$90M Approved for Reproductive Health

The California Legislature has approved Senate Bill 106, a $90 million “emergency” appropriation to stabilize reproductive health clinics facing immediate federal funding cuts. The legislation by Senator John Laird passed both the Assembly and the Senate and is now with Governor Gavin Newsom.

California’s SB 106 is a state-level response to the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), signed by President Trump, which cuts federal Medicaid reimbursements to organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide abortion services. Although it took effect on July 4, 2025, SB 106 aims to replace lost revenue to prevent clinic closures and service cuts across the state.

The bill directs funds to the Department of Health Care Access and Information for grants to community clinics that provide family planning services and show a loss of federal funding.

The Cause for Concern

Senator Laird called SB 106 a “budget bill junior,” used to amend the 2026 Budget Act for urgent fiscal adjustments. He described it as an “urgent response” to federal actions targeting family planning providers.

“This $90 million investment will provide a critical lifeline to reproductive health providers specifically targeted by Congress and help prevent the loss of essential medical services in communities statewide,” Laird said.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel stated during floor debate that the federal cuts were “specifically and intentionally” designed to defund Planned Parenthood.

“California cannot and will not stand idly by,” Gabriel said. “Despite our budget challenges, we must step up to defend Planned Parenthood ... and to defend access to health care for women and families across California.”

Support for the bill was based on the idea that reproductive health clinics offer essential services beyond abortion. Assemblymember Lashae Sharp-Collins noted that these clinics serve as the primary care entry point for many low-income residents, providing cancer screenings, birth control and STI testing. She warned that defunding these centers would worsen health inequities, especially for people of color and rural populations.

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks shared her experience during the debate, highlighting her reliance on Planned Parenthood in her 20s while unemployed. “I was received with open arms and not judgment,” she said, emphasizing that the care she received helped her plan her life and career.

Opposition to SB 106 was led by Republican lawmakers who questioned the grant’s fiscal responsibility and prioritized Planned Parenthood over struggling hospitals. Assemblymember David Tangipa noted that while clinics receive grants, hospitals in his district only get loans amid potential closures.

“Why does Planned Parenthood receive a $90 million grant while over 60 California hospitals face closure?” Tangipa said that women in Madera County must leave the county to give birth due to a lack of services.

Assemblymember Natasha Johnson raised concerns about transparency in the bill, criticizing its exemption of grant distribution from public records and contract-bidding requirements. “This Bill provides 90 million in grants while avoiding basic accountability,” she said. “As a legislator, I cannot support a Bill written in the dark.”

Senator Roger Niello described the exemptions as an “invitation to fraud” and questioned the state’s funding priorities, noting that services for the “developmentally disabled” are facing cuts.

Relevance in Long Beach

The city’s political leadership has consistently aligned itself with state efforts to expand protections. Senator Lena Gonzalez of Long Beach has been a vocal proponent of legislative efforts against federal anti-abortion policies, previously stating, “Since Roe v. Wade was decided 50 years ago, we knew this day would come.”

In November 2025, a debate took place on the campus of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), during the “Abortion is Oppression Campus Tour” organized by Students for Life of America. The event featured Kristan Hawkins, president of the organization, who engaged in debates with students regarding the morality of abortion and the definition of human rights.

During the event, Hawkins debated students on theological and secular grounds, arguing that “abortion isn’t liberation ... it’s the ultimate form of oppression.” The tour stop included tabling and a formal speech, a strategy of direct engagement with university populations.

Long Beach has been a hub for pro-abortion rights demonstrations, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Notable events include the “Bigger Than Roe” rally in January 2023, organized by groups such as LB/OC Women Rising and the Long Beach Resister Sisters, featuring Melissa Mills, the daughter of Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe).

The city also served as a backdrop for political campaigns, including Governor Newsom’s rally at Long Beach City College in support of Proposition 1. Newsom positioned California as a counterweight to “red state” policies, declaring, “We are on the front lines of rights.”

Reproductive Care in LB

As SB 106 is implemented, funding will likely solely support the Planned Parenthood clinic located on Pacific Avenue despite several reproductive health providers across Long Beach.

SB 106 grants are limited to “community clinics” of the Health and Safety Code, a designation typically reserved for non-profit community health centers. Private practices and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) would not qualify for these specific state grants.

The overall landscape in Long Beach includes services from specialized abortion care to general family planning and LGBTQ+ support. Key clinics, like Planned Parenthood and a private group, offer abortion services. At the same time, federally qualified health centers and the city’s Health Department focus on safety-net care for low-income and uninsured residents.

Many providers use state programs like Family PACT to lower costs. The city also has non-medical crisis pregnancy centers that offer counseling but don’t provide abortion services.

Governor Newsom is expected to sign SB 106 soon, releasing funds to clinics like those in Long Beach.

For any inquiries or further information, please contact Jose Cervantes at JoseC.Press@pm.me