Assembly Budget Committee adopts package of subcommittee actions for 2025 budget

The Assembly Budget Committee voted to adopt a package of subcommittee actions that make up the legislature’s 2025 budget proposal, the panel’s chair said before departing the hearing for a personal matter.

The vote adopts the subcommittee recommendations that the committee chairs reported during the hearing and sends the package into three‑party negotiations with the governor and the Senate. Committee Chair Gabriel (Assembly Budget Committee) framed the legislative budget as an effort to “balance compassion and fiscal responsibility” while preserving key safety‑net programs and building fiscal resilience.

Why it matters: The committee’s action consolidates dozens of subcommittee decisions — on health care, education, housing, transit, public safety and other areas — into the Assembly’s formal position for budget negotiations. Adoption does not finalize the state budget; rather it sets the legislature’s opening offer for talks required to reach a final budget act before July 1.

Committee discussion and vote: Chairs of each budget subcommittee summarized actions in their areas before the roll call. Assemblymember Addis, chair of the Health Budget Subcommittee, and Dr. Jackson (chair, Budget Subcommittee 2) both indicated they would move to adopt the subcommittee actions during the hearing. After public comment, the secretary called the roll. The final tally reported on the record was 21 ayes and 6 noes; the committee recorded the measure as adopted and left the record open for late arriving members.

The vote record as read into the record named the following members and votes: Chair Gabriel — aye; Vice Chair Flora — no; Assemblymember Addis — aye; Assemblymember Alvarez — aye; Assemblymember Bennett — aye; Assemblymember Bonta — aye; Assemblymember Hart — aye; Assemblymember Jackson — aye; Assemblymember Lee — aye; Assemblymember Ortega — aye; Assemblymember Patel — aye; Assemblymember Petri Norris — aye; Assemblymember Quirk Silva — aye; Assemblymember Ramos — aye; Assemblymember Rogers — aye; Assemblymember Schiavo — aye; Assemblymember Ward — aye; Assemblymember Wilson — aye; plus additional ayes added on a subsequent roll call bringing the final ayes to 21 and noes to 6. (The roll call transcript lists the complete sequence of names called on the record.)

What the adoption does not do: Adoption of the subcommittee actions does not by itself change law or finalize appropriation amounts. Several items in the adopted package were expressly described as delayed, deferred or subject to further three‑party negotiation with the governor.

Next steps: Committee staff and the Department of Finance will use the adopted package as the Assembly’s position in the three‑party budget negotiations with the governor and the Senate. Chair Gabriel stated the Assembly sought “more time to thoughtfully consider” some of the most consequential cuts and will use the negotiations to refine the final budget act.

Ending: After the vote the committee allowed public comment and additional member remarks; Chair Gabriel departed the dais and handed the gavel to the vice chair to continue the hearing.