California Future of Abortion Council Statement on
​Abortion Access Investments Made in California State Budget

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2026

CONTACT
Information Below

CALIFORNIA – The following members of the California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council) steering committee, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, California Nurse-Midwives Association, Essential Access Health, National Health Law Program, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Reproductive Freedom for All, and TEACH - Training in early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare, released a statement in response to Governor Newsom signing a state budget that renews critical investments for abortion access programs. 

​Amid ongoing federal attacks on reproductive freedom, Governor Newsom and Legislative Leaders enacted a state budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026-2027 containing $46 million in investments to protect equitable access to abortion and reproductive health care. These investments build on the FY 2022 historic budget that allocated more than $200 million for abortion and reproductive health care in response to the U.S. Supreme Court Decision overturning Roe v Wade. The Uncompensated Care and Abortion Practical Support grant programs were established as part of the 2022 investments to support patients without coverage or the ability to pay for the costs of accessing care, like transportation. 

“We thank Governor Newsom and State Legislative Leaders for renewing vital investments that protect abortion access in California. We recognize that this year’s budget required difficult decisions due to impending federal funding cuts under H.R. 1, and we are grateful that our leaders stood  firm in the face of ongoing federal attacks and prioritized funding that supports abortion access for vulnerable patients. 

​“The budget investments send a crucial message to anti-choice politicians that California will continue to lead the nation as a Reproductive Freedom State. The funding ensures critical services like the Uncompensated Care and Abortion Practical Support grant programs can continue operating through the remainder of the Trump Administration to protect affordable access to abortion care and support essential health providers. Other investments boost essential abortion legal support and midwifery workforce development.

“We look forward to working with the Administration to mobilize resources as soon as possible to ensure  access to care is not interrupted.” 

The 2026-27 budget investments to support access to sexual and reproductive health care include: 

• $30 million for the Uncompensated Care Fund to support safety net providers that offer abortion, contraception, and gender affirming care services to eligible patients through 2029
• $10 million for the Abortion Practical Support Fund to support non-profit organizations that assist individuals seeking abortion care with the supports necessary to access services 
• $5 million to support the continuation of the UCLA Center on Reproductive Health, Law and Policy through 2029
• $1 million for the midwifery workforce landscape analysis.

Quotes from CA Future of Abortion Council Leaders

ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE Executive Director Jessica Pinckney said:

“Given the tumultuous last four years since the Dobbs decision, devastating impacts from HR 1, and increasing attacks on Mifepristone across the U.S. – we intimately understand how essential these investments are to bolster our safety net as a reproductive freedom state. As California’s only statewide abortion fund, we exist to eliminate otherwise insurmountable barriers to care. No matter what the courts decide, and which tactics this federal administration uses to strip away the rights of our communities, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE and the Future of Abortion Council are staying the course. While we strategize and prepare to sustainably scale our efforts, we are deeply grateful for continued funding, that frankly, we would not be able to meet this moment without.”  

Black Women for Wellness Action Project Executive Director Janette Robinson Flint said:

“Black Women for Wellness Action Project knows abortion services are critical to the health and well-being of women of reproductive age. We applaud CA for helping create a safe place to secure those services.” says Janette Robinson Flint of Black Women for Wellness Action Project. “CA is supporting all women and people with the ability to get pregnant by showing ongoing support for reproductive justice through this budget’s investment in equitable abortion access. These funds support many important things, such as education for providers from red states who did not receive training in medical school, increasing the number of midwives in the pipeline for holistic care, and, lastly, ensuring that women with high-risk medical conditions have access. As attacks on abortion access continue, these investments help ensure Black women can have full control over our bodies and reproductive choices without facing financial obstacles. We will keep working with the state to ensure these important resources reach the communities that need them most.”

California Latinas for Reproductive Justice Executive Director Jocelyn De La Rosa said:

Reproductive justice is about ensuring all people have the power and resources to make decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. These investments recognize that abortion access must be more than a right on paper, it must be accessible in practice. As communities across the country face increasing attacks on their autonomy and freedom, California's commitment helps protect the dignity, health, and self-determination of those who need care most." 

California Nurse-Midwives Association Legislative Action and Advocacy Committee Chair Liz Donnelly said:

“Midwifery care is rooted in trusted relationships, respect for each patient’s values, and the belief that people should be empowered to make their own reproductive health decisions. These investments protect access to essential care and enable midwives to continue providing compassionate, evidence-based care in partnership with the communities we serve. At a time when reproductive freedom is under attack, California’s commitment affirms that every person deserves to be heard, trusted, and supported.”  

Essential Access Health CEO Dr. Nomsa Khalfani said: 

“At a time when reproductive freedom is under attack across the country, California leaders persist in choosing to protect and expand access to care. We are grateful for their further commitment to ensure that abortion care remains accessible and affordable for all who need it. We will continue to work alongside our partners to advance equitable access across the state.”  

National Health Law Program Senior Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health Fabiola De Liban said: 

“Budgets are statements of our priorities and values. We are relieved that so many of the programs we have arduously fought for have been preserved in this year’s state budget. They advance NHeLP’s mission that every Californian has equitable access to all sexual and reproductive health services (including abortion and gender-affirming care), free from discrimination, delivered with dignity, and where cost is never a barrier.”  

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President and CEO Jodi Hicks said:

“PPAC is incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom and our allies in the Legislature for continuing to lead the nation in protecting and expanding equitable access to abortion care in our state. Amid devastating federal cuts, including a full federal defund of Planned Parenthood nationwide, these state investments help to ensure that California continues to deliver on the promise of reproductive freedom through programs that allow vulnerable patients – no matter who they are, where they come from, or how much money they make – to access the care they need and deserve.”  

Reproductive Freedom for All California Organizer Aileen Arellano said:

“As we reflect on the devastating impacts of the Dobbs decision four years ago, we want to thank Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature for the $46 million investment in the state budget to continue protecting and expanding abortion care in our state. This budget will replenish funding for uncompensated care and grant programs that allow us to continue being a haven for patients seeking abortion care. In the face of federal budget cuts and attacks on reproductive freedom, we applaud our champions in the legislature for standing firm and sustaining their commitment to essential, accessible reproductive health care for our communities.”

Training in early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare (TEACH) Executive Director Flor Hunt said:

"We thank Governor Newsom and the Legislature for ensuring California remains a true reproductive freedom state. True equity requires investment, and this $46 million budget allocation puts our values into action. It ensures that every individual can access the abortion care they need, from a skilled provider, when they need it most."  

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Sylvia Castillo, Executive Director, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom [email protected] 
• Shelby McMichael, Communications Director, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, [email protected] 
• Sonja Goetsch-Avila, Program Director, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE [email protected].

 
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The California FAB Council was launched in 2021 by reproductive health, rights and justice advocates - with support from Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders - to identify barriers to abortion access and recommend policy solutions to expand equitable and affordable access to abortion services for all who seek care in California.