We are living through a time when our democracy feels like it is coming apart at the seams. Authoritarianism is not on the rise, it’s already here. It is pulling at the threads of our institutions and unraveling our sense of safety. The Supreme Court just sanctioned racial profiling in Los Angeles, giving every city a blueprint to do the same. ICE is still tearing families apart. Medicaid is being eviscerated, leaving loved ones exposed.
The policy decisions made in California matter now more than ever. While we are not immune from the cruelty coming from the White House, our state can be a beacon and an antidote. A state that shows what is possible when policy is rooted in justice, equity, and human dignity. But this only holds true if we act.
Two of our bills sit on the Governor’s desk right now. Each one is tangible proof that we can still choose to protect those we love, people too often pushed aside:
- AB 969 (Rodriguez): Survivors of gender-based violence often face an impossible choice: safety or economic stability. AB 969 helps survivors access CalWORKS benefits, ensuring that they can support themselves and their families without unnecessary barriers.
- SB 418 (Menjivar): Health care discrimination is often invisible—until it happens to you. SB 418 explicitly bans discrimination in health insurance coverage based on race, gender identity, pregnancy status, and more, ensuring no one is denied care because of who they are.
These policies are not abstract. They will reflect whether California lives up to its promise in a moment where our basic rights are under siege.
The Governor has until October 12th to sign these bills into law. The stakes are too high, the cost of inaction will fall, as it always does, on those least able to bear it. Donate today to sustain this program and invest in the policymakers of tomorrow.
California can still be a refuge. A place where safety isn’t conditional, and health care isn’t a privilege. But only if we choose to act.