(Editor’s Note: California Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick, R-1, Alturas, 46-years-old, is a pumpkin farmer that represents most of the Shasta Cascade–all of Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Plumas, and Shasta Counties and part of Amador, El Dorado and Placer Counties. Previously she served Modoc County as the Deputy Office of Emergency Services Director and Public Information Officer at the Sheriff’s Office where she organized evacuations due to wildfire and flooding, coordinated support, and managed recovery efforts.)

Some Good News

I’m encouraged to see several budget investments that directly impact our district:

• 20% increase in funding for necessary small schools, which are a lifeline for many rural communities and help keep local classrooms open and supported.
• $250 million in one-time funding for teacher recruitment, estimated to sustain recruitment efforts through the 2029-30 fiscal year.
• $720,000 for rural CUPA funding, which helps small and rural counties carry out state-mandated hazardous materials and environmental safety programs when local fee revenue isn’t sufficient.

Additionally, the budget allocates funding to launch a new Department of Cannabis Control field office in Redding, known as the North State Unit. This Northern California office will strengthen cannabis enforcement presence, improve geographic coverage, and enhance enforcement capabilities across the region. This new facility is the result, in part, of tireless advocacy by (from my office) and Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue.

Major Concerns Raised by the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO)

The nonpartisan LAO warns that California could be facing an $18 billion budget deficit, a stark contrast to the $3 billion deficit projected by the Governor. This gap comes from differing assumptions about future revenues and is something the Legislature must take seriously as budget negotiations move forward.

Missed Priorities

The budget raises several red flags:

• No funding for Proposition 36 mental health or drug treatment programs required for treatment-mandated felonies–despite 70 percent of Californians voting for stronger accountability and treatment solutions.
• No funding for wildlife and predator management.
• No funding for solutions for California’s insurance crisis.
• No funding for County District Attorneys to assign one dedicated prosecutor to handle a human trafficking case from start to finish–something that helps build stronger cases and better support victims.
• No funding for mediation-assisted treatment programs for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.
• No funding for fraud prevention or detection in social benefit programs, including Medi-Cal and childcare.

Wildfire Prevention Cuts

At a time when California continues to face devastating wildfire seasons, the budget reduces funding for wildfire prevention by over $240 million.

This is especially alarming given that last year’s wildfire funding was already insufficient and is now being reduced even further, despite fires like the 2025 Palisades Fire–causing more than $275 billion in damages–highlighting the urgent need for prevention. Notably, the budget continues to fund CAL FIRE under the Discretionary General Fund, which effectively pulls money away from core infrastructure investments, and a shift that feels misplaced given the state’s ongoing wildfire risks and infrastructural needs.

Spending Priorities That Deserve Scrutiny

At the same time, the budget includes:

• More than $12 billion for Medi-Cal benefits for undocumented immigrants.
• $20 million General Fund over two years to the Attorney General to continue suing the federal government, despite retaining $19 million from the 2024 Budget Act for the same purpose.
• $1 billion per year for 20 years for the HIgh-Speed Rail Authority.

Bottom Line

We have a deficit. We have limited resources to tackle the challenges Californians face every day. And because money is tight, we need a hard, honest look at our priorities–prevention, affordability, accountability and following through on the promises made to voters. Californians deserve a budget that reflects what they’ve clearly told us matters most.

We’re still early in the budget process, and I will continue reviewing the proposal and the LAO’s analysis and sharing updates as we move forward.

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District Office: 930 Executive Way, Suite 201, Redding, CA 96002 / 530-223-6300

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