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Senate allocates $25 million to state DOJ to defend California policies against federal actions
Summary
The Senate approved SB1, a budget-related bill that provides up to $25 million for the California Department of Justice and other agencies to defend state laws and programs from federal challenges and requires reporting on use of funds.
The California State Senate on Jan. 23 approved SB1, a budget bill that provides up to $25 million to the Department of Justice and other state agencies to defend California in legal disputes with the federal government.
Sponsor remarks summarized the measure as a state defense appropriation: "SB 1 is a budget bill... provides up to $25,000,000 for the Department of Justice and other state agencies to defend California against federal actions," Senator Scott Wiener told the chamber. The bill requires the Department of Justice to report to the Legislature on use of the funds.
Debate covered both legal strategy and policy concerns. Senator Searto argued the state already holds funds — he noted an "unfair competition law fund" balance — and said those monies should be used before drawing from the general fund. Searto warned additional spending could be "counterintuitive to the good working relationship that the governor has expressed that he wants to have" with the federal government.
Supporters framed the appropriation as necessary to protect civil-rights, labor, environmental and other state policies from federal rollbacks. Senator Smallwood Cuevas said recent federal actions targeting equity and civil-rights programs risked harming marginalized communities and said the funds would support the Department of Justice and legal-aid organizations.
Vote and next steps: The Senate recorded 27 yeas on SB1 and the measure was adopted. The measure allocates the funding and requires reporting on the use of those funds to the Legislature.
