Office of Legislative Affairs - "The Friday Wrap-Up"

On Tuesday, California voters approved Proposition 50, which mandates the temporary implementation of new congressional district maps until 2030. The independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will resume drawing congressional district maps in 2031. As of Wednesday morning, the Secretary of State was reporting a 63.8% vote in favor of the measure. Proponents raised substantially more than opponents, with the Fair Political Practices Commission reporting on November 5, almost $120 million in support and about $44.5 million in opposition.

The Proposition 50 maps were specifically designed to help Democrats flip five California House seats in the upcoming midterm elections, effectively neutralizing the five seats Republicans aim to secure in Texas through their own redrawing of maps earlier this year at the urging of President Donald Trump.

Given that no other states rival the combined population or congressional representation of Texas and California, the passage of Proposition 50 holds national importance. The measure is anticipated to undermine President Trump's endeavor to strengthen the GOP's slender House majority.

On election night, Governor Gavin Newsom immediately challenged leaders in other blue states, including Virginia, Maryland, New York, Illinois, and Colorado, to adopt similar redistricting measures, urging them to "meet this moment head-on."

Targeted Republican-Held Congressional Seats. The newly approved maps are projected to make five GOP-held congressional seats winnable for Democrats and strengthen the re-election chances of three Democrats in currently competitive districts. Republicans currently hold nine of California’s Congressional seats. Candidate filing for congressional districts opens on December 19.

Targeted seats and potential candidates include:

• CD 1 Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale)
  • LaMalfa has indicated that he will run for reelection in his current district.
  • Senate Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) is anticipated to run for this seat, although no announcement has been made.
• CD 3 Representative Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin)
  • Kiley has stated that he will run for reelection, although there is speculation that he may challenge Representative Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) in CD 5, a safer district.
  • Democratic Representative Ami Bera announced he will run in CD 3, leaving his current 6th District.
  • Former State Senator Richard Pan, who had intended to run in CD 3, will now switch to CD 6 to avoid an intraparty primary against the incumbent Bera.
• CD 22 Representative David Valadao (R-Hanford)
  • CD 22 will become slightly more Democratic and stretch closer to Fresno. The race could still be competitive; as Valadao has held onto his seat despite a Democratic registration advantage.
• CD 41 Representative Ken Calvert (R-Corona)
  • Calvert’s current district was broken up with almost 50% of his voters moved into CD 40.
  • Calvert now plans to run against Representative Young Kim (R-Anaheim) in the newly drawn, safer CD 40. Kim plans to defend her seat.
• CD 48 Representative Darrell Issa (R-Vista)
  • City of San Diego Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert has announced that she will challenge Issa .
  • Rumors are circulating that Issa may also jump into the CD 40 contest challenging Kim.

Huntington Beach will now be represented by Representative Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), an outspoken progressive who has committed to helping Democrats get elected to local governing bodies.

Safer Democratic House Incumbents

• CD 9 Representative Josh Harder (D-Turlock) won last November’s election by fewer than four percentage points. The district's new boundaries now include an extension stretching toward the East Bay.
• CD 13 Representative Adam Gray (D-Hughson) had the closest House race in the country in 2024. His new seat provides more Democratic voters from Stockton, making it easier for him to hold on to his seat next year.
• CD 27 Representative George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita) represents northern Los Angeles suburbs that have grown gradually more liberal, and his new seat brings in more Democratic voters by swapping part of the high desert for some of the San Fernando Valley.
• CD 45 Representative Derek Tran (D-Cypress) defeated Republican incumbent Michelle Steel by 653 votes last year. His new seat should be easier to defend as it adds a section of Los Angeles County around Norwalk.
• CD 47 Representative Dave Min’s (D-Costa Mesa) new district shifts away from Huntington Beach and Newport Beach and includes part of Long Beach.

Lawsuit & Initiative. California Republicans filed a federal lawsuit challenging the newly approved redistricting maps hours after the plan's passage. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, argues the gerrymandering is unconstitutional, violating the 14th and 15th Amendments by redrawing congressional lines based on race, allegedly to favor Hispanic voters. Democrats, anticipating the challenge, are prepared for the fight, with a Newsom spokesperson dismissing the Republican effort.

Additionally on Wednesday, a citizens' initiative, the “Fair, Independent, and Nonpartisan Redistricting Act” (FAIR), was filed with the California Attorney General to reinstate the California Citizens Redistricting Commission's Congressional Districts in 2028. It will appear on the November 2026 ballot if 874,641 valid signatures are collected and filed.

The measure’s lead proponent is Orange County attorney James V. Lacy, an author, media commentator, and co-founder of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Lacy has a background as lead counsel in First Amendment litigation, served on the Committee on Federal Courts, and was a Member of the Administrative Conference of the United States. 

Little Hoover Commission Issues Report on High Electricity Costs

The Little Hoover Commission recently released a report titled, “The High Cost of Electricity in California,” which recommends regulatory reform including streamlining utility rate cases and an audit to determine if the state has enough capacity to provide rigorous oversight. The report offers a set of recommendations, including revisions to electricity rate design, such as adjusting the fixed charge structure, and exploring how the state might shift certain costs to non-ratepayer funding sources. It also recommends changes to regulatory proceedings and improvements in access to energy-related programs. The Commission undertook the study at the request of members of the legislature and held four hearings this year to study the topic.

California’s electricity rates are among the highest in the nation and contribute to the broader crisis of affordability facing state residents. Approximately one in five households are behind on their energy bill.

As affordability has become the state’s top policy concern, most residents are currently unwilling to pay higher electricity costs to combat climate change.

Drivers of High Electricity Rates. California's high electricity rates stem from several significant and rapidly increasing cost drivers bundled into customer bills. These primary factors include costs related to mitigating wildfire risk, flawed rate design that leads to expensive cost shifting, utility profits tied to capital investments, and a decrease in electricity consumption, which forces fixed costs to be spread over fewer kilowatt-hours. Smaller programs, like subsidies for low-income customers and green energy initiatives, contribute only marginally to the overall increase in bills.

Public purpose programs account for only a small portion of customer energy bills. For instance, the CARE/FERA low-income subsidy programs represent about 3% of a customer's total bill, and clean energy programs cost even less. Therefore, cutting these programs would only minimally reduce overall bills but would severely harm vulnerable Californians and jeopardize the state's energy transition objectives.

While generation, transmission, and public purpose program costs have remained relatively stable, distribution costs have surged, more than doubling between 2019 and 2024. Distribution costs refer to operating and capital expenses tied to the lower-voltage grid, including poles, wires, and substations. The most significant factor behind this growth has been wildfire-related costs.

Wildfires sparked by utility lines have imposed a serious financial burden on California’s investor-owned utilities and, by extension, their customers, in the form of legal settlements, rising insurance premiums, and infrastructure upgrades designed to avoid igniting wildfires. Faced with $30 billion in wildfire-related liabilities, PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019. More recently, Los Angeles County, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, as well as individual residents filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison, alleging that its failure to properly maintain its grid infrastructure caused the 2025 Eaton Fire.

The California Public Utility Commission's (CPUC) 2024 SB 695 Report outlines costs to ratepayers associated with mitigation efforts by the three large investor owned utilities: approximately $27 billion from 2019-2023. Of this total, $11 billion was spent on insurance costs alone. In 2023, wildfire-related costs represented between 7% (SDG&E) and nearly 13% (PG&E) of a customer bill.

Operational costs like vegetation management as well as insurance costs make up the bulk of wildfire costs. Capital expenditures (e.g., line undergrounding) make up only a small percent in part because these costs are spread out over time. As the wildfire rate base continues to grow, these costs will likely rise in the future. PG&E recently submitted its Wildfire Mitigation Plan for 2026-2028, and expects to spend $5.51 billion in 2026, $6.45 billion in 2027, and $6.91 billion in 2028 on wildfire mitigation efforts.

Utility profits and interest on loans also increase customer bills. While customers cover day-to-day grid operating expenses on an “at cost” basis, utilities make a profit on longer-term capital expenditures. Shareholders and lenders provide financing for things like infrastructure upgrades and expansions, and these costs are recouped slowly through customer bills with profit and/or interest added to the total. The rate base is the total value of generation, transmission, and distribution assets owned by a utility. As for-profit companies, investor-owned utilities are allowed to charge a “rate of return” on the assets that make up their rate base. The overall rate base of utilities has risen steadily over the past 20 years. This upward trend accelerated beginning, once again, around 2018 or 2019, with distribution-related capital expenditures making up the bulk of the increase

Another cost driver discussed by the report is rate design. Customers pay for most electricity-related costs, up to the amount authorized by the CPUC, based on the quantity of electricity they consume as measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is called volumetric pricing. The challenge with this type of rate design is that because it also recovers fixed costs, volumetric pricing can have unintended consequences, such as threatening funding for fixed-cost expenses if consumption decreases. And, if rates get too high, it can discourage electrification because the cost of charging an electric vehicle or using electric heat becomes prohibitively expensive.

This is especially relevant to California’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program. Because solar customers contribute less toward fixed system costs because they generate their own electricity, non-solar customers end up paying more. This cost shift is increased further because NEM 1.0 and 2.0 customers are compensated for power they supply to the grid at the retail rate. Indeed, the Public Advocates Office calculated that, in 2024, the NEM cost shift added $8.5 billion in extra charges to non-solar customers, although this figure has been debated.

The report notes that achieving significant universal rate cuts will be difficult without shifting major costs onto non-ratepayer funding sources. Efforts may need to be targeted towards those who carry the greatest cost burdens. The report recommends the state streamline utility-related processes and reduce waste to control costs and increase public confidence.

Little Hoover Commission Recommendations. The Commission’s report issued the following recommendations to reduce electricity costs with the goal of slowing rising electricity rates and ensuring that California can continue to lead on climate and clean energy while protecting vulnerable residents.

1. The legislature should mandate that the CPUC increase the income-graduated fixed charge with the goal of lowering rates, reducing the cost burden on customers in hot climate zones, and encouraging electrification while spreading cost drivers such as the NEM program and wildfire mitigation expenses across all customer classes. Safeguards should be established to guarantee that rates will not be increased beyond defined limits following the implementation of the charge and that targeted customers continue to benefit.
   
   
2. The legislature should require the CPUC to create a clear, criteria-based framework to determine which electricity costs should be shifted from customer bills to alternative funding sources, and to match each cost with the most appropriate source, such as the General Fund, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, or federal grants. This framework should be accompanied by a formal feasibility study to assess the benefits, risks, and long-term fiscal implications of such shifts, including their potential impacts on equity, affordability, and program stability. A structured approach would ensure that any movement in costs of bills is transparent, fiscally prudent, and aligned with California’s policy goals.
   
   
3. To reduce costs and improve regulatory responsiveness, the legislature should mandate that General Rate Cases be completed within a specified timeline prior to the start of the test year in question, with default mechanisms in place if deadlines are missed.
   
   While utilities argue that high rates of profit are necessary to attract investors and finance infrastructure, some believe these returns are higher than necessary and that the methods used to calculate them favor utilities. Critics have shown that utility regulators often approve profit levels that exceed what is truly needed to attract investment. A working paper by two Berkeley Energy Institute graduates shows that utility profit rates have stayed high and steady nationwide for the past 40 years, even as the actual cost of raising capital has gone down. Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, a widely accepted method for estimating the cost of capital, the report found that ROEs granted to utilities have remained above the model’s prediction.
   
   
4. To improve fairness, transparency, and cost-effectiveness, the legislature should task the State Treasurer’s Office with conducting an independent analysis to inform Cost of Capital proceedings at the CPUC. This analysis should identify appropriate borrowing rates and return on equity, based on current market conditions and utility-specific risk. This approach would help prevent inflated profit requests, reduce strategic over-asking, and ground CPUC decisions in objective and fiscally prudent thinking.
   
   
5. Integrate as many cost-related regulatory proceedings as possible (e.g., cost of capital, wildfire) into the General Rate Case to facilitate holistic budget planning. Modernize CPUC proceedings to improve accessibility and efficiency by adopting streamlined standards for filings and accelerating review timelines.
   
   
6. The legislature should direct the State Auditor to evaluate whether the CPUC has adequate staffing and expertise to conduct rigorous, timely rate case and cost of capital reviews, and effectively monitor utility and program performance. The Auditor should recommend increases or reallocations as needed to strengthen oversight.
   
   
7. To balance fairness for home solar investors with the need to reduce the cost shift due to NEM, the state should limit NEM program duration and/or benefits while ensuring participants can recover their investments in a timely fashion.
   
   
8. Direct California Climate Credits to all low-income subsidy customers and all customers regardless of income in hot climate zones who do not participate in NEM. These credits should be distributed during summer months when usage is high. Doing so will increase the efficacy of the credit and will provide bill relief in economically burdened regions of the state.
   
   
9. California should expand assistance for households above the CARE income threshold who still struggle with high energy costs. This could be achieved by raising FERA’s eligibility ceiling, merging CARE and FERA into a graduated program, or automating enrollment through tax and benefits systems. Policymakers might also consider repurposing unspent FERA funds to provide bill relief through community-based organizations or public-serving institutions that support low- and middle-income Californians.
   
   
10. Streamline the application and funding processes for EPIC and similar clean energy grant programs to reduce administrative burden and accelerate the distribution of funds. These improvements will enhance program effectiveness and support timely project implementation.

Recently, the Commission launched a new study on the impact of data centers on the state’s electricity rates, with hearings expected later this year.

Homelessness Legislation

Despite an active legislative session that saw more than twenty bills introduced addressing various facets of homelessness, the final number of proposals enacted into law was relatively modest. This outcome was driven by a combination of factors, primarily the significant fiscal impact associated with effective, large-scale homelessness interventions, coupled with the profound complexity and multifaceted nature of the issue itself.

AB 246 (Bryan) Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025, Chapter 337, Statutes of 2025, offers a targeted, temporary pause on eviction proceedings for Social Security recipients when federal payments are disrupted for more than three days. According to the measure’s sponsors, Californians for SSI, Disability Rights California, and SEIU California, this commonsense measure will provide a crucial buffer, allowing vulnerable tenants to remain housed while federal issues are resolved, and preventing a wave of unnecessary and devastating evictions.

AB 348 (Krell) Full-service partnerships, Chapter 688, Statutes of 2025, effective January 1, 2027, AB 348 establishes specific criteria for presumptive eligibility for a Full-Service Partnership (FSP) for individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI). A county is not required to enroll an individual if doing so would conflict with contractual Medi-Cal obligations or court orders, or if it would exceed the county's FSP capacity or funding.

Sponsored by The Steinberg Institute (SI) and the California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA), proponents of the measure contend that it is a vital step for providing life-saving and stabilizing care to Californians who need it most. FSPs are cited as one of the most effective interventions for stabilizing individuals with SMI and complex social needs, with research demonstrating significant reductions in incarceration, hospitalization, and increased housing and engagement in care.

L.A. County formally opposed AB 348, citing potential loss of local control and the anticipation of increased administrative and financial burdens. The county argued that existing county discretion is vital for optimizing and allocating limited resources based on varying local priorities. The county was specifically concerned that the rise in automatic referrals mandated by the bill would cause a substantial financial strain, ultimately imposing further restrictions on how they currently allocate their Behavioral Health Services Act FSP funds.

AB 543 (González, Mark) Medi-Cal: field medicine, Chapter 374, Statutes of 2025:

• Authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care (MCMC) plan to offer Medi-Cal covered services through an in-network, contracted field medicine provider.
• Requires an MCMC plan that elects to offer Medi-Cal covered services through a field medicine provider to allow a Medi-Cal beneficiary who is homeless to receive those services directly from a field medicine provider, regardless of the beneficiary's network assignment.
• Requires an MCMC plan to allow a field medicine provider enrolled in the Medi-Cal program to directly refer a beneficiary who is homeless for covered services, including specialist, diagnostic services, medications, durable medical equipment, transportation, or other medically necessary covered services.
• Requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to include in the application for insurance affordability programs an optional question to allow the applicant to indicate if they are experiencing homelessness at the time of application by January 1, 2027.

The sponsors of AB 543, the California Street Medicine Collaborative and the University of Southern California assert that this bill is an essential, life-saving measure to address the crisis in healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness.

AB 678 (Lee) Interagency Council on Homelessness, Chapter 495, Statutes of 2025, requires the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal-ICH) to coordinate with representatives of LGBTQ+ groups to identify best practices and develop recommendations to serve LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness, and to submit a report on those recommendations.

SB 27 (Umberg) Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program, Chapter 528, Statutes of 2025, makes a number of changes to the CARE Act to modify the process (including how respondents are referred, determined by the CARE Act court to be eligible for participation, and graduated from the program) and eligibility criteria for the program. The measure expands the criteria to qualify under the CARE Act, which is currently limited to schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, to also include “bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, except psychosis related to current intoxication.”

Supporters of SB 27, including the Big City Mayors Coalition and Orange County Business Council, believe that earlier referral to CARE court would be beneficial. Conversely, opponents, including the Behavioral Health Directors Association, argue that this expedited process does not allow sufficient time to prepare the CARE court petition or to coordinate effectively with the court, defense counsel, and prosecutors.

SB 634 (Pérez D )Local government: homelessness, Chapter 521, Statutes of 2025:

• Prohibits a local jurisdiction from adopting a local ordinance, or enforcing an existing ordinance, that prohibits a person or organization from providing support services, including legal services or medical care, to a person who is homeless, or assisting a homeless person with an act related to basic survival.
• Defines acts related to basic survival to include, but not be limited to, assisting with or providing items to assist with any of the following:
  • Eating and drinking, including provision of food and water.
  • Sleeping, including provision of blankets and pillows.
  • Protecting oneself from the elements.
  • Other activities and items necessary for immediate personal health and hygiene.
• Provides that nothing in the above definition shall be interpreted to include distribution of plywood or other heavy construction materials.
• Defines support services to include non-housing services described in existing law.

Orange County opposed SB 634 due to concerns that it may restrict the County's ability to properly respond to residents’ and businesses’ quality of life concerns.

SB 748 (Richardson) Encampment Resolution Funding program: safe parking sites: reporting, Chapter 524, Statutes of 2025, authorizes the use of Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program to assist local jurisdictions that are urban communities within a county with operating safe parking sites while locating interim or permanent housing. According to the author, SB 748 is designed to assist local jurisdictions with acquiring additional locations for temporary housing and safe parking sites as well as extend the hours of safe parking sites through the expanded use of the Encampment Resolution Funding program.

Upcoming Hearings

 Agendas are typically posted on the committee websites in the Assembly and Senate a few days prior to the hearings. To view hearings after they take place, you may access them in the Assembly or Senate media archives where they are generally available within a few hours of committee adjournment.

Thursday, November 13, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
Senate Human Services
1021 O Street, Room 2200
Informational Hearing: Hunger in California: Impacts of H.R. 1 (Public Law No. 119-21) on CalFresh

Friday, November 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services
1021 O Street, Room 2100
Informational Hearing: Forecasts and Estimates: Crafting the Budget for California's Health Programs

Grant Opportunities

Below is a list of the latest grant opportunities released by the state. All opportunities for local jurisdictions may be found here.

Anticipated Open Date: 12/01/2025
Title: Employment Pathways Technical Assistance (EPTA) grant for Program Year 2025-26 (PY 25-26)
State Agency / Department: Employment Development Department
Match Funding? No
Estimated Total Funding: $1,500,000
Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

Deadline:12/8/25 15:00
Title: Employment and Training Pathways program (ETPP) Program Year 2025-26 (PY 25-26)
State Agency / Department: Employment Development Department
Match Funding? No
Estimated Total Funding: $16,300,000
Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

Governor’s Press Releases

Below is a list of the governor’s press releases beginning October 29.

November 5: Governor Newsom urges the Supreme Court to reject Trump’s illegal tariff grift

November 4: Governor Newsom pre-deploys emergency resources ahead of significant storm impacts in Northern California

November 4: With new laws and 800 new arrests, CHP keeps taking down organized retail theft operations statewide

November 3: ICYMI: Coreshell Technologies wins $1 million grand prize at Startup World Cup Grand Finale, highlighting California’s entrepreneurial leadership

November 2: PHOTOS: Humanitarian deployment of California National Guard, California Volunteers to food banks expands to San Diego

November 2: CalGuard sees 240% increase in fentanyl seized since June, after most of the National Guard was returned to the Governor’s control

October 31: Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.31.2025

• Kate Ricker, of Bend, Oregon, has been appointed Deputy Director of State Technology Policy and Strategic Management at the California Department of Technology
• Amanda Singh Birmingham, of Piedmont, has been appointed Technical Advisor II at the California Public Utilities Commission
• Salvador E. Pérez, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Commission on Uniform State Laws
• David Clark, of Lafayette, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Uniform State Laws
• Martin Carr, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the California Commission on Uniform State Laws
• Michael Love, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council
• Shellena Heber, of Bakersfield, has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council
• Corynn Wolf, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed to the 16th District Agricultural Association Mid State Fair Board
• Steven Orihuela, of Bishop, has been appointed to the 18th District Agricultural Association Eastern Sierra Tri County Fair Board

October 31:As Trump continues illegally federalizing the National Guard, California doubles down on challenge

October 31:Governor Newsom applauds major win for all Americans as judges find Trump Administration illegally withheld SNAP benefits

October 31:Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 10.31.2025

• Brian Jones, of Monterey County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court
• Jose Olivera, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court
• Clifford Tong, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court

October 30: NO TREATS, ALL TRICKS: The Trump Administration is killing the economy

October 30: Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.30.2025

• Monica Erickson, of Folsom, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Human Resources
• Christopher Pierce, of Riverside County, has been appointed Warden at California State Prison, Ironwood
• Negeen Mirreghabie, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California
• Christine Fitzgerald, of San Jose, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council
• Brandi Bluel, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council
• Kimberly Rutledge, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council
• Jose Alan Cruz, of Anaheim, has been reappointed to the State Independent Living Council

October 30: California deploys search and rescue personnel to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa

October 30: Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announce revamped Golden

October 30: Bear Pass has significantly increased access to state parks

October 30: California to help San Jose lower its unsheltered homelessness through new cooperative agreement

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

Movement Towards the End of the Government Shutdown

There has been some progress towards an agreement in Congress to reopen the government this week, as the effects on social benefit programs and federal workers continue to ramp up pressure on Congress to resolve their differences. Multiple bipartisan groups of rank-and-file Senators have opened discussions separate from leadership on how to reopen the government, as the House-passed clean continuing resolution (CR), funding the government at FY25 levels through November 21 would not provide sufficient time to negotiate future funding.

The Senators have articulated a loose set of goals, beginning with a new CR to reopen the government lasting until the middle of January 2026, combined with a mini-bus package of bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills covering Military Construction, Veteran’s Affairs; Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration; Legislative Branch; and related agencies. These bills were previously proposed as a minibus before August recess.

In exchange for the seven Democratic Senate votes needed to reopen the government, the Minority would receive a date certain on a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premium subsidies at the center of their argument for a shutdown. Notices of premium increases, averaging a 115% increase per subsidized marketplace plan holder, went out at the end of October and Democrats could view their point as having been made. Republicans argue the underlying plan costs being so high, with or without the subsidies, is the result of policy failures in the ACA.

The inclusion of the minibus would be an effort to revive the normal appropriations process and dissuade continued conversations regarding another year-long CR. Despite this, tuesday’s election is being seen as threatening any potential deal, as Democrats saw large victories and may feel emboldened to make additional demands of the Administration. On November 5, Democratic Leadership requested a second meeting with the President regarding the shutdown, as the President blamed Tuesday’s losses on the shutdown. While these conversations represent a significant uptick in activity working towards ending the shutdown, there has yet to be the type of leadership action that would indicate an imminent funding deal.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

Administration Works to Navigate Disbursement of November SNAP Benefits

Resulting from the ongoing federal government shutdown, at the end of October, the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which Administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/CalFresh), notified state administrators that they would not have funding available for benefits payments in November 2025. Citing the imminent exhaustion of prior-year funds, the Administration directed contractors and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) not to accept the state data required to administer benefit payments.

This was controversial due to the existence of a contingency fund in Title IV of HR 4366, the last full year appropriations bill enacted by Congress which continued through FY25 (October 30, 2025). The Administration argued that ongoing benefits payments was not a permissible use of the fund. On October 31, two federal judges issued orders contradicting the Administration’s argument, requiring they at least partially fund benefits for the month of November. On November 3, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA made a filing one of the cases stating that they would make the funding accessible by November 5 as required, though due to the size of the contingency fund they would only be able to provide 50% of the benefit amount for November. They provided further procedural details in a separate filing in the other case, and during a hearing stated that DOJ did not intend to appeal the decision.

On November 4, the President contradicted this, stating benefits would not be paid until the end of the ongoing federal government shutdown. Later in the evening, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed that USDA would provide the partial benefits. Overall, it is likely SNAP benefits will be significantly delayed due to the significant administrative burden on states and contractors to change the benefit amount in accordance with the updated table and guidance to state administrators.

Department of Transportation Continues Essential Air Service Funding During Shutdown

On October 30, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Essential Air Service (EAS) will continue operating using $111 million in contingency funding through at least November 18. EAS was previously anticipated to significantly reduce operations on November 1 when it had exhausted all funding from the prior fiscal year, FY25.

The program provides funding to airlines to continue operating loss generating routes between smaller and more rural airports and major cities, keeping a large quantity of airports open and providing service. It currently supports 112 routes between smaller airports and major hubs excluding nearly all service within Alaska.

This continuation is in contrast to the Administration’s November 5 announcement of a 10% reduction in flight traffic in 40 markets to ease pressure on air traffic controllers, who will miss likely miss another paycheck. As the shutdown continues, more public facing services provided by the federal government will be impacted. Most agencies published contingency plans anticipating the shutdown would end before November 1, and are readjusting operations given the length of the shutdown.

Orange County Delegation Press Releases

• Mike Levin – October 29, 2025: Rep. Mike Levin Honors Annalise Aitken as October 2025 Constituent of the Month
• Lou Correa – October 30, 2025: CORREA JOINS COLLEAGUES IN OPPOSING COMMERCE PROPOSAL TO TAX PATENT HOLDERS
• Dave Min – November 3, 2025: Rep. Dave Min, Oversight Committee Member and Former SEC Enforcement Attorney, Condemns Alex Acosta for His False Testimony on Jeffrey Epstein’s Financial Crimes
• Dave Min – October 31, 2025: WATCH: Amid Mounting Evidence of Misconduct, Rep. Dave Min Slams DHS Secretary Kristi Noem For Her Obstruction of Oversight
• Derek Tran – November 4, 2025: Representatives Tran, Costa, Lofgren; Senators Padilla & Schiff Lead California Delegation to Oppose Diversion of Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions
• Derek Tran – November 4, 2025: Representative Derek Tran Holds Town Hall Meeting
• Alex Padilla – November 5, 2025: WATCH: Padilla Slams 9th Circuit Nominee Eric Tung for Extreme Ideology, Loyalty to Trump
• Alex Padilla – November 3, 2025: Padilla, Schiff, Costa, Lofgren, Tran, California Democratic Delegation Criticize Education Department’s Diversion of Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions
• Alex Padilla – October 31, 2025: Padilla, Senate Judiciary Democrats Denounce Trump’s Corrupt Attempted Money Grab for $230 Million From Justice Department for Previous Investigations
• Alex Padilla – October 31, 2025: Padilla Slams Republicans’ Refusal to Address Skyrocketing Health Care Premiums Ahead of Open Enrollment
• Alex Padilla – October 31, 2025: Padilla, Durbin, Raskin, Jayapal Condemn Trump Administration’s Unlawful Refugee Cap
• Alex Padilla – October 30, 2025: Padilla, Schiff Demand Trump Administration Cancel Partisan Deployment of Election Monitors to California
• Alex Padilla – October 30, 2025: Padilla, Booker, Huffman, Pallone Demand Trump Reverse Plan to Open New Offshore Oil and Gas Leases
• Alex Padilla – October 29, 2025: Padilla, Colleagues Warn Trump May Declare Election-Related National Emergency After White House Hires Prominent Election Denier to Reexamine 2020 Election Results
• Adam Schiff – November 4, 2025: NEWS: Schiff, Padilla, Costa, Lofgren, Tran, California Democratic Delegation Criticize Education Department’s Diversion of Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions
• Adam Schiff – October 31, 2025: NEWS: Sen. Schiff, Rep. Auchincloss Demand Answers on Top Trump Administration Health Advisor’s Conflicts of Interest
• Adam Schiff – October 30, 2025: NEWS: Sens. Schiff and Padilla Demand Trump Administration Cancel Partisan Deployment of Election Monitors to California
• Adam Schiff – October 31, 2025: NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Ricketts Lead Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month Resolution

Legislation Introduced by the Orange County Delegation

No Legislation was Introduced by the Orange County Delegation this Week.

Friday 11/07/25

Up to 1,800 flights a day could be disrupted by airport cuts; California to be hard hit -- Five of the state’s airports — Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, San Diego International Airport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport and San Francisco International Airport — will be targeted for cuts, according to a list reviewed by news outlets. Jenny Jarvie in the Los Angeles Times Aidin Vaziri, Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle George Avalos, Caelyn Pender in the San Jose Mercury Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union Tribune -- 11/07/25

California lawmakers found money for these pet projects even as they slashed the budget -- Some of the earmarks raise concerns about legislative priorities in a difficult budget year, such as lawmakers spending millions from the general fund on museums, trails, parks and other amenities in wealthy communities. Ryan Sabalow Calmatters -- 11/07/25

What veto drama and a Texas trip tell us about a potential shift in California’s homelessness strategy -- California is under pressure to embrace more temporary homeless shelters and programs that require sobriety, at the potential expense of long-term housing. Marisa Kendall Calmatters -- 11/07/25

Thursday 11/06/25

California backs down on AI laws so more tech leaders don’t flee the state -- The tactic appeared to have worked, activists said, because some politicians weakened or scrapped guardrails to mitigate AI’s biggest risks. Queenie Wong in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/06/25

Layoffs rise to recession-like levels through October, new report says -- Layoffs accelerated in October, pushing 2025 job cuts to levels typically seen in recessions, according to newly released data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a private firm that tracks workplace reductions. Abha Bhattarai in the Washington Post -- 11/06/25

Wednesday 11/05/25

Why a new California law could change the way all Americans browse the internet -- The privacy changes web browsers will be required to make under a new California law could set the de facto standard for the entire country, changing how Americans control their data when using the internet, according to experts. Colin Lecher Calmatters -- 11/05/25

State agriculture dept. is hiding bird flu information, legal aid group alleges in lawsuit -- More than half of the 70 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu infection in the United States in the last year and a half have been in California dairy workers. Susanne Rust in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/05/25

Tuesday 11/04/25

Mayor Bass lifts state of emergency on homelessness. But ‘the crisis remains’ -- On Tuesday, nearly three years after she took the helm, and with homelessness trending down two years in a row for the first time in recent years, the mayor announced that she will lift the state of emergency on Nov. 18. Noah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/04/25

California has one of highest tax burdens in the nation, new study says -- California’s tax climate ranks near the bottom among all 50 states, according to a new State Tax Competitive Tax Index by the Tax Foundation. California ranks 48th, ahead of only New Jersey and New York, the foundation said. Wyoming and South Dakota rank first and second. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee-- 11/04/25

Monday 11/03/25

How Zone Zero, designed to protect California homes from wildfire, became plagued with controversy and delays -- Many L.A. residents oppose the rules, which could require the removal of healthy plants from home perimeters, arguing the restrictions lack scientific evidence to justify such measures. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/03/25

Prop. 36 one year later: Thousands more prosecuted, but is it working? -- While the bulk of the cases filed in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties — nearly 8,500 — fall under the “Treatment-Mandated Felony Act” created by Prop. 36, few lead to treatment and even fewer end in the dismissal of charges, according to figures provided by the counties and a recent report by the Judicial Council of California. Jason Henry, Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 11/03/25

Weekend 11/02 – 11/01/25

California Promised Insurance Relief, But Delivered Loopholes -- New regulations were supposed to ensure that homeowners in fire zones would have coverage available. But companies can still avoid serving many high-risk areas, a Times investigation found. Jo Becker, Jeremy Singer-Vine, Katie Benner, Laurel Rosenhall, Mira Rojanasakul in the New York Times -- 11/02/25

Health insurance premiums for 1.7 million Californians on Obamacare will soar as federal subsidies end -- Monthly premiums for subsidized healthcare plans offered by Covered California — this state’s Obamacare insurance exchange — are set to rise by 97% on average for 2026. Tyrone Beason in the Los Angeles Times -- 11/01/25