Assembly Democrats Release Road Map to a Responsible and Compassionate Budget

SACRAMENTO, CA — On Thursday, Assembly Democrats announced their Road Map to a Responsible and Compassionate Budget: a framework of priorities that underscores an ongoing commitment to protecting health care access and essential safety-net programs, along with increasing the rainy-day fund and advancing landmark housing reforms to stabilize costs and increase opportunity.

Because of the Trump administration’s failed policies, health care costs are climbing. Republicans in Washington are ripping away federal funding for the very programs that Californians rely on. And the White House is lurching from crisis to crisis — unprecedented foreign policy disasters, reckless tariffs, chaotic and deadly ICE raids. Trump’s failures make the already difficult job balancing the budget significantly more challenging.

Assembly Democrats are committed to protecting Californians from harm they didn’t cause and don’t deserve. This year, three values will guide our budget priorities:

• Responsibility — controlling new spending, preparing for future deficits, strengthening and increasing reserves
• Compassion — protecting health care access, food assistance and core safety net programs
• Fairness — taking a close look at closing loopholes to make sure billionaires and massive corporations pay their fair share

Read the Assembly’s Road Map to a Responsible and Compassionate Budget

This budget framework reflects extensive public engagement, including more than 50 budget hearings and hundreds of hours of testimony from experts, administration officials, legislators and everyday Californians.

Key areas of focus in the budget Road Map include:

• Defending the safety net programs such as in-home care, health care and dental care, and food aid that California’s families, seniors, veterans and children rely on most.
• Strengthening California’s rainy day fund by putting a measure on the ballot that raises the cap and makes it easier to save more when revenues are up.
• Advancing a new housing bond to inject billions of dollars into building affordable new homes, expanding housing options, and continuing to cut through the red tape.
• A firm commitment to avoiding new, ongoing spending. 

The budget road map also builds on the Assembly’s robust oversight and accountability work to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and effectively.

“Trump’s White House is stumbling from one crisis to the next, unleashing deep economic uncertainty in all corners of California. Our Assembly’s budget priorities are a direct response to Trump’s chaos: protect health care and food programs, continue delivering on housing affordability. We must be smart with every dollar — no new major ongoing spending, a stronger rainy day fund. That's what real responsibility looks like.”

—Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas

“Assembly Democrats are committed to building a budget that is both compassionate and fiscally responsible. At a time when the Trump administration is defunding health care and deepening our affordability crisis, we must defend the critical safety net programs that working families and our most vulnerable communities rely on. But this moment also demands that we act responsibly and thoughtfully to address the long term fiscal challenges facing our state. We cannot stop every harmful decision coming from the White House, but we will work to craft a budget that protects Californians and our values.” 

—Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel

Next Steps for the California State Budget

• May 14: Governor presents May Revision
• May 18-28 (approximate): Assembly Budget Committee and Budget Subcommittee hearings on the May Revision and the 2026-27 state budget package
• June 1-5 (approximate): Deadline for Assembly and Senate to submit proposed 2026-27 legislative budget bill to Legislative Counsel. Discussions with legislators on anticipated Senate-Assembly budget plan, and with administration to advance possible budget agreement.
• June 8-15 (approximate): Additional Budget Committee hearing or hearings on anticipated Senate-Assembly budget plan or budget agreement with the administration
• June 15: Expected Floor vote on legislative budget bill (which must be in print on or before June 12)
• June 22-29 (approximate): Additional Budget Committee hearing or hearings, and expected Floor votes on budget bill amendments and trailer bills to facilitate a final budget agreement with the administration
• June 29: Expected deadline for Governor to sign or veto the June 15 budget bill
• July 1: 2026-27 state fiscal year begins