> by the University of California-Berkeley Institute of Government Studies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom spokesperson Marissa Saldivar said the governor doesn’t comment on pending legislation. Hilton and Becerra didn’t return calls for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Protecting providers from prosecution should not rely on shifting political winds or a single person’s decision,” said Alyssa Sherer, a nurse practitioner who spoke in support of the bill at a Senate committee hearing in June. Sherer is also the medical director at Hey Jane, a telehealth medication abortion provider.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Thirteen states have banned abortion outright, and 28 other states ban abortion somewhere between six weeks and viability. At the same time, other states that allow abortion have enacted shield laws to protect doctors and nurses from liability when they prescribe across state lines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People living in states with total abortion bans are increasingly getting abortion pills prescribed via telehealth, from 74,000 abortions in 2024 to 92,000 abortions in 2025, according to the Guttmacher Institute, citing numbers from its Monthly Abortion Provision Study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics of shield laws say that states have a legitimate interest in enforcing their own statutes and that such laws represent an attempt by some states, like California, to nullify the legal decisions of others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If California says, ‘We’re not going to honor any other state’s laws. We’re going to ship abortion pills into your states. You can’t have a law that says abortion is illegal,’ I don’t know — that doesn’t seem like a workable situation,” said Greg Burt, who is vice president of the California Family Council and has spoken in opposition to shield laws at the State Capitol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Twenty-one other states and Washington, D.C., have similar shield laws, but Arizona, California, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania rely on an executive order, which could be reversed by a successor, according to the Guttmacher Institute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/FTP_9P3A3423_1_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, during a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. \u003ccite>(Jason Henry/Nexstar/Bloomberg)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Amanda Barrow, a senior staff attorney at the Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy at UCLA Law, said passing extradition protections would put California on firmer footing because, an executive order “could be revoked by a governor who is anti-abortion or anti-gender-affirming-care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hilton has said he would do just that if elected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just as I wouldn’t want to see Louisiana coming in and undermining something that we voted for here in California,” the GOP candidate told KQED in January.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk2e2XSSRXY\"> May gubernatorial debate\u003c/a>, Becerra said he was strident about protecting reproductive rights as the state’s attorney general.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Absolutely no,” Becerra said of allowing California physicians to be extradited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, Hawaii\u003ca href=\"https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1875&year=2026\"> added gender-affirming care\u003c/a> to its existing shield laws. And Oregon\u003ca href=\"https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB4088\"> expanded extradition protections\u003c/a>, including banning law enforcement from cooperating with out-of-state or federal investigations into care that’s legal in the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Republican legislators in conservative states have cast telehealth visits as an end run around their laws. And some have moved to restrict abortion pill access.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11779903\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11779903\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a green abortion pill.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/10/abortion-pill_wide-ce7dbb87eee88c5892b979374156df14b25fe16f-e1516737780651-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bill signed by Gov. Newsom (the first of its kind in the nation) requires campus health centers at public universities to provide abortion pills. \u003ccite>(Phil Walter/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The governors of\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-lawmakers-abortion-pills-cfec4e3223819aeb64df8c9cfc8effab\"> Mississippi\u003c/a>,\u003ca href=\"https://oklahomavoice.com/briefs/governor-signs-oklahoma-bill-criminalizing-providing-abortion-inducing-drugs/\"> Oklahoma\u003c/a> and\u003ca href=\"https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26881/300950\"> South Dakota\u003c/a> have signed bills this year that criminalize the sale, purchase, or distribution of medication that induces an abortion. Those states make it a felony to provide medication abortion drugs to people who are seeking to end a pregnancy. The laws impose up to 10 years in prison with potentially tens of thousands of dollars in fines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mississippi amended the state’s controlled substances code to add abortion pills as a criminal category. Although the state already prohibits abortion broadly, the measure specifically addresses distribution, which could subject out-of-state providers to prosecution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In January, Louisiana tried to extradite \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069971/california-lawmakers-defend-doctor-as-states-clash-over-abortion\">a California doctor, Remy Coeytaux,\u003c/a> accused of mailing abortion pills to a patient. Newsom denied the request.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Likewise, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0k02HsbD8I\">denied\u003c/a> Louisiana’s February 2025 extradition request for a doctor in her state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Texas has taken a slightly different legal tact. Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, obtained a default judgment of more than $100,000 against the New York doctor targeted by Louisiana, but a judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/31/texas-lawsuit-new-york-abortion-provider-shield-law-ken-paxton/\">dismissed\u003c/a> it, citing New York’s shield law. Neither Paxton nor Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill responded to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fear of being charged with a crime for providing quality medical care is contributing to physicians leaving medicine, said Sacramento emergency room doctor Kamara Graham, who is vice president of the California chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, which is supporting the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really conflicting and hard for us to weigh that concern of: Will I get extradited and charged and potentially be taken away from my family? Or do I do the right thing for my patient?” Graham said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The availability of medication used in most abortions could soon change nationwide. Under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration\u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/fda-launches-study-of-abortion-pill-safety-as-opponents-push-for-limits-a3cee37b?st=6pZecS\"> recently confirmed\u003c/a> it is conducting a safety review of mifepristone, one of two medications in pill form that is used in most U.S. abortions. The FDA maintains the drug is safe and effective.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12051156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12051156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1274\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/RFKJr.Getty_-1536x978.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event on “Making Health Technology Great Again,” in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 2025. \u003ccite>(Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If the FDA were to decide that mifepristone is not safe, such a ruling would supersede state laws, even in states where abortion is legal. If mifepristone is restricted, many telehealth groups have said\u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/courts/louisiana-fda-mifepristone-misoprostol-abortion-pills-mail-federal-court-case/\"> they would switch\u003c/a> to using only the other medication, misoprostol.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The elephant in the room is whether the Trump administration, particularly after the midterms, makes some kind of move to put national limits on access to abortions,” said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at UC Davis who has written several books on reproductive health law.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not everything is something that the legislature can solve for,” Ziegler said, “because there’s some uncertainty about how the federal courts are going to react to all of this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us/\">\u003cem>KFF Health News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kff.org/about-us/\"> \u003cem>KFF\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003c/a>signed a new housing affordability law on Monday, aiming to cut red tape and spur housing construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a press conference in Oakland’s Chinatown, the governor didn’t mince words when it came to confronting the state’s cost-of-living crisis, which is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/interactive/californians-and-the-housing-crisis/\">top of mind\u003c/a> for residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s Econ 101,” Newsom said. “We need to build more damn housing, and we need to lower the cost of construction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reforms signed into law are expected to reduce the per-unit cost of affordable housing by $60,000 to $70,000, the governor said. One primary change is slashing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070650/these-fees-make-affordable-housing-more-expensive-developers-want-to-slash-them\">impact fees\u003c/a>, which local governments add onto new housing developments to generate tax revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The one-time fees levied on developers are used to support municipal services — including schools, public parks and sewage — for residents in the new affordable housing units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/blog/assessing-the-cost-of-impact-fees-on-affordable-housing-an-analysis-of-low-income-housing-tax-credit-projects-in-california/\">report\u003c/a> by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, a UC Berkeley think tank focused on housing challenges, recently found that across the state, affordable developments paid an average of roughly $300 million in impact fees annually. In his announcement on Monday, the governor called the fees “comical.”[aside postID=news_12090248 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/GettyImages-1092771432.jpg']“They’re outrageous. It makes it quite literally impossible to build an affordable unit,” Newsom said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Sen. Jesse Arreguín, D-Berkeley, and other officials at the conference credited the state’s investments in housing with alleviating some of the heavy burden of the housing crisis on residents and municipalities — and resulting in a 9% drop in unsheltered homelessness statewide over the past year, Arreguín said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This announcement was also an opportunity for Newsom to trade barbs with President Donald Trump after he refused to sign a major \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073585/congress-advanced-some-major-housing-reforms-heres-how-it-could-impact-california\">housing\u003c/a> bill from Congress, which became \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5885027/housing-bill-without-trump-signature\">law\u003c/a> over the weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The President may not be familiar because he did not take the time to sign a bill,” Newsom said when asked about the federal legislation, but “it looks a lot like what we’ve been doing here in the state of California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The reforms are expected to reduce the cost of affordable housing construction in California by an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 per-unit.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/gavin-newsom\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003c/a>signed a new housing affordability law on Monday, aiming to cut red tape and spur housing construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a press conference in Oakland’s Chinatown, the governor didn’t mince words when it came to confronting the state’s cost-of-living crisis, which is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/interactive/californians-and-the-housing-crisis/\">top of mind\u003c/a> for residents.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s Econ 101,” Newsom said. “We need to build more damn housing, and we need to lower the cost of construction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reforms signed into law are expected to reduce the per-unit cost of affordable housing by $60,000 to $70,000, the governor said. One primary change is slashing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12070650/these-fees-make-affordable-housing-more-expensive-developers-want-to-slash-them\">impact fees\u003c/a>, which local governments add onto new housing developments to generate tax revenue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The one-time fees levied on developers are used to support municipal services — including schools, public parks and sewage — for residents in the new affordable housing units.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/blog/assessing-the-cost-of-impact-fees-on-affordable-housing-an-analysis-of-low-income-housing-tax-credit-projects-in-california/\">report\u003c/a> by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, a UC Berkeley think tank focused on housing challenges, recently found that across the state, affordable developments paid an average of roughly $300 million in impact fees annually. In his announcement on Monday, the governor called the fees “comical.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“They’re outrageous. It makes it quite literally impossible to build an affordable unit,” Newsom said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State Sen. Jesse Arreguín, D-Berkeley, and other officials at the conference credited the state’s investments in housing with alleviating some of the heavy burden of the housing crisis on residents and municipalities — and resulting in a 9% drop in unsheltered homelessness statewide over the past year, Arreguín said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This announcement was also an opportunity for Newsom to trade barbs with President Donald Trump after he refused to sign a major \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12073585/congress-advanced-some-major-housing-reforms-heres-how-it-could-impact-california\">housing\u003c/a> bill from Congress, which became \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5885027/housing-bill-without-trump-signature\">law\u003c/a> over the weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The President may not be familiar because he did not take the time to sign a bill,” Newsom said when asked about the federal legislation, but “it looks a lot like what we’ve been doing here in the state of California.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "newsoms-final-budget-sends-more-than-a-billion-dollars-to-university-of-california-cal-state",
"title": "Newsom’s Final Budget Sends More Than a Billion Dollars to University of California, Cal State",
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"headTitle": "Newsom’s Final Budget Sends More Than a Billion Dollars to University of California, Cal State | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> public colleges and universities emerged as winners in the latest state budget after lawmakers sent them hundreds of millions of dollars in new public spending. However, that largesse was tempered by decisions by Democrats in Sacramento to reject bond measures that could have awarded campuses billions more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The changes were enshrined in the state budget for 2026-27 that the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-gavin-newsom-final-budget-deal/\">approved last month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Students were also major beneficiaries, as lawmakers continued to support one of the nation’s most generous state financial aid programs. The Cal Grant, which generally covers tuition at the University of California and California State University and partial tuition at private colleges, remains fully funded as part of an ongoing commitment by lawmakers and Newsom to keep student costs down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UC and Cal State students receiving the Cal Grants will have their tuition charges waived, even as schools continue to raise tuition. And more affordable student housing may be built soon if voters approve a bond that lawmakers and Newsom put on the ballot for November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prioritizing higher education spending will be “a strong part of Gov. Newsom’s legacy,” said Jessica L. Thompson, a senior vice president at The Institute for College Access & Success. The organization is a think tank that advocates for increased financial aid for low-income students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038976\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038976\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students make their way on campus at CSU East Bay on Feb. 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’ve never had to work to convince the executive branch that public higher education was incredibly important and central to a lot of the ambitions for the state and for the future, and that’s not something to take for granted,” she told CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the smaller Middle Class Scholarship, which last year awarded recipients an average of $3,000 in aid to cover school expenses, will decrease to an average of $2,000 this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a breakdown of higher education’s wins and losses in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More money for UC, Cal State\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The UC and Cal State systems each received more than $500 million in ongoing taxpayer support that can be used to hire faculty as they enroll more students and keep up with other expenses, such as rising energy, insurance and staff health costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That public generosity isn’t guaranteed. Public K-12 schools and community colleges are constitutionally guaranteed around 40% of the state’s general fund. But public universities have no such ironclad dibs on state money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Legislature’s top budget and policy adviser, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5112#:~:text=Recommend%20Reducing%20or%20Eliminating%20Base%20Increases,4.2%C2%A0percent%20and%203.5%C2%A0percent%2C%20respectively.\">recommended smaller increases for the universities in February\u003c/a>. The office cited projected multibillion-dollar state deficits. And it argued that both systems can still rely on new revenue from their \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/11/uc-tuition/\">annual\u003c/a> tuition \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/09/cal-state-tuition-2/\">hikes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084670 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Newsom’s eight-year tenure coincided with dramatic spikes in state spending for each system. The year before he took office, the UC and Cal State each received \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/publication/e/2018-19/Agency/6013\">about $3.7\u003c/a> billion in state support. The latest budget act sends more than $5 billion to each system from the state’s general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s a growth of 50% — but less than the 80% in \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2018-19/pdf/Enacted/BudgetSummary/SummaryCharts.pdf#page=2\">overall\u003c/a> state \u003ca href=\"https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/floor-report-of-the-2026-27-budget-june-27-2026_5.pdf#page=9\">spending\u003c/a> increase Sacramento approved from the general fund during that span.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The latest university increases are a combination of new ongoing money for the two university systems and the restoration of more than $100 million in funding cuts that lawmakers applied to both the UC and Cal State in last year’s budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That drop in money prompted an ongoing impasse between Cal State and unionized workers. Cal State argued the funding cut prevented the system from honoring full raises for thousands of its staff; some unions disagreed by pointing to the loan the state offered Cal State to make up for last year’s cut. Cal State said that doesn’t count since it has to repay that loan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087829\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the California State University Employees Union march across the San Francisco State University campus during a rally on June 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One large union of 36,000 administrative and groundskeeping workers, CSUEU, filed an unfair labor practice charge against Cal State \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/lace1450h-1.pdf\">last July\u003c/a>. The union contends that last year’s budget triggered a union contract clause to put workers on higher experience levels. Each “step” increase comes with a 2% raise. Cal State advanced workers one step, but the union says some were supposed to climb five or more steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CSUEU expects to come to a deal with Cal State on the grievance in the next month — before the state California Public Employment Relations Board is set to issue a decision in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The union also seeks 11% raises annually for the next three years. It hasn’t sought approval from its members to strike, but the union has \u003ca href=\"https://csueu.org/news?details=staff-bargaining-recap-june-1-2026\">threatened work stoppages.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Students mostly benefit\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The budget deal continues to fully fund the Cal Grant, a politically popular program that has no guaranteed stream of funding like public K-12 schools and community colleges do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2015, the number of Cal Grant recipients has grown from around 330,000 to more than 450,000. State spending also leaped from about $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A major reason for the expansion of students receiving the grant is a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2021/06/california-college-budget/#:~:text=Cal%20Grants%20coming%20to%20twice%20as%20many%20community%20college%20students\">set of relaxed rules lawmakers approved in 2021\u003c/a>. Those permitted more than 100,000 community college students older than 28 to qualify for the Cal Grant each year. The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that Cal Grant’s costs grew by $167 million last year just from those rule changes alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12058099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12058099\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk on campus at UC Berkeley in Berkeley on Sept. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The annual tuition hikes at UC, starting in 2022, and Cal State, beginning in 2024, have also pushed the price tag on the Cal Grant higher. About a quarter of the increased costs of Cal Grants for UC and CSU in the last decade is due to tuition increases, the \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20larger%20Cal%20Grant%20awards%20from%20UC%20and%20CSU%20tuition%20increases%20account%20for%20roughly%20one%E2%80%91quarter%20of%20the%20growth%20in%20Cal%20Grant%20costs%20between%202015%E2%80%9116%20and%202024%E2%80%9125.\">analyst’s office wrote in February\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A smaller financial aid program is dropping in value, however. The Middle Class Scholarship will receive $680 million, enough for an average of about $2,000 for its roughly 350,000 UC and Cal State student recipients. Last year Sacramento funded the program at nearly $1 billion, and the average award was $3,000. The drop in spending was a way to balance the state budget, which cannot run deficits.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>The decrease may mean students work more hours or take out loans, though most \u003ca href=\"https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/new-data-shows-uc-degrees-deliver-strong-earnings-and-economic-mobility#:~:text=AT%20A%20GLANCE%3A-,Affordability,-%3A%20Over%2060\">UC\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/Institutional-Financial-Aid-Report-signed-2026.pdf#page=2\">Cal State\u003c/a> undergraduates complete their degrees with no debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bond money is a mixed record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Still, higher education fell short in legislator-backed bonds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One measure that appears to be dead for now is a $12 billion bond that would award science grants to universities and other research organizations. The UC and the union of graduate student workers, whose wages often rely on grant research money, advocated fiercely for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proposed by Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/scott-wiener-100936\">Scott Wiener\u003c/a>, a Democrat from San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb895\">the measure\u003c/a> was viewed as a backstop against the Trump administration’s aggressive attempts to terminate existing and new research funding for the University of California and other campuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085953\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085953\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks during an election night event at his campaign headquarters in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Trump alleged the affected grants violated his prohibitions on research into diversity issues and climate change; many of the grants sought to better understand diseases, new pharmaceuticals, cancer and dementia. The UC system alone collected $3 billion in federal research grant money in 2024-25 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucop.edu/operating-budget/_files/rbudget/2026-27-budget-detail.pdf#page=21\">nearly half\u003c/a> of its research funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point last year the Trump administration froze or terminated more than 1,000 California science grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Public tracking site \u003ca href=\"https://grant-witness.us/nih-data.html\">Grant Witness indicates\u003c/a> that most of those have been \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2025/09/ucla-research-grants/\">restored\u003c/a> through various court orders \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/11/uc/\">after professors\u003c/a> sued last year. But tens of millions of dollars in grants remain on pause in California from those research agencies, while nearly $900 million is\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb895#:~:text=U.S.%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency\"> frozen\u003c/a> from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a legislative analysis for Wiener’s measure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletter/altadena-small-business-recovery/#:~:text=Wiener%2C%20to%20CalMatters%20during%20a%20press%20call%20Friday%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20important%20for%20California%20just%20to%20be%20like%20a%20rock%20in%20the%20storm%2C%20so%20that%20we%E2%80%99re%20just%20doing%20science%20here%20and%20investing%20in%20science%20%E2%80%A6%20regardless%20of%20what%E2%80%99s%20happening%20with%20the%20federal%20government%20at%20that%20moment%20in%20time.%E2%80%9D\">told CalMatters in January\u003c/a> that the bond funding would protect California from an unpredictable Washington, D.C. While Trump sought major cuts to science research agencies in his proposed budget, Congress rebuffed him. Still, experts believe fewer grants \u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-likely-award-fewer-grants-it-races-spend-2026-budget\">will be awarded to researchers\u003c/a> under new Trump administration funding rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener’s bond measure sailed through the Senate but stalled in the Assembly, never getting out of a key committee in time to beat the deadline to appear on the November ballot.[aside postID=news_12086267 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/YosemiteGetty.jpg']Nick Miller, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/robert-rivas-165041\">Robert Rivas\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Salinas, said in an email that “Trump’s full-scale assault on California touches nearly every public service and program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Legislators face real, painful choices,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several legislative and political insiders told CalMatters that another reason the science research bond didn’t advance was because some lawmakers worried it would lower the chances that voters in November approve an $11 billion affordable housing bond. That housing measure was a priority for the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another proposed bond would have allowed the UC and Cal State to reduce their backlog of aging structures and build new ones. An effort by Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/david-alvarez-112993\">David Alvarez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Chula Vista, to put a measure on the November ballot fizzled by late June. It had no price tag. His office said that Newsom’s Department of Finance determined that the state lacked the money in future budgets to repay the debt owed on such a bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cal State reports that more than half of its academic buildings \u003ca href=\"https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/Investing-in-the-CSUs-Facilities-Needs-is-Investing-in-Californias-Future.aspx#:~:text=More%20than%20half%20of%20the%20CSU%E2%80%99s%20academic%20buildings%20are%20more%20than%2050%20years%20old\">are at least 50 years old\u003c/a>. The system’s five-year construction plan includes $24 billion in projects. UC’s campuses and hospitals say they’re short $46 billion in funding for infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Students and faculty \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2025/04/deferred-maintenance-cal-state-uc/\">in recent years\u003c/a> complained of broken air conditioners during heat waves and downed heaters when the mercury drops. The temperature swings affect expensive laboratory equipment and campuses have also \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4657#:~:text=as%20well%20as%20frequent%20flooding\">endured floods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The last time voters approved a facilities bond for the public universities was 2006. Both systems can issue bonds for construction, but their borrowing ability is limited because those debt payments come out of their annual budgets. Voters rejected a $15 billion facilities bond for schools in 2020 that would have provided the two systems $2 billion each. A subsequent bond that voters approved excluded UC and Cal State entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12063635\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12063635\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California, on Oct. 9, 2018. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s too soon to plan for 2028 ballot measures but a facilities bond will remain within Alvarez’s priorities for sure,” spokesperson Chris Jonsmyr wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A silver construction lining is student dormitory money included in the $11 billion affordable housing bond measure on the ballot this November. If voters approve, Cal State and UC would each get $175 million to continue a state program to build housing that campuses would rent to low-income students at below market rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For UC, $175 million may be enough to construct around 1,700 beds for low-income students. Housing plans approved by the UC Board of Regents in the past four years that CalMatters reviewed range from $200,000 to $300,000 per bed — high costs fueled by ever-rising construction expenses and stratospheric land prices where the mostly coastal campuses are located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last fall 9,900 UC students were on waitlists for campus housing, according to data CalMatters requested from the UC Office of the President. The potential addition of affordable beds would complement UC’s ongoing housing construction blitz. It intends to add some 15,000 additional student housing slots by 2030.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The system needs it: The average occupancy rate is 104% across the system’s student housing network, UC data show. That means rooms designed as doubles become triples to absorb the inflow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/07/newsom-uc-cal-state-billion-dollars-more/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Since Gavin Newsom became governor, state support for California’s public universities has grown by 50%.",
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"title": "Newsom’s Final Budget Sends More Than a Billion Dollars to University of California, Cal State | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ -->\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> public colleges and universities emerged as winners in the latest state budget after lawmakers sent them hundreds of millions of dollars in new public spending. However, that largesse was tempered by decisions by Democrats in Sacramento to reject bond measures that could have awarded campuses billions more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The changes were enshrined in the state budget for 2026-27 that the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-gavin-newsom-final-budget-deal/\">approved last month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Students were also major beneficiaries, as lawmakers continued to support one of the nation’s most generous state financial aid programs. The Cal Grant, which generally covers tuition at the University of California and California State University and partial tuition at private colleges, remains fully funded as part of an ongoing commitment by lawmakers and Newsom to keep student costs down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UC and Cal State students receiving the Cal Grants will have their tuition charges waived, even as schools continue to raise tuition. And more affordable student housing may be built soon if voters approve a bond that lawmakers and Newsom put on the ballot for November.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Prioritizing higher education spending will be “a strong part of Gov. Newsom’s legacy,” said Jessica L. Thompson, a senior vice president at The Institute for College Access & Success. The organization is a think tank that advocates for increased financial aid for low-income students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038976\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038976\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250219-CSU-East-Bay-File-MD-12_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students make their way on campus at CSU East Bay on Feb. 19, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We’ve never had to work to convince the executive branch that public higher education was incredibly important and central to a lot of the ambitions for the state and for the future, and that’s not something to take for granted,” she told CalMatters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the smaller Middle Class Scholarship, which last year awarded recipients an average of $3,000 in aid to cover school expenses, will decrease to an average of $2,000 this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a breakdown of higher education’s wins and losses in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More money for UC, Cal State\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The UC and Cal State systems each received more than $500 million in ongoing taxpayer support that can be used to hire faculty as they enroll more students and keep up with other expenses, such as rising energy, insurance and staff health costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That public generosity isn’t guaranteed. Public K-12 schools and community colleges are constitutionally guaranteed around 40% of the state’s general fund. But public universities have no such ironclad dibs on state money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Legislature’s top budget and policy adviser, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5112#:~:text=Recommend%20Reducing%20or%20Eliminating%20Base%20Increases,4.2%C2%A0percent%20and%203.5%C2%A0percent%2C%20respectively.\">recommended smaller increases for the universities in February\u003c/a>. The office cited projected multibillion-dollar state deficits. And it argued that both systems can still rely on new revenue from their \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/11/uc-tuition/\">annual\u003c/a> tuition \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2023/09/cal-state-tuition-2/\">hikes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12084670 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Newsom’s eight-year tenure coincided with dramatic spikes in state spending for each system. The year before he took office, the UC and Cal State each received \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/publication/e/2018-19/Agency/6013\">about $3.7\u003c/a> billion in state support. The latest budget act sends more than $5 billion to each system from the state’s general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s a growth of 50% — but less than the 80% in \u003ca href=\"https://ebudget.ca.gov/2018-19/pdf/Enacted/BudgetSummary/SummaryCharts.pdf#page=2\">overall\u003c/a> state \u003ca href=\"https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/system/files/2026-06/floor-report-of-the-2026-27-budget-june-27-2026_5.pdf#page=9\">spending\u003c/a> increase Sacramento approved from the general fund during that span.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The latest university increases are a combination of new ongoing money for the two university systems and the restoration of more than $100 million in funding cuts that lawmakers applied to both the UC and Cal State in last year’s budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That drop in money prompted an ongoing impasse between Cal State and unionized workers. Cal State argued the funding cut prevented the system from honoring full raises for thousands of its staff; some unions disagreed by pointing to the loan the state offered Cal State to make up for last year’s cut. Cal State said that doesn’t count since it has to repay that loan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087829\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087829\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/061626CSU-Labor_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the California State University Employees Union march across the San Francisco State University campus during a rally on June 16, 2026. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One large union of 36,000 administrative and groundskeeping workers, CSUEU, filed an unfair labor practice charge against Cal State \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/lace1450h-1.pdf\">last July\u003c/a>. The union contends that last year’s budget triggered a union contract clause to put workers on higher experience levels. Each “step” increase comes with a 2% raise. Cal State advanced workers one step, but the union says some were supposed to climb five or more steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CSUEU expects to come to a deal with Cal State on the grievance in the next month — before the state California Public Employment Relations Board is set to issue a decision in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The union also seeks 11% raises annually for the next three years. It hasn’t sought approval from its members to strike, but the union has \u003ca href=\"https://csueu.org/news?details=staff-bargaining-recap-june-1-2026\">threatened work stoppages.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Students mostly benefit\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The budget deal continues to fully fund the Cal Grant, a politically popular program that has no guaranteed stream of funding like public K-12 schools and community colleges do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since 2015, the number of Cal Grant recipients has grown from around 330,000 to more than 450,000. State spending also leaped from about $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A major reason for the expansion of students receiving the grant is a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2021/06/california-college-budget/#:~:text=Cal%20Grants%20coming%20to%20twice%20as%20many%20community%20college%20students\">set of relaxed rules lawmakers approved in 2021\u003c/a>. Those permitted more than 100,000 community college students older than 28 to qualify for the Cal Grant each year. The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that Cal Grant’s costs grew by $167 million last year just from those rule changes alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12058099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12058099\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/20250929_UCBERKELEY_GC-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students walk on campus at UC Berkeley in Berkeley on Sept. 29, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The annual tuition hikes at UC, starting in 2022, and Cal State, beginning in 2024, have also pushed the price tag on the Cal Grant higher. About a quarter of the increased costs of Cal Grants for UC and CSU in the last decade is due to tuition increases, the \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20larger%20Cal%20Grant%20awards%20from%20UC%20and%20CSU%20tuition%20increases%20account%20for%20roughly%20one%E2%80%91quarter%20of%20the%20growth%20in%20Cal%20Grant%20costs%20between%202015%E2%80%9116%20and%202024%E2%80%9125.\">analyst’s office wrote in February\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A smaller financial aid program is dropping in value, however. The Middle Class Scholarship will receive $680 million, enough for an average of about $2,000 for its roughly 350,000 UC and Cal State student recipients. Last year Sacramento funded the program at nearly $1 billion, and the average award was $3,000. The drop in spending was a way to balance the state budget, which cannot run deficits.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/strong>The decrease may mean students work more hours or take out loans, though most \u003ca href=\"https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/new-data-shows-uc-degrees-deliver-strong-earnings-and-economic-mobility#:~:text=AT%20A%20GLANCE%3A-,Affordability,-%3A%20Over%2060\">UC\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/Advocacy-and-State-Relations/legislativereports1/Institutional-Financial-Aid-Report-signed-2026.pdf#page=2\">Cal State\u003c/a> undergraduates complete their degrees with no debt.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Bond money is a mixed record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Still, higher education fell short in legislator-backed bonds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One measure that appears to be dead for now is a $12 billion bond that would award science grants to universities and other research organizations. The UC and the union of graduate student workers, whose wages often rely on grant research money, advocated fiercely for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proposed by Sen. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/scott-wiener-100936\">Scott Wiener\u003c/a>, a Democrat from San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb895\">the measure\u003c/a> was viewed as a backstop against the Trump administration’s aggressive attempts to terminate existing and new research funding for the University of California and other campuses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12085953\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12085953\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260602-DISTRICT11SCOTTWIENER-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sen. Scott Wiener speaks during an election night event at his campaign headquarters in San Francisco on June 2, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Trump alleged the affected grants violated his prohibitions on research into diversity issues and climate change; many of the grants sought to better understand diseases, new pharmaceuticals, cancer and dementia. The UC system alone collected $3 billion in federal research grant money in 2024-25 — \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucop.edu/operating-budget/_files/rbudget/2026-27-budget-detail.pdf#page=21\">nearly half\u003c/a> of its research funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one point last year the Trump administration froze or terminated more than 1,000 California science grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Public tracking site \u003ca href=\"https://grant-witness.us/nih-data.html\">Grant Witness indicates\u003c/a> that most of those have been \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2025/09/ucla-research-grants/\">restored\u003c/a> through various court orders \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/11/uc/\">after professors\u003c/a> sued last year. But tens of millions of dollars in grants remain on pause in California from those research agencies, while nearly $900 million is\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb895#:~:text=U.S.%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency\"> frozen\u003c/a> from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a legislative analysis for Wiener’s measure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletter/altadena-small-business-recovery/#:~:text=Wiener%2C%20to%20CalMatters%20during%20a%20press%20call%20Friday%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20important%20for%20California%20just%20to%20be%20like%20a%20rock%20in%20the%20storm%2C%20so%20that%20we%E2%80%99re%20just%20doing%20science%20here%20and%20investing%20in%20science%20%E2%80%A6%20regardless%20of%20what%E2%80%99s%20happening%20with%20the%20federal%20government%20at%20that%20moment%20in%20time.%E2%80%9D\">told CalMatters in January\u003c/a> that the bond funding would protect California from an unpredictable Washington, D.C. While Trump sought major cuts to science research agencies in his proposed budget, Congress rebuffed him. Still, experts believe fewer grants \u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-likely-award-fewer-grants-it-races-spend-2026-budget\">will be awarded to researchers\u003c/a> under new Trump administration funding rules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener’s bond measure sailed through the Senate but stalled in the Assembly, never getting out of a key committee in time to beat the deadline to appear on the November ballot.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Nick Miller, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/robert-rivas-165041\">Robert Rivas\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Salinas, said in an email that “Trump’s full-scale assault on California touches nearly every public service and program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Legislators face real, painful choices,” he added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several legislative and political insiders told CalMatters that another reason the science research bond didn’t advance was because some lawmakers worried it would lower the chances that voters in November approve an $11 billion affordable housing bond. That housing measure was a priority for the Assembly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another proposed bond would have allowed the UC and Cal State to reduce their backlog of aging structures and build new ones. An effort by Assemblymember \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/david-alvarez-112993\">David Alvarez\u003c/a>, a Democrat from Chula Vista, to put a measure on the November ballot fizzled by late June. It had no price tag. His office said that Newsom’s Department of Finance determined that the state lacked the money in future budgets to repay the debt owed on such a bond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cal State reports that more than half of its academic buildings \u003ca href=\"https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/Investing-in-the-CSUs-Facilities-Needs-is-Investing-in-Californias-Future.aspx#:~:text=More%20than%20half%20of%20the%20CSU%E2%80%99s%20academic%20buildings%20are%20more%20than%2050%20years%20old\">are at least 50 years old\u003c/a>. The system’s five-year construction plan includes $24 billion in projects. UC’s campuses and hospitals say they’re short $46 billion in funding for infrastructure projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Students and faculty \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/2025/04/deferred-maintenance-cal-state-uc/\">in recent years\u003c/a> complained of broken air conditioners during heat waves and downed heaters when the mercury drops. The temperature swings affect expensive laboratory equipment and campuses have also \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4657#:~:text=as%20well%20as%20frequent%20flooding\">endured floods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The last time voters approved a facilities bond for the public universities was 2006. Both systems can issue bonds for construction, but their borrowing ability is limited because those debt payments come out of their annual budgets. Voters rejected a $15 billion facilities bond for schools in 2020 that would have provided the two systems $2 billion each. A subsequent bond that voters approved excluded UC and Cal State entirely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12063635\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12063635\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/11/UCBerkeleyZellerbachHallGetty1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California, on Oct. 9, 2018. \u003ccite>(Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s too soon to plan for 2028 ballot measures but a facilities bond will remain within Alvarez’s priorities for sure,” spokesperson Chris Jonsmyr wrote in an email.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A silver construction lining is student dormitory money included in the $11 billion affordable housing bond measure on the ballot this November. If voters approve, Cal State and UC would each get $175 million to continue a state program to build housing that campuses would rent to low-income students at below market rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For UC, $175 million may be enough to construct around 1,700 beds for low-income students. Housing plans approved by the UC Board of Regents in the past four years that CalMatters reviewed range from $200,000 to $300,000 per bed — high costs fueled by ever-rising construction expenses and stratospheric land prices where the mostly coastal campuses are located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last fall 9,900 UC students were on waitlists for campus housing, according to data CalMatters requested from the UC Office of the President. The potential addition of affordable beds would complement UC’s ongoing housing construction blitz. It intends to add some 15,000 additional student housing slots by 2030.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The system needs it: The average occupancy rate is 104% across the system’s student housing network, UC data show. That means rooms designed as doubles become triples to absorb the inflow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/07/newsom-uc-cal-state-billion-dollars-more/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "California Dispatches Fire Crews to Help Colorado Contain Massive Blaze",
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"content": "\u003cp>California deployed dozens of firefighters over the weekend to fight the Aspen Acres fire that’s burned over \u003ca href=\"https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-aspen-acres-fire\">91,000\u003c/a> acres in Colorado — nearly the size of Denver.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said 15 fire engines and crews, including one from the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit, joined over \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpr.org/2026/07/06/aspen-acres-fire-southern-colorado-updates-july-6/\">1,300\u003c/a> people working to put out the fire, currently at 12% containment. The 53 personnel from California are expected to remain in Colorado for up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/04/governor-newsom-announces-deployment-of-california-firefighters-and-equipment-to-colorado-as-sister-state-battles-wildfires/\">14 days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When a sister state needs our help, California answers that call with action,” Anthony Martinez, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fire was reported on June 29 near a campground and prompted Colorado Governor Jared Polis to \u003ca href=\"https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-issues-verbal-disaster-declarations-response-aspen-acres-fire-pueblo-and-custer\">declare \u003c/a>a state of emergency. After an unusually dry winter, the state is facing “extreme fire behavior,” according to Newsom’s press release.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brent Pascua, a Cal Fire battalion chief from Sacramento, said conditions on the ground in Colorado are hot and dry, with little precipitation, and winds that “will blow the fire in any direction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The forecast for the near future is potentially for these dry lightning storms to continue over the next few days,” Pascua said. “So, it’s really imperative that we stay there, we help out in any way we can, and we’re there until the job’s done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089905\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089905\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fire crews drive past a structure destroyed by the Aspen Acres Fire as the wildfire continues to burn on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, near Beulah, Colorado. \u003ccite>(RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group via The Denver Post via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Aspen Acres fire is just one firestorm currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.wildfire.gov/\">burning \u003c/a>in Colorado, scorching hundreds of thousands of acres and prompting mandatory mass evacuations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On June 27, three firefighters were killed \u003ca href=\"https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfireservice/burnover-incident-western-colorado-wildfire-results-federal-wildland\">battling \u003c/a>the Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border on June 27, according to the Department of the Interior.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hotter, drier climates across the West are a daily reminder that there is no such thing as a ‘fire season’ anymore. At the same time, Trump has cut the workforce of the very agencies meant to spearhead wildfire preparedness, respond to emergencies effectively, and keep communities safe,” Martinez said. “Federal firefighters are doing what they can with what they have left.”[aside postID=news_12089721 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/GiffordFireAP.jpg']This is the first time that California deployed crews to Colorado under the National Association of State Foresters state-to-state partnership that started in the 1920s, according to the governor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colorado has shown up for California in the past, including the 2024 Park Fire in Northern California and the 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires in Southern California. Now, California is returning the favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels great to get out there and help our neighbors,” Pascua said. “Whenever communities need help, it’s nice to know that we can cross those borders, cross those state lines and go help our partners, our neighboring agencies fight the fire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The July fires could be a sign of what’s to come over the next few months after Western states saw record low snowpacks, according to \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30062026/large-fires-scorch-drought-stricken-western-u-s/\">\u003cem>Inside Climate New\u003c/em>s\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, the intense \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089721/why-this-could-be-an-unpredictable-year-for-fires-in-california\">El Niño\u003c/a> weather pattern could either bring thunderstorms with dry lightning, which can lead to fires, or it could bring summer and autumn showers that could end the fire season early. Experts have attributed the severity of both of these patterns to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">climate change\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In May, Newsom announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/13/governor-newsom-announces-30-million-for-regional-wildfire-prevention-and-landscape-projects-ahead-of-wildfire-season/\">$30 million\u003c/a> for regional wildfire prevention to boost resilience across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the past five years, Cal Fire \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/05/governor-newsom-fast-tracks-400-wildfire-prevention-projects-expands-prescribed-fire-and-unveils-draft-five-year-action-plan/\">expanded\u003c/a> its workforce, adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually and growing its \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/04/governor-newsom-announces-expansion-of-the-worlds-largest-civilian-aerial-firefighting-fleet-deployment-of-fourth-c-130-h-airtanker-and-new-helitack-base/\">aerial\u003c/a> firefighting fleet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel we’re very well prepared, better prepared than we have been in the past,” Pascua said, though he added that the Colorado fires are a reminder to residents to have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11833686/how-to-pack-emergency-go-bag-disaster-wildfire-california-fires\">emergency\u003c/a> plans figured out as warmer temperatures come to California this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/dmeagley\">\u003cem>Desmond Meagley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California deployed dozens of firefighters over the weekend to fight the Aspen Acres fire that’s burned over \u003ca href=\"https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/copsf-aspen-acres-fire\">91,000\u003c/a> acres in Colorado — nearly the size of Denver.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said 15 fire engines and crews, including one from the Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit, joined over \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpr.org/2026/07/06/aspen-acres-fire-southern-colorado-updates-july-6/\">1,300\u003c/a> people working to put out the fire, currently at 12% containment. The 53 personnel from California are expected to remain in Colorado for up to \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/07/04/governor-newsom-announces-deployment-of-california-firefighters-and-equipment-to-colorado-as-sister-state-battles-wildfires/\">14 days\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When a sister state needs our help, California answers that call with action,” Anthony Martinez, a spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The fire was reported on June 29 near a campground and prompted Colorado Governor Jared Polis to \u003ca href=\"https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-issues-verbal-disaster-declarations-response-aspen-acres-fire-pueblo-and-custer\">declare \u003c/a>a state of emergency. After an unusually dry winter, the state is facing “extreme fire behavior,” according to Newsom’s press release.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brent Pascua, a Cal Fire battalion chief from Sacramento, said conditions on the ground in Colorado are hot and dry, with little precipitation, and winds that “will blow the fire in any direction.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The forecast for the near future is potentially for these dry lightning storms to continue over the next few days,” Pascua said. “So, it’s really imperative that we stay there, we help out in any way we can, and we’re there until the job’s done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089905\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089905\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/AspenAcresColoradoWildfireGetty-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fire crews drive past a structure destroyed by the Aspen Acres Fire as the wildfire continues to burn on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, near Beulah, Colorado. \u003ccite>(RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group via The Denver Post via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Aspen Acres fire is just one firestorm currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.wildfire.gov/\">burning \u003c/a>in Colorado, scorching hundreds of thousands of acres and prompting mandatory mass evacuations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On June 27, three firefighters were killed \u003ca href=\"https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfireservice/burnover-incident-western-colorado-wildfire-results-federal-wildland\">battling \u003c/a>the Snyder Fire along the Colorado-Utah border on June 27, according to the Department of the Interior.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hotter, drier climates across the West are a daily reminder that there is no such thing as a ‘fire season’ anymore. At the same time, Trump has cut the workforce of the very agencies meant to spearhead wildfire preparedness, respond to emergencies effectively, and keep communities safe,” Martinez said. “Federal firefighters are doing what they can with what they have left.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>This is the first time that California deployed crews to Colorado under the National Association of State Foresters state-to-state partnership that started in the 1920s, according to the governor’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colorado has shown up for California in the past, including the 2024 Park Fire in Northern California and the 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires in Southern California. Now, California is returning the favor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels great to get out there and help our neighbors,” Pascua said. “Whenever communities need help, it’s nice to know that we can cross those borders, cross those state lines and go help our partners, our neighboring agencies fight the fire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The July fires could be a sign of what’s to come over the next few months after Western states saw record low snowpacks, according to \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30062026/large-fires-scorch-drought-stricken-western-u-s/\">\u003cem>Inside Climate New\u003c/em>s\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In California, the intense \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12089721/why-this-could-be-an-unpredictable-year-for-fires-in-california\">El Niño\u003c/a> weather pattern could either bring thunderstorms with dry lightning, which can lead to fires, or it could bring summer and autumn showers that could end the fire season early. Experts have attributed the severity of both of these patterns to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">climate change\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12084670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12084670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GavinNewsomAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks about his state budget proposal on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Sacramento, California. \u003ccite>(Jeff Chiu/AP )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In May, Newsom announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/13/governor-newsom-announces-30-million-for-regional-wildfire-prevention-and-landscape-projects-ahead-of-wildfire-season/\">$30 million\u003c/a> for regional wildfire prevention to boost resilience across the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the past five years, Cal Fire \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/05/governor-newsom-fast-tracks-400-wildfire-prevention-projects-expands-prescribed-fire-and-unveils-draft-five-year-action-plan/\">expanded\u003c/a> its workforce, adding an average of 1,800 full-time and 600 seasonal positions annually and growing its \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/04/governor-newsom-announces-expansion-of-the-worlds-largest-civilian-aerial-firefighting-fleet-deployment-of-fourth-c-130-h-airtanker-and-new-helitack-base/\">aerial\u003c/a> firefighting fleet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel we’re very well prepared, better prepared than we have been in the past,” Pascua said, though he added that the Colorado fires are a reminder to residents to have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11833686/how-to-pack-emergency-go-bag-disaster-wildfire-california-fires\">emergency\u003c/a> plans figured out as warmer temperatures come to California this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/dmeagley\">\u003cem>Desmond Meagley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> will continue expanding subsidized childcare and make public school employees automatically eligible for state-funded preschools under a $352-billion budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins Wednesday, includes nearly $1.9 billion in funding to relieve the high cost of childcare for low-income families. Most of that funding will be allocated for childcare vouchers, and the state determined there’s enough existing funds to offer school employees access to the California State Preschool Program, which provides free early education in a variety of settings for families who earn \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2603.asp\">up to the state median income\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Providers were disappointed by some elements of the budget that they said don’t reflect the actual cost of providing care, but parents who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086244/california-parents-on-waitlist-for-subsidized-childcare-anxious-over-proposed-budget-cuts\">have been waiting for a subsidy to help with childcare\u003c/a> were encouraged by the news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can see a light in the tunnel,” said Carmen Perez, a Novato mom who has been waiting more than 18 months for an open slot for her toddler son. “I hope we can get off the waiting list. That would be awesome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final budget marks a recent reversal for Newsom, who had vowed in 2021 to dramatically increase access to childcare and fund more than 200,000 slots. But after an early push of adding almost 130,000 placements, the state paused the expansion for three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state was supposed to resume the rollout this fiscal year, but in May, Newsom instead proposed cutting 6,800 slots as part of his push to eliminate the state deficit. The Democratic-led legislature countered with a proposal to add 44,000 more before settling on the nearly 23,000 spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089607\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089607\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Danielle Jorgenson, known to students as Teacher Dani, cheers for students as they jump during a preschool class at Los Medanos College Child Study Center in Pittsburg on Feb. 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most of that funding will be allocated for vouchers, which families typically use to pay for home-based childcare, with a smaller portion for spaces at childcare centers for children under the age of 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democratic lawmakers reminded the governor of his commitment to young children and families, and the governor somewhat reluctantly did agree to continue his own momentum to lift young kids,” said Bruce Fuller, an education policy professor at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fuller and his colleagues at the university’s Equity and Excellence in Early Childhood alliance found that during the period California expanded access to transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-old children, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082904/as-transitional-kindergarten-grows-hundreds-of-child-care-centers-close\">nearly 10% of community-based childcare programs and preschools shut their doors\u003c/a>. These private nonprofits struggled to maintain enrollment as 4-year-olds left for TK at public and charter schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the shuttered programs relied on state funding to provide the California State Preschool Program. Money for their programs came from the general fund, which can fluctuate depending on the state’s fiscal outlook.[aside postID=news_12086244 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260531-CALIFORNIABUDGETCHILDCARE00510_TV-KQED.jpg']To help stabilize these programs, this year’s budget shifts all funding for the state’s preschool program into Proposition 98, a 1988 ballot measure that guarantees minimum spending on education from the state’s general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California School Board Association and the California Teachers Association opposed the move, saying it would weaken funding for TK-12 graders. Requests for comment from both groups about the final budget have not been returned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fuller called the compromise to make all public school employees, including those who work for county offices of education and community colleges, eligible for the California State Preschool Program “a pretty good deal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A single parent earning $100,000 per year or a family of four earning $136,000 per year qualifies for the program. It prioritizes the lowest-income families, as well as children in child protective services or who have exceptional needs. The new rule means that school districts and community college employees could benefit from free early care and education. The budget also extends paid pregnancy leave for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democratic lawmakers were able to put in place a sound policy to protect Pre-K dollars from downstream economic troubles,” Fuller said, adding that the compromise with the teachers’ union benefited both their own children and children around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom and lawmakers also agreed to simplify a couple of eligibility rules: Families who live within a high-poverty school district are eligible for the state-funded programs and children can stay enrolled even if their parents earn more money after meeting income requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089615\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089615\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The majority of students enrolled in the transitional kindergarten program at Kingsley Elementary School come from Spanish-speaking families. Teacher Ana Quintanilla helps them learn basic letters and words. \u003ccite>(Ana Tintocalis/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Childcare providers applauded additional funding for the slots but were frustrated that Newsom and lawmakers only offered a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for state-subsidized childcare and preschool workers — less than half of what TK-12th grader teachers will get in the new budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are disappointed that the increase in rates doesn’t match the documented need for providers or the cost-of-living increase offered to our peer educators,” said Max Arias, chief negotiator for Child Care Providers United, a union representing home-based childcare providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also criticized the state for imposing more mandates for his members — to undergo emergency and disaster preparedness and response training — without accounting for their cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Adding slots alone doesn’t stabilize the childcare system,” said Heather Cleary, CEO of Peninsula Family Service, which runs subsidized childcare programs in San Mateo County. “The bigger challenge is that providers are being asked to do more with funding that doesn’t match the cost of operating high-quality programs, and the budget doesn’t necessarily address this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> will continue expanding subsidized childcare and make public school employees automatically eligible for state-funded preschools under a $352-billion budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins Wednesday, includes nearly $1.9 billion in funding to relieve the high cost of childcare for low-income families. Most of that funding will be allocated for childcare vouchers, and the state determined there’s enough existing funds to offer school employees access to the California State Preschool Program, which provides free early education in a variety of settings for families who earn \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2603.asp\">up to the state median income\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Providers were disappointed by some elements of the budget that they said don’t reflect the actual cost of providing care, but parents who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086244/california-parents-on-waitlist-for-subsidized-childcare-anxious-over-proposed-budget-cuts\">have been waiting for a subsidy to help with childcare\u003c/a> were encouraged by the news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can see a light in the tunnel,” said Carmen Perez, a Novato mom who has been waiting more than 18 months for an open slot for her toddler son. “I hope we can get off the waiting list. That would be awesome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The final budget marks a recent reversal for Newsom, who had vowed in 2021 to dramatically increase access to childcare and fund more than 200,000 slots. But after an early push of adding almost 130,000 placements, the state paused the expansion for three years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state was supposed to resume the rollout this fiscal year, but in May, Newsom instead proposed cutting 6,800 slots as part of his push to eliminate the state deficit. The Democratic-led legislature countered with a proposal to add 44,000 more before settling on the nearly 23,000 spaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089607\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089607\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/240215-PreschoolSuspension-37-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Danielle Jorgenson, known to students as Teacher Dani, cheers for students as they jump during a preschool class at Los Medanos College Child Study Center in Pittsburg on Feb. 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Most of that funding will be allocated for vouchers, which families typically use to pay for home-based childcare, with a smaller portion for spaces at childcare centers for children under the age of 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democratic lawmakers reminded the governor of his commitment to young children and families, and the governor somewhat reluctantly did agree to continue his own momentum to lift young kids,” said Bruce Fuller, an education policy professor at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fuller and his colleagues at the university’s Equity and Excellence in Early Childhood alliance found that during the period California expanded access to transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-old children, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082904/as-transitional-kindergarten-grows-hundreds-of-child-care-centers-close\">nearly 10% of community-based childcare programs and preschools shut their doors\u003c/a>. These private nonprofits struggled to maintain enrollment as 4-year-olds left for TK at public and charter schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the shuttered programs relied on state funding to provide the California State Preschool Program. Money for their programs came from the general fund, which can fluctuate depending on the state’s fiscal outlook.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>To help stabilize these programs, this year’s budget shifts all funding for the state’s preschool program into Proposition 98, a 1988 ballot measure that guarantees minimum spending on education from the state’s general fund.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California School Board Association and the California Teachers Association opposed the move, saying it would weaken funding for TK-12 graders. Requests for comment from both groups about the final budget have not been returned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fuller called the compromise to make all public school employees, including those who work for county offices of education and community colleges, eligible for the California State Preschool Program “a pretty good deal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A single parent earning $100,000 per year or a family of four earning $136,000 per year qualifies for the program. It prioritizes the lowest-income families, as well as children in child protective services or who have exceptional needs. The new rule means that school districts and community college employees could benefit from free early care and education. The budget also extends paid pregnancy leave for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Democratic lawmakers were able to put in place a sound policy to protect Pre-K dollars from downstream economic troubles,” Fuller said, adding that the compromise with the teachers’ union benefited both their own children and children around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom and lawmakers also agreed to simplify a couple of eligibility rules: Families who live within a high-poverty school district are eligible for the state-funded programs and children can stay enrolled even if their parents earn more money after meeting income requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12089615\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12089615\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/IMG_6623_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The majority of students enrolled in the transitional kindergarten program at Kingsley Elementary School come from Spanish-speaking families. Teacher Ana Quintanilla helps them learn basic letters and words. \u003ccite>(Ana Tintocalis/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Childcare providers applauded additional funding for the slots but were frustrated that Newsom and lawmakers only offered a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for state-subsidized childcare and preschool workers — less than half of what TK-12th grader teachers will get in the new budget.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are disappointed that the increase in rates doesn’t match the documented need for providers or the cost-of-living increase offered to our peer educators,” said Max Arias, chief negotiator for Child Care Providers United, a union representing home-based childcare providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also criticized the state for imposing more mandates for his members — to undergo emergency and disaster preparedness and response training — without accounting for their cost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Adding slots alone doesn’t stabilize the childcare system,” said Heather Cleary, CEO of Peninsula Family Service, which runs subsidized childcare programs in San Mateo County. “The bigger challenge is that providers are being asked to do more with funding that doesn’t match the cost of operating high-quality programs, and the budget doesn’t necessarily address this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>California’s Department of Education will soon be under the control of the governor’s office, drastically changing the role of the next state superintendent, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086044/conservative-activist-sonja-shaw-advances-in-state-superintendent-race\">will be elected in November\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The change, pushed through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069239/newsom-proposal-to-restructure-california-education-department-catches-state-superintendent-off-guard\">by Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> as part of negotiations over the state budget signed this week, makes major revisions to the state’s education governance system, stripping day-to-day management from the elected superintendent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the governor’s office, via an appointed commissioner, will assume more power over the state’s public school system, which serves more than 6 million students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supporters say the change will increase efficiency and accountability throughout the state’s school system, but opponents — including both candidates running for state superintendent of public instruction — argue that the governor bypassed voters to pass an unpopular reform that strips them of a voice in education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The people that have to deal with the Department of Education every day, that seek their guidance, that need their support — all of those groups strongly support this change,” said Ted Lempert, who heads the research and policy organization Children Now, which backed the proposal. “They’re the ones that are relying on the Department of Education on a daily basis.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom said the overhaul eliminates a “‘double-headed’ system” in which the Board of Education sets policy, but the superintendent is in charge of implementing it. Lempert agreed that setup “can be really problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083052\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083052\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of a classroom at Carquinez Garden School in Crockett on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We are going to modernize the governance system by unifying the policy-making State Board with the Department of Education that implements those policies,” Newsom said in a statement about his proposal in February. “These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity, and coherence to how we serve our students and schools.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Teachers Association, which has a long record of launching its preferred candidates to the state superintendent’s office, criticized the change as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/WeAreCTA/posts/four-times-california-voters-have-rejected-attempts-to-strip-them-of-an-elected-/1481282244040424/\">undemocratic\u003c/a>.” President David Goldberg said removing the superintendent from a managerial role puts “one more roadblock to making the system more accountable to educators and students and families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrett Snider, an education lobbyist with Capitol Advisors, said California’s existing system gives the superintendent more power when they disagree with the governor’s office on legislative priorities.[aside postID=news_12088215 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/GettyImages-2255523853.jpg']Though the superintendent doesn’t set policy, they have decided where to direct the department’s dollars, and how rules and programs are enforced in schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That dynamic is now going to be completely upended, so the administration is going to have control over all aspects of running the state school system,” Snider told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the new structure, the state superintendent will act primarily as an independent advocate for public schools. Executive and administrative functions of the Department of Education will be transferred to the new education commissioner, replacing the state superintendent as the ex officio director of education beginning Jan. 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The superintendent will gain a vote on the state Board of Education, which will be expanded from 11 to 13 members, including two appointed by the Senate president pro tempore and the speaker of the Assembly. At the collegiate level, the superintendent will join California’s community college board and continue to act in existing roles as a California State University trustee and University of California regent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The newly appointed education commissioner will be required to submit a report recommending further governance streamlining to the governor and Legislature by October 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students read during class at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School in Berkeley on June 3, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California is one of only a dozen states with a fractured education governance system, and state policy analysts have long argued that the leadership structure should be overhauled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In December, a report by \u003ca href=\"https://edpolicyinca.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/r_myung-dec2025.pdf\">Policy Analysis of California Education\u003c/a> (PACE) found the state’s system “fragmented,” with unclear roles and division of authority. The governor’s new structure incorporates its proposals for redefining the superintendent’s responsibilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question ‘Who is responsible to whom, and for what?’ remains unresolved in California’s education governance system, resulting in blurred lines of responsibility and difficulty making systemic improvement,” the report reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Administrator organizations, including the Association of California School Administrators and California County Superintendents, also support the change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both candidates running for the elected superintendent’s seat have come out against the new governance structure. Republican Sonja Shaw, who serves as Chino Valley’s school board president, said the change is an “unprecedented, unconstitutional power grab” by Newsom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Voters elect their State Superintendent to serve as an independent voice for California education, not as a figurehead,” she said in a statement. “This bill strips that office of its core duties and hands them to a political appointee. It removes critical checks and balances, and tells parents their votes no longer matter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086196\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086196\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. \u003ccite>(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Democratic candidate and San Diego school board president Richard Barrera said that changing the role of state superintendent has been proposed to voters and rejected multiple times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This end-around attempt to take away responsibility from the person that the voters are electing to improve our public schools is a bad idea,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Snider said he doesn’t think the changes will have a significant effect on the outcome of November’s election, but the winner will be forced to step into a role far different from the one they set out to run for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is going to be an interesting new dynamic — both how does the next administration implement this change, and then how does the next state superintendent exercise what is now more limited authority … through a bully pulpit, if nothing else,” he said. “We’re in totally new territory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California’s Department of Education will soon be under the control of the governor’s office, drastically changing the role of the next state superintendent, who \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086044/conservative-activist-sonja-shaw-advances-in-state-superintendent-race\">will be elected in November\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The change, pushed through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12069239/newsom-proposal-to-restructure-california-education-department-catches-state-superintendent-off-guard\">by Gov. Gavin Newsom\u003c/a> as part of negotiations over the state budget signed this week, makes major revisions to the state’s education governance system, stripping day-to-day management from the elected superintendent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the governor’s office, via an appointed commissioner, will assume more power over the state’s public school system, which serves more than 6 million students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Supporters say the change will increase efficiency and accountability throughout the state’s school system, but opponents — including both candidates running for state superintendent of public instruction — argue that the governor bypassed voters to pass an unpopular reform that strips them of a voice in education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The people that have to deal with the Department of Education every day, that seek their guidance, that need their support — all of those groups strongly support this change,” said Ted Lempert, who heads the research and policy organization Children Now, which backed the proposal. “They’re the ones that are relying on the Department of Education on a daily basis.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Newsom said the overhaul eliminates a “‘double-headed’ system” in which the Board of Education sets policy, but the superintendent is in charge of implementing it. Lempert agreed that setup “can be really problematic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083052\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083052\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260508-EXPANSIONCONSEQUENCE-TV-05235-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The interior of a classroom at Carquinez Garden School in Crockett on May 8, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“We are going to modernize the governance system by unifying the policy-making State Board with the Department of Education that implements those policies,” Newsom said in a statement about his proposal in February. “These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity, and coherence to how we serve our students and schools.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Teachers Association, which has a long record of launching its preferred candidates to the state superintendent’s office, criticized the change as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/WeAreCTA/posts/four-times-california-voters-have-rejected-attempts-to-strip-them-of-an-elected-/1481282244040424/\">undemocratic\u003c/a>.” President David Goldberg said removing the superintendent from a managerial role puts “one more roadblock to making the system more accountable to educators and students and families.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barrett Snider, an education lobbyist with Capitol Advisors, said California’s existing system gives the superintendent more power when they disagree with the governor’s office on legislative priorities.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Though the superintendent doesn’t set policy, they have decided where to direct the department’s dollars, and how rules and programs are enforced in schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That dynamic is now going to be completely upended, so the administration is going to have control over all aspects of running the state school system,” Snider told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the new structure, the state superintendent will act primarily as an independent advocate for public schools. Executive and administrative functions of the Department of Education will be transferred to the new education commissioner, replacing the state superintendent as the ex officio director of education beginning Jan. 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The superintendent will gain a vote on the state Board of Education, which will be expanded from 11 to 13 members, including two appointed by the Senate president pro tempore and the speaker of the Assembly. At the collegiate level, the superintendent will join California’s community college board and continue to act in existing roles as a California State University trustee and University of California regent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The newly appointed education commissioner will be required to submit a report recommending further governance streamlining to the governor and Legislature by October 2027.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086385\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086385\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260603-BerkeleySchoolsLiteracy-11-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students read during class at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School in Berkeley on June 3, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California is one of only a dozen states with a fractured education governance system, and state policy analysts have long argued that the leadership structure should be overhauled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In December, a report by \u003ca href=\"https://edpolicyinca.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/r_myung-dec2025.pdf\">Policy Analysis of California Education\u003c/a> (PACE) found the state’s system “fragmented,” with unclear roles and division of authority. The governor’s new structure incorporates its proposals for redefining the superintendent’s responsibilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question ‘Who is responsible to whom, and for what?’ remains unresolved in California’s education governance system, resulting in blurred lines of responsibility and difficulty making systemic improvement,” the report reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Administrator organizations, including the Association of California School Administrators and California County Superintendents, also support the change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both candidates running for the elected superintendent’s seat have come out against the new governance structure. Republican Sonja Shaw, who serves as Chino Valley’s school board president, said the change is an “unprecedented, unconstitutional power grab” by Newsom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Voters elect their State Superintendent to serve as an independent voice for California education, not as a figurehead,” she said in a statement. “This bill strips that office of its core duties and hands them to a political appointee. It removes critical checks and balances, and tells parents their votes no longer matter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12086196\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12086196\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. \u003ccite>(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Democratic candidate and San Diego school board president Richard Barrera said that changing the role of state superintendent has been proposed to voters and rejected multiple times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This end-around attempt to take away responsibility from the person that the voters are electing to improve our public schools is a bad idea,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Snider said he doesn’t think the changes will have a significant effect on the outcome of November’s election, but the winner will be forced to step into a role far different from the one they set out to run for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is going to be an interesting new dynamic — both how does the next administration implement this change, and then how does the next state superintendent exercise what is now more limited authority … through a bully pulpit, if nothing else,” he said. “We’re in totally new territory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"radiolab": {
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"reveal": {
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},
"rightnowish": {
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"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
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"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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