Senate approves urgency measure letting Los Angeles and Contra Costa ask voters to backfill federal cuts

The California State Senate on May 20 approved AB 17 68 on an urgency basis, giving Los Angeles and Contra Costa counties the authority to place local funding measures before voters to mitigate federal funding cuts described on the floor as resulting from HR 1.

Assemblymember Bryant’s measure was presented in the Senate by Senator Gerrazzo, who told colleagues the bill ‘‘does not raise taxes’’ but instead ‘‘simply provides local voters with the authority to determine whether they wish to invest in and protect critical county services’’ including health care and public health programs.

Supporters argued the bill preserves local control and provides a tool for counties facing deep cuts to services. Senator Ottigan, speaking as a co‑author and Contra Costa representative, said the measure ‘‘lets the voters decide’’ and cited ballot measures already active locally. Senator McNerney framed a related package of bills as ‘‘No Hunger Heroes’’ actions intended to protect veterans and other vulnerable Californians from food‑security losses tied to federal changes.

Opponents warned the legislation could permit higher local sales taxes and accused leadership of bypassing standard fiscal committee review. Senator Alvarado Hale urged members to reject the bill, calling it ‘‘fundamentally a tax policy bill’’ that had not gone through the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and arguing the exemption weakens public scrutiny. Senator Valadares said families already bear heavy tax burdens and urged a no vote.

The Senate debated for more than an hour, with back‑and‑forth on whether the bill was a local choice for voters or a risky expansion of taxing authority. Several senators cited figures on projected county budget shortfalls and hospital operating losses; proponents said the measures were necessary to ‘‘backfill’’ gaps caused by federal policy changes, while critics said the state should confront spending and accountability questions instead.

Because the item carried an urgency clause, it required a supermajority roll call. The Secretary called the roll multiple times; the transcript records the urgency vote as passing with recorded tallies of 29 ayes and 8 noes on the urgency question, and the presiding officer announced that the measure had passed on the floor.

AB 17 68 was presented as an enabling measure: if local governments place measures on the ballot and voters approve them, counties would have new local revenues to direct toward services. The bill’s author and backers said the measure will take effect immediately if enacted under the urgency finding.

Next steps: because this was an urgency item, its effective date is immediate if enrolled and signed according to the usual legislative process; the transcript records the Senate passage but does not detail subsequent enrollment timing or any further actions at the time of adjournment.

"Let the people vote," Senator D'Arazo said in closing, encapsulating supporters' argument that the measure returns the question to county voters. Senator Alvarado Hale and others said their constituents remain concerned about affordability and the risk of higher local tax rates.