Senate passes budget trailer and human-services measures including AB 104, AB 138 and SB 119

The California State Senate on July 17 passed multiple budget-related measures on the floor, including Assembly Bill 104, Assembly Bill 138 and Senate Bill 119.

Assembly Bill 104, described on the floor as a budget bill amending the Budget Act of 2025, was presented by Senator Scott Wiener. The senator said AB 104 would extend the repayment period for a loan made under the Non-Designated Public Hospital Loan Program administered by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, reappropriate funding for in-prison programming at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and fund various capital outlay projects and technical corrections. The clerk recorded the vote as Ayes 29, Noes 3; the bill passed.

Assembly Bill 138, presented as a budget trailer bill related to state employee contracts, ratifies contract terms for multiple bargaining units. Senator Wiener said AB 138 ratifies a contract with bargaining unit 16 (physicians and dentists), suspends a return-to-office executive order for one year for members of the professional scientists unit, and codifies 16 labor agreements signed between June 21 and June 30 that were deemed approved by prior budget action. The clerk recorded the vote as Ayes 28, Noes 9; the bill passed.

Senate Bill 119, presented as a human services trailer bill, includes provisions to make the implementation of a tiered foster care rate structure subject to appropriation in 2027 and makes several CalWORKs streamlining changes. The sponsor told the chamber the measure is associated with net General Fund savings of approximately $17,000,000, and it includes $200,000 General Fund for development of a CalFresh strategic plan and $600,000 General Fund to create an optional standardized curriculum for mandated reporters in child welfare. The measure also extends a waiver of local match requirements for the Bringing Families Home and Home Safe programs in line with augmentations in the 2025 Budget Act. The clerk recorded the vote as Ayes 29, Noes 0; the bill passed.

Votes at a glance: AB 104 — adopted (Ayes 29, Noes 3). AB 138 — adopted (Ayes 28, Noes 9). SB 119 — adopted (Ayes 29, Noes 0).

None of the three measures requires new state policy beyond budget and appropriations adjustments; AB 138 ratifies labor agreements and affects implementation dates for administrative changes. Supporters argued the measures finalize elements of the enacted budget and provide technical corrections; opponents either offered no floor remarks on these items or expressed concerns about fiscal or implementation details during committee review.

Next steps: Because the bills are budget-related and some provisions are subject to appropriation, agency implementation and future appropriations actions will determine final timing for certain program changes mentioned on the floor.