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New bill would allocate $35 million to city attorneys, county counsels, and legal aid organizations to protect local communities in court from harmful Trump policies 

OAKLAND — Oakland City Attorney Barbara J. Parker applauded California state lawmakers’ introduction of a new bill that would provide resources to public law offices and legal aid organizations to protect Californians from unlawful policies put forth by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Senate Bill X1-1, introduced yesterday, will give certain city attorneys and county counsels $10 million to protect reproductive health, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ civil rights, immigrant rights, and vulnerable communities from threats posed by the Trump Administration.
 
SB X1-1 is authored by Senate Budget Committee Chair Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and is a part of the California State Senate’s Special Session Budget Plan led by Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach).
 
“I’ve had the honor of serving the People of Oakland for more than thirteen years as City Attorney.  During that time, I established the Affirmative Litigation, Innovation and Enforcement Division and created two new units within it, the Community Lawyering and Civil Rights Unit and Housing Justice Initiative,” said Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker.  “These investments in growing my office’s capacity to bring lawsuits protecting Oakland residents and workers were key to protecting Oaklanders from the abuses of the first Trump Administration. I thank Senator Wiener, Senate President Pro Tem McGuire, and Senate Democrats for their foresight in helping us be ready to fight again.” 

“California cities and counties are ready to continue the legal fight to defend California values, uphold the rule of law, and protect our residents from the Trump Administration’s policies,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, who chairs the Civil Prosecutors Coalition. “Local jurisdictions have a unique and important role to play in challenging these policies in court. We deeply appreciate the proposal by Senator Wiener, Senate President Pro Tem McGuire, and Senate Democrats to fund this crucial work to protect Californians.”  
 
During the first Trump Administration, city attorneys and county counsels were key in mounting successful legal challenges to Trump’s most egregious and illegal actions. The Oakland City Attorney’s Office sued to stop federal law enforcement agents from being unlawfully sent to quell protests in the City, and to challenge interference with the federal census, and joined over 70 amicus briefs in chases fighting the actions by the federal government that threatened our communities. 
 
The Senate’s funding proposal for city attorneys and county counsels provides an important complement to the $25 million for state agencies and the California Department of Justice to counter illegal Trump policies, a measure included in Senate Democrats’ Special Session Budget Plan and proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Under SB X1-1, legal aid organizations would also receive $25 million to defend individual Californians in a variety of legal matters, including deportation cases.  
 
The Civil Prosecutors Coalition is made up of many of the largest city attorney and county counsel offices in California, representing over 40 percent of California’s population and millions of residents throughout those jurisdictions. These offices employ thousands of the state’s top lawyers and legal professionals, and have the statutory authority to prosecute civil cases on behalf of the People of the State of California. Members include the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, Oakland City Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Jose City Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, San Diego County Counsel’s Office, and the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office.
 
The State Senate is expected to hold Special Session Budget Committee hearings and consider SB X1-1 in January 2025.