State Budget Reflections
2025

Three people wearing shirts that say Senior and Disability Action and smiling. One of them holds a sign that says “Defienda Medi-Cal para inmigrantes"
Two people holding a banner that says “Disability justice is beloved community”. They are wearing masks and one of them is in a power wheelchair. There are people standing by a building behind them.

Through our participation in the Long-Term Services and Supports for All (LTSS4All) Coalition, staff and members worked hard in the last several weeks to oppose cuts to Medi-Cal in the state budget. On June 9, we took part in an action in Sacramento (pictured above) to protest cuts to Medi-Cal, IHSS, and childcare, which were being negotiated at the State Legislature. Big thank you to former SDA Executive Director Jessica Lehman and Mary Ignatius of Parent Voices CA for convening the group that prompted this powerful action. Together with our stories and our collective power, we demonstrated tipping the scales towards people power, over billionaires and corporate interests.

Between in-person actions, phonebanks, testimony at hearings, and legislative visits, our coalition worked tirelessly to advocate for a just budget that isn’t balanced at the expense of seniors and disabled people, low-income people, and immigrants. On Friday, June 27, Governor Newsom signed the final budget, which responded to some of our concerns, but still contains many of the elements we protested. While we are pleased that the asset limit for seniors and disabled people was raised from the originally proposed $2,000 to $130,000 for individuals ($195,000 for partnerships), it’s not good enough. Disability groups like SDA fought hard to get the asset limit removed completely, and we strongly oppose its reinstatement. The final budget also imposes abhorrent discriminatory measures towards immigrants: $30 monthly premiums for undocumented people ages 19-59, and freezing new enrollment for undocumented adults over 19. 

Depending on what happens in the final federal budget, there may be a special California budget session in the fall, and we need to be prepared to mobilize for that. Despite our disappointment with the budget cuts reflected in this bill, we are proud of all we accomplished as a coalition, and we know there are many more opportunities to fight for long-term services and supports for all in California and beyond. If you’re interested in joining the work of the LTSS4All coalition through SDA, contact grace@sdaction.org. We would love to have you with us, and thank you to the many members who turned out over the last several weeks to support our efforts!