Sacramento, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California’s 2025–2026 state budget, which includes critical investments in healthcare access and public education infrastructure. Among the funding victories for the Central Coast are two major items championed by Senator John Laird (D–Santa Cruz) and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D–Santa Cruz): the reappropriation of funds for the Santa Cruz Public Library system and support for the PRIME Central Coast initiative, a major step toward the long-term goal of a future medical school at UC Santa Cruz.

“In a year when difficult decisions had to be made to close the state’s budget deficit, I’m proud we were able to preserve and prioritize funding that will have a lasting impact on education and healthcare access,” said Senator Laird. “As the federal government pushes towards its goal of rolling back essential programs and undermining our democratic institutions, California will continue to reflect our values and our commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more informed communities. I’m especially proud of what this means for the Central Coast: expanded medical training for our rural communities and improved library infrastructure that will benefit future generations."

The final budget includes:

• $4.5 million in reappropriated funds from the State Library’s Building Forward grant program to support infrastructure improvements at Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
• $1.5 million for the implementation of the PRIME Central Coast program, a collaboration between UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz that will train medical students to serve in rural and underserved communities along the Central Coast.

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Senator John Laird represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties, and a majority of San Luis Obispo County. More information on Senator Laird can be found here.