SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement in response to the 2025-2026 budget trailer bills, which include far reaching changes to core health and safety laws, following the Governor and State Legislature’s agreement on Friday to move $1B from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to the General Fund.
Statement from Melissa Romero, Policy Advocacy Director, California Environmental Voters:
“California’s budget is a statement of values and this year’s budget tells a story of political expediency over public health and community safety. Stripping funds for cleaner air, access to clean transportation, and recovery from the impacts of worsening pollution, heat, and extreme wildfires is a hit to all Californians. Choosing short-term budget fixes over long-term investments is not just fiscally irresponsible, it’s a threat to the future of working people across the state.
What’s even more disturbing is that major policy decisions, which should happen in the normal, public legislative process, were made behind closed doors without meaningful input from communities. The quiet but dangerous rollback of California’s core health and safety protections paves the way for industrial projects to move forward without proper review and creates a long list of exemptions from endangered species habitat protection.
Extreme heat, wildfires, floods, and pollution are already driving up housing, insurance, energy, and food costs. Those hit first and worst, particularly undocumented and low-income communities, are being squeezed even harder by compounding state and federal cuts to health and human services. Californians expect and deserve a government that protects their health and invests in a livable future. Our leaders must do better.”
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CONTACT:
Erika Guzman Cornejo
(310) 755-1615
erika@envirovoters.org
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. See more press releases.
