City committee seeks follow-up on federal 'HR One' after public plea on equity funding

The Los Angeles City Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging and Disabilities Committee on an unspecified date heard a briefing from the City Administrative Office about the local effects of 'HR One' and voted to order follow-up analysis and contingency plans.

Camila Font of the CAO told the committee that HR One, which the presenters said was enacted Jan. 4, 2025, would phase out several federal tax credits and reduce some grant funding that supports city projects. Font said departments had identified estimated grant losses (the presentation cited an estimated loss of about $198,000,000 for some owner departments and $50,000,000 for the Port of Los Angeles) and that departments are filing appeals while seeking alternative financing.

Committee members asked which municipal programs would be affected and whether the city is coordinating with the county on benefits that the county administers (Medi-Cal, CalFresh). Presenters said many social-service programs are county-administered and that the mayor’s office is coordinating with county public health and service agencies; no department had yet submitted specific budget-change requests in response to HR One.

After discussion, a committee member moved to direct the Chief Administrative Officer to produce a follow-up report on HR One’s impacts to city projects, programs and services (including eligibility changes for Medi-Cal and CalFresh and impacts to programs serving LGBT communities) and to instruct the Department of Water and Power and the Port of Los Angeles to report to the environment committee within 60 days on contingency planning and alternate funding options. The motion carried on a recorded 4-0 vote with one member absent.

Public speakers had urged the committee to act now to protect vulnerable residents. Byron José of Coalición Trans Latina told the committee that “this is the moment we need this committee to introduce a motion so we do not have to wait until March,” and other public commenters asked the council to prioritize wellness and equity investments for transgender and immigrant residents.

The committee’s action requires the CAO and the named departments to return with written analyses and contingency plans; the committee did not adopt specific budget reallocations at the meeting.