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 the federal 340B drug-discount program (AB 1460).

Votes at a glance

- AJR 3 (Schiavo): Adopted. Roll call: Ayes 53, Noes 2. The resolution urges federal leaders to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and cites a proposed $715 billion reduction to federal Medicaid spending discussed on the floor.

- AJR 5 (Lee et al.): Adopted. Roll call: Ayes 58, Noes 0. The resolution reaffirms birthright citizenship, references Wong Kim Ark v. United States (1898) and urges opposition to the Administration’s executive order seeking to narrow the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause.

- AB 609 (Wicks): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 63, Noes 0. The bill narrows CEQA review for qualifying infill housing projects that comply with local general plans and zoning and meet other statutory conditions.

- AB 260 (Aguiar-Curry et al.): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 57, Noes 10. The bill includes protections for reproductive health care and for the availability of medication abortion (mifepristone), and expands telehealth access and certain legal protections for providers and pharmacies.

- AB 12 37 (McKinnner): Passed (urgency). Roll call on urgency: Ayes 56, Noes 15. Authorizes a $5 surcharge on World Cup primary ticket purchases to fund all‑day event transit passes through LA Metro and VTA.

- AB 454 (Kalra, urgency): Passed. Roll call reported: Ayes 55, Noes 12. Removes the sunset on the California Migratory Bird Protection Act to maintain state-level protections for migratory birds.

- AB 578 (Bauer‑Kahan): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 47, Noes 2. Consumer‑protection bill targeting refund and customer service practices by food delivery platforms.

- AB 344 (Valencia): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 61, Noes 0. Revises the definition of successor beer manufacturer to reflect current industry practices.

- AB 14 60 (Rogers): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 41, Noes 5. Narrows contract‑pharmacy restrictions for clinics participating in the federal 340B drug discount program (applies to clinics and federally qualified health centers).

- AB 5 71 (Quirk Silva, urgency): Passed (urgency): Ayes 64, Noes 0 (on urgency). Provides an urgency CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gibson Canyon in Anaheim.

- AB 761 (Addis): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 47, Noes 12. Authorizes Monterey‑Salinas Transit district to place a sales tax measure on a ballot under specified board approval conditions.

- AB 738 (Tangipa): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 42, Noes 2. Provides narrowly tailored rebuild exemptions to solar requirements for homeowners whose properties were damaged in declared disasters.

- AB 290 (Bauer‑Kahan): Passed. Roll call: Ayes 70, Noes 0. Allows auto‑pay for Fair Plan insurance customers to reduce lapses.

- Additionally, the Assembly adopted ceremonial and recognition measures (California Tourism Month, Harvey Milk Day, California Nonprofits Day, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month) and multiple district and technical bills; co‑author rolls and committee references were recorded on the floor.

What members debated

Floor debate reflected two sustained fault lines this session: (1) federal fiscal policy and proposed cuts to entitlement programs, and (2) state housing policy and CEQA reform. Supporters of AJR 3 warned that deep federal Medicaid cuts would close hospitals and raise costs; opponents called for the Assembly to press Governor Newsom on state budget choices tied to Medi‑Cal funding. On AJR 5, lawmakers across multiple caucuses framed the measure as a defense of long‑standing constitutional precedent and the Wong Kim Ark decision; dissenting members emphasized deference to the ongoing Supreme Court process but did not block the resolution.

On AB 609, backers described the measure as targeted relief to speed infill housing where local planning already authorizes it; opponents and some members pressed for stronger labor and minimum‑affordability requirements and for safeguards to ensure environmental review is not unduly curtailed.

Implementation and next steps

Most of the bills passed on the Assembly floor will move to the Senate for consideration or await the Governor’s action where the Assembly used urgency clauses. Several measures included direction for author amendments or committee follow‑ups noted on the floor. Where federal action was cited (for example, carbon pipeline safety or BRIC hazard‑mitigation funding), authors said they would continue to press congressional and federal agencies.

Ending note

The Assembly recessed after an extended floor session that combined policy votes with ceremonial recognitions and guest introductions. Members signaled continued attention to housing production, health‑care access and protections for migrants and new citizens as the Legislature moves toward finalizing its measures for the session.