California taxpayers foot a $90 million ’emergency’ bailout for Planned Parenthood, defying President Trump’s defunding of abortion providers while the state grapples with homelessness and hospital closures.
Story Highlights
- Governor Gavin Newsom signs SB 106 on February 12, 2026, allocating $90 million from the general fund to Planned Parenthood amid federal cuts from Trump’s H.R. 1.
- Funding responds to $1.1 million daily losses for California clinics, previously relying on Medi-Cal for 80% of 1.3 million annual visits.
- Critics, including Republicans and the California Family Council, decry it as a wasteful bailout ignoring urgent needs like 60+ at-risk hospitals and housing crises.
- Democrats frame it as defending ‘reproductive freedom’ against the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ boosting Newsom’s progressive profile for 2028.
Newsom Signs $90 Million Emergency Funding Bill
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 106 on February 12, 2026, at a press conference attended by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Legislative Women’s Caucus members, and Planned Parenthood California President Jodi Hicks. The bill provides $90 million in one-time grants from California’s general fund to Planned Parenthood and reproductive health clinics. This action directly counters federal funding cuts under President Trump’s H.R. 1, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which bans Medi-Cal reimbursements to abortion providers. Newsom increased the initial $60 million proposal to $90 million, fast-tracking it as an “emergency” measure.
Federal Cuts Trigger State Response
Trump’s H.R. 1, passed post-2024 reelection, defunds organizations like Planned Parenthood that offer abortions, leading to nationwide threats of clinic closures. In California, this results in $1.1 million daily losses, with 80% of Planned Parenthood’s 1.3 million annual patient visits previously covered by Medi-Cal for services including STD testing, cancer screenings, and contraception. The state had preemptively allocated $140 million in October 2025, following Newsom’s January 2026 proposal. SB 106, authored by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), passed both legislative houses in early February.
Critics Slam Taxpayer Bailout Amid State Crises
Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Clovis) opposed the bill, arguing funds should support over 60 hospitals at risk of closure rather than Planned Parenthood. The California Family Council labeled it a “bailout” subsidizing the “destruction of children,” prioritizing moral concerns over abortion funding. Amid California’s high housing costs, gas prices, and homelessness, diverting $90 million raises questions about fiscal priorities. Planned Parenthood often serves as the sole Medi-Cal provider in rural areas, but Republicans demand transparency on fund recipients and highlight Planned Parenthood’s campaign contributions preceding the payout.
Stakeholders and Political Motivations
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas supported the funding, emphasizing it prevents clinic shuttering and sustains affordable care access. Newsom declared California stands for “women’s access” and “reproductive freedom” against the “Big Ugly Bill.” Jennifer Siebel Newsom defended the focus on women’s issues and rebuked media coverage. Democrats dominate the legislature, enabling the fast-track, while this bolsters Newsom’s national profile as a 2028 contender. Short-term, funds avert closures; long-term, they set a precedent for state-federal clashes, polarizing along party lines and straining resources for pressing needs like homelessness.
Sources:
Newsom signs $90M ’emergency’ funding bill for Planned Parenthood
Newsom allocates $90 million to Planned Parenthood after Trump administration cuts
New Law: California Delivers $90 Million in Support for Affordable Women’s Health
Follow the Money: How Planned Parenthood’s Campaign Cash Preceded a $90 Million Payday
