SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) released the following statement after the California Legislature voted on the passage of the 2023-24 state budget. A summary of the budget is viewable here.

“The Legislature passed a state budget that delivers significant funding for the Central Valley, specifically the approved $290 million to support emergency preparedness and recovery for flood prone communities, and preserves $37 billion in the state’s rainy day fund,” said Senator Melissa Hurtado. “This budget delivers funding for issues I am presently working on such as food and water security, and responds to emerging issues like cybersecurity and emissions reductions in the agricultural sector.”  

“During the May budget revise, I led a delegation of Senators to tour the floods devastating the Tulare Basin and surrounding communities, which helped build legislative support for budget funding to aid flood recovery efforts. I am committed to ensuring that every household and flood victim has equal opportunity to recover from the devastation caused by these floods.”

Funding figures in the budget for flood response and recovery include:

• $119 million General Fund in 2023-24 (and $35 million in 2024-25) to DWR for various flood projects in the Central Valley.
• $290 million General Fund one-time to various departments for statewide flood response and support
  • $125 million to support preparedness, response and recovery related to the 2023 storms – funding shifted from drought contingency to flood contingency to address the weather whiplash California is facing;
  • $75 million to support local flood control projects;
  • $25 million to expand the current California Small Agricultural Business Drought Relief Grant Program to provide direct assistance to eligible agriculture-related businesses that have been affected by the recent storms;
  • $25 million for potential additional disaster relief and response costs in this fiscal year to address immediate impacts;
  • $40 million for the San Joaquin Floodplain restoration

In addition to funding for flood response and recovery, the 2023-24 budget provides:

• Resources to support the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to adults 55 and over regardless of immigration status, including $40 million to support a revised automation and program outreach timeline for implementation in October 2025, and $3.3 million to provide state-level administration for the program.
• $100 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CARB for the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emissions Reductions (FARMER) program.
• $35 million from the General Fund to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for the California Nutrition Incentive Program CalFresh Market Match.
  • (A priority issue area for my office. For ref. see SB 245 – SB 628 )
• $28.7 million General Fund for the California Cybersecurity Integration Center, a multi-department entity to coordinate statewide cybersecurity preparation and response.
  • (Another priority issue area for my office. For ref. see SB 265 )

The Governor has until June 30, 2023 to sign the state budget passed by the Legislature, or make revisions.