Senate committee advances bill to let LA, Contra Costa voters decide tax to offset federal Medicaid cuts

At a California State Senate Local Government Committee hearing, senators voted 5–2 to send AB 1768 to the Senate floor, advancing a bill that would let Los Angeles and Contra Costa county voters decide whether to approve local sales‑tax measures intended to offset recent federal cuts to Medicaid funding.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Bridal, framed AB 1768 as a narrow measure to preserve local control amid what she described as federal funding reductions. “AB 1768 is a simple bill — it’s about whether local jurisdictions have the state’s authorization to respond to federal funding cuts in the way that their voters and their constituents choose to,” Bridal said, asking the committee for its support.

Supporters said the bill is a tool for counties to protect safety‑net services. Dennis Cuesta Romero, vice president of government affairs at the California Primary Care Association, told the committee that community health centers are already experiencing closures and staffing shortfalls in Los Angeles County and that AB 1768 would empower communities to consider local revenue options to preserve care. “We ask for your high vote,” Cuesta Romero said.

Angela Pontes of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California said Planned Parenthood affiliates operate dozens of health centers across Los Angeles County and described a local ballot measure intended to raise about $1,000,000,000 to restore essential services affected by the federal law referred to as HR 1. “AB 1768 will empower voters to decide how to address these federal cuts,” Pontes said.

Other witnesses from labor and trade groups — including the California Professional Firefighters, SEIU California, Teamsters California and the California Federation of Labor Unions — and a representative from Contra Costa County voiced strong support, saying the measure would help protect hospitals, clinics and services that serve low‑income residents.

Opponents raised concerns about adding local tax burdens. Kiara Ross, speaking on behalf of the cities of Glendale and Burbank, registered the cities’ opposition. Senator Sciarra and Senator Choi said they were reluctant to authorize local tax increases at a time when residents already face high costs, with Choi warning that allowing two counties to pursue special measures could prompt many similar requests statewide. “We are in the same situation as across the country … this is not the perfect time to raise and add additional burden for citizens with extra taxation,” Choi said.

A co‑author from Contra Costa County defended the bill’s limited scope and cited local impacts he described as urgent: an asserted figure of about 93,000 Contra Costa residents at risk of losing medical coverage and an estimated 17,600 residents who could lose CalFresh eligibility if federal cuts persist. He told colleagues the measure does not itself raise taxes but allows voters to decide whether to raise revenue locally.

After members debated policy and budget context, Senator Areguin moved to pass AB 1768 to the Senate floor. The committee recorded a 5–2 vote in favor. The chair said the committee’s action sends the bill to the full Senate; members and witnesses were invited to submit written comments to the Senate Local Government Committee.

The bill now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.