Newsom and legislative leaders strike $50M deal to Trump-proof California

SACRAMENTO, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have agreed to set aside $50 million to defend California — as well as immigrants facing deportation — in court against the incoming Trump White House, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations.

The deal, struck through a special legislative session Newsom called to shore up the state’s legal defenses, includes $25 million he sought for state Department of Justice litigation against the federal government. It also contains $25 million state Senate leaders wanted for grants to nonprofit legal groups and centers that support immigrants who are at risk of deportation, detention and wage theft.

The deal leaves out $10 million the Senate wanted for counties and cities to defend themselves in court as well as an additional $500,000 the Assembly sought for the DOJ’s initial case preparation.

Amendments to special session bills that emerged on Friday reflect the agreement, according to the people with knowledge, who were granted anonymity to discuss confidential conversations. ABX1-1, SBX1-1, ABX1-2 and SBX1-2 are now co-authored by both Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel and Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener, and they both include the $50 million package.

The DOJ would have to provide an annual, public report on how it’s spending its funding under the legislation. The $25 million in nonprofit grants would include:

• $10 million for the Judicial Council of California to distribute to organizations that provide indigent legal services.
• $10 million in grants or contracts for groups that provide immigration services, including legal defense for immigrants faced with deportation.
• $5 million to the California Access to Justice Commission, a nonprofit that already receives state funding, to expand its grants to nonprofit legal service providers.

Spokespeople for Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire did not respond to POLITICO inquiries on Sunday.
Floor votes are expected as soon as this week so that Newsom can sign the package into law before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Like other budget bills in California, the legislation would take effect immediately after it’s signed.