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Full Moon Strategies’ Amy Costa briefs supervisors on LAO reports, Medi‑Cal and ballot initiatives
Summary
Amy Costa of Full Moon Strategies summarized Legislative Analyst Office analyses of HR 1 impacts on Medi‑Cal and CalFresh, legal actions on contraceptive coverage, and a 2026 ballot initiative tracker; supervisors asked about certification timelines and revenue proposals for public hospitals.
Amy Costa, a consultant with Full Moon Strategies, briefed the Elmy County Personnel Administration and Legislation Committee on March 9 about state legislative developments that could affect county budgets and services. She said policy committees have begun hearing bills that met the 30-day in-print requirement and urged county departments to review weekly bill reports for impacts.
Costa summarized multiple items of county interest. She reported that Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a multi-state coalition filing an amicus brief opposing Trump administration regulations that expand employer religious exemptions and could reduce no-cost contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. She also highlighted recent Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) reports examining HR 1 and the governor's Medi‑Cal budget. "Medi Cal serves roughly 14,500,000 Californians," Costa said, and the LAO is flagging rising per-case costs, pharmacy and managed-care rate pressures, and the role counties play in administration and error rates.
Why it matters: LAO findings suggest HR 1 and changes to Medi‑Cal and CalFresh eligibility could increase county administrative burdens and expose counties to financial risk tied to payment error rates. Costa said the LAO recommended automating processes where possible and suggested that any additional funding to offset administrative burdens be temporary until HR 1’s full effects are understood.
Costa also noted political developments (former Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon ending his gubernatorial campaign and endorsing Congressman Eric Swalwell) and described a Full Moon Strategies ballot-initiative tracker for 2026. She reminded the committee that proponents must submit verified signatures by June 25 to qualify measures for the November ballot. Committee members asked when the Secretary of State will certify measures and about possible state revenue proposals to support public hospitals; Costa said the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and other county groups expect to circulate proposals in the coming weeks and named two approaches gaining traction: an employer tax (sometimes called a "Walmart tax") and a corporate "water's edge" tax approach.
The committee had no public comment on the state legislative update.
