Governor Gavin Newsom enters a special session of the California Legislature on Monday, November 2, 2024. “With potentially billions of dollars in federal funding on the line if the President-elect follows through on his promises, we must be – and we are – ready to act on day one,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I am looking forward to working with [the] Governor and the Legislature to ensure my office has the resources we need to meet the demands of the moment and robustly defend California’s people, progress, and values.”
Governor Gavin Newsom enters a special session of the California Legislature on Monday, November 2, 2024. “With potentially billions of dollars in federal funding on the line if the President-elect follows through on his promises, we must be – and we are – ready to act on day one,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I am looking forward to working with [the] Governor and the Legislature to ensure my office has the resources we need to meet the demands of the moment and robustly defend California’s people, progress, and values.” (source: gov.ca.gov)

Overview: California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special session of the Legislature following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 Presidential Election. Newsom aims to develop a litigation fund to strengthen the state’s legal resources ahead of a second Trump administration. The proposal requests up to $25 million for the California Department of Justice and other state agencies to defend against unconstitutional or unlawful federal government actions. The state has already invested $42 million to support litigation during Trump’s first term. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel introduced legislation to provide the $25 million of additional funding for litigation.

Breanna Reeves

A special session of the California Legislature convened on Dec. 2 following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to meet after President-elect Donald Trump secured the 2024 Presidential Election in November. 

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the special session.

According to Newsom’s special session proposal, the governor hopes to develop a litigation fund in an effort to strengthen the state’s legal resources ahead of a second Trump administration. Newsom requested up to $25 million for the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and other state agencies to “defend against unconstitutional or unlawful federal government actions.” 

The proposal notes that the new litigation fund will help safeguard California values and funding for critical services like health care. The document noted that during Trump’s first term, the California DOJ filed 122 lawsuits challenging Trump Administration actions that “harmed Californians” and invested roughly $42 million to support litigation.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, introduced the legislation that aims to provide the $25 million of additional funding for litigation. Gabriel introduced two special session bills: Assembly Bill (AB) X1-1 which will set aside up to $25 million in funding to cover the costs of potential litigation and ABX1-2 which will immediately allocate $500,000 to fund initial case preparation. 

“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” said Gabriel in a press statement. “We know from President-elect Trump’s statements – and from the more than 120 lawsuits that California filed during the first Trump Administration – that we must be prepared to defend ourselves. We’re not going to be caught flat-footed.”

In January 2025, the California Legislature will hold committee hearings to hear from the public on this issue, and will send legislation to Newsom’s desk, pending a final vote.

While on the campaign trail, Trump hinted at eliminating, or at the very least, lessening electric vehicle tax rebates. On Nov. 25, Newson announced that California will provide a California zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) rebate if the incoming Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit. The federal EV tax credits are worth up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles and a $4,000 tax credit for used ones.

California’s now retired Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offered rebates up to $2,500.  More than two million zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) were sold during the program’s run. 

“We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California. We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute,” Newsom said in a statement.

The proposed California rebates could come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is paid for by polluters under the state’s cap-and-trade program, a statement from the governor’s office confirmed.

Breanna Reeves is a reporter in Riverside, California, and uses data-driven reporting to cover issues that affect the lives of Black Californians. Breanna joins Black Voice News as a Report for America Corps member. Previously, Breanna reported on activism and social inequality in San Francisco and Los Angeles, her hometown. Breanna graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in Print & Online Journalism. She received her master’s degree in Politics and Communication from the London School of Economics. Contact Breanna with tips, comments or concerns at breanna@voicemediaventures.com or via twitter @_breereeves.