Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 approves large batch of budget items while public commenters urge protection for Medi‑Cal, IHSS and immigrant health

The California State Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 approved staff recommendations for a large package of budget items in a series of votes after an extended public‑comment period in which dozens of advocates urged preservation of Medi‑Cal access, in‑home supportive services (IHSS) hours and pay, and targeted food and housing supports.

The votes were taken in three batches after public comment; Senator Scott Wiener moved the motions and a quorum recorded “aye” votes. The subcommittee approved the staff recommendations for the items read into the record by the clerk and indicated it would complete final negotiations with the governor's office in the coming days.

Why it matters: The package preserves or restores funding and program changes that affect low‑income Californians, older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, foster youth, child‑care providers and food‑insecure households. Several commenters warned that certain proposals — notably policies that would freeze enrollment or impose premiums for people with unsatisfactory immigration status — could cause disenrollments and harm access to care.

Key approvals and budget changes

- Medi‑Cal and immigrant access: The subcommittee rejected several of the governor’s May Revision proposals and moved forward a modified approach that delays some changes and reduces proposed premiums for individuals with unsatisfactory immigration status. The subcommittee's package includes transition language and staggered implementation intended to reduce immediate disenrollments.

- IHSS and long‑term care: The committee rejected proposed cuts to IHSS overtime and travel hours and did not adopt a 50‑hour cap for IHSS providers. Multiple public commenters emphasized the importance of IHSS hours to seniors and people with disabilities.

- Asset limit for Medi‑Cal: The package restores the Medi‑Cal asset test to $130,000 (returning to the 2022 level) rather than adopting the lower limits proposed in the May Revision.

- Food assistance and related programs: The subcommittee restored $52,000,000 to the CalFresh/CalFood program noted by commenters and approved $36,000,000 for the CalFresh fruit and vegetable pilot. The panel also approved $7,400,000 for diaper banks in 2025–26 and kept language rejecting a DOF trigger on the California Food Assistance Program expansion.

- Mental health and disparities programs: The package restores $20,000,000 to Mental Health Wellness Act grants and approves funding to preserve the California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP) and related local programs that serve Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant and other underserved communities.

- Foster care, child care and workforce supports: The subcommittee approved a $31,500,000 emergency bridge allocation for foster family agencies and sustained funding for emergency child‑care bridge programs, workforce training and some child‑care rate protections; advocates continued to press for statutory codification of the alternative rate methodology.

- Long‑term care ombudsman and PACE: The subcommittee included $15,900,000 in existing special funds over three years for local long‑term care ombudsman programs and delayed certain PACE (Programs of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly) rate changes until July 2027 while capping one DHCS maintenance fee for a year.

Public comment highlights

Advocacy groups and service providers made statements during the subcommittee’s public‑comment period.

- Kelly Longo Flores, State Policy Manager, California Association of Food Banks: “We really cannot express our sincere gratitude enough…for fully funding Cal Food at $52,000,000.”

- Diana Douglas, Health Access California: She criticized aspects of the legislative proposal that retain enrollment freezes or premiums for noncitizen Medi‑Cal populations and warned that even a smaller monthly premium can cause people to drop coverage: “The proposed $30 premium is better than the May revised proposal of $100 a month, but people will still drop coverage because they’ll be making that calculus.”

- Several speakers representing IHSS workers, seniors, disability advocates, foster‑care providers and community mental‑health programs urged the subcommittee to reject cuts to services, preserve workforce training and ensure funding for community‑based programs.

Committee remarks and next steps

Senator Scott Wiener, who moved the motions, summarized the subcommittee’s approach to the governor’s May Revision and said the package scales back several of the governor’s proposed cuts while providing time to negotiate final details with the governor's office. He noted changes intended to limit immediate disenrollments and delay some provider reimbursement reductions to allow time for further work with stakeholders.

The subcommittee left several roll calls open during the hearing and completed votes in three large batches as listed in the official motion language. After approving the motions, the subcommittee adjourned the hearing and said negotiations with the full Legislature and governor's office would continue before final enactment.

Votes at a glance

The subcommittee voted to approve staff recommendations across dozens of agenda items in three motions read into the record by the clerk. The motions covered items listed in the hearing record (items read on the floor by number across the three batches). The clerk and senators recorded aye votes during the roll calls and the motions passed. The committee noted that the roll was left open between votes and that additional votes were recorded before final adjournment.

What remains unresolved

Several stakeholders told the subcommittee that proposed premiums, enrollment freezes and certain trailer‑bill language remain harmful and urged lawmakers to identify alternative revenue options rather than balancing the budget on vulnerable Californians. Child‑care providers and advocates continued to press for codifying the alternative rate methodology and for inflation adjustments that reflect the cost of care. Providers for medically fragile children and private duty nursing representatives requested supplemental payment or rate increases that were not included in this subcommittee package and said they would continue to press for those changes in negotiations.

A full list of approved items, final vote tallies, and accompanying trailer‑bill language will appear in the subcommittee’s official minutes and the forthcoming three‑party budget agreement with the governor’s office.