California Assembly adopts resolutions on federal cuts, affirms birthright citizenship and advances housing and health bills

SACRAMENTO — The California State Assembly, meeting May 14, 2025, approved a package of resolutions and bills that ranged from a rebuke of proposed federal cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to state-level changes aimed at speeding housing development and protecting reproductive health.

The chamber adopted Assembly Joint Resolution 3 (AJR 3), authored by Assemblymember Blanca Schiavo, urging congressional and presidential leadership to reject proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The Assembly also passed Assembly Joint Resolution 5 (AJR 5), authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Assemblymember Evan Lee, which affirms birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment and cites the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). Both resolutions won broad support on the floor.

In longer policy debate, the Assembly approved AB 609, a measure by Assemblymember Mia Bonta Wicks that narrows the reach of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review for certain infill housing projects that meet specified zoning and planning conditions. Supporters said the change will reduce delays and increase housing production; opponents warned about potential gaps in environmental and labor protections. The bill passed on a floor vote.

The Assembly also advanced bills to protect access to medication abortion and telehealth (AB 260), authorize transit fees for 2026 FIFA World Cup event-ticket bundles (AB 12 37), remove a sunset from the California Migratory Bird Protection Act (AB 454), and narrow some pharmacy restrictions tied to…