“California Must Lead With Courage” — NAACP Urges Legislature to Pass Stalling Reparations Bills

August 25, 2025

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, California-Hawaii State Conference (CA/HI NAACP) is urging the California Legislature to pass two reparations bills authored by Senator Akilah Weber Pierson. The bills, SB 518 and SB 437, are currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee's "Suspense File" for further financial review. SB 518 proposes establishing an agency to implement state-level reparations for eligible descendants of enslaved individuals, while SB 437 authorizes California State University to use genealogical records to determine eligibility for reparations initiatives.

Who is affected

Descendants of enslaved individuals in California who would potentially be eligible for reparations
Black Californian communities identified as having carried "the weight of systemic harm with no redress"
California State University system, which would be tasked with research responsibilities
California taxpayers, as the bills would require significant state funding (approximately $11.3 million in FY 2025-26 and $18 million annually thereafter for SB 518)
California Department of Justice, which estimates needing about 85 new staff positions

What action is being taken

The NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference is actively advocating for the bills' passage through public statements and formal communications
The Assembly Appropriations Committee is reviewing the bills in the Suspense File process
Governor Newsom's administration has already allocated $12 million in the state budget to support reparations initiatives
Multiple community organizations are publicly supporting or opposing the bills through testimony at committee hearings

Why it matters

The bills represent an attempt to address historical injustices against Black Californians and provide redress for systemic harm
They would establish formal mechanisms for implementing reparations recommendations made by the California Reparations Task Force
The legislation could position California as a leader in reparations policy at the state level
Similar reparations bills failed to advance to a vote in the previous legislative session, making these current bills particularly significant
The measures would create a framework for identifying eligible recipients and administering reparations programs

What's next

The Assembly Appropriations Committee must decide whether to advance the bills from the Suspense File
If approved, SB 437 would require CSU to begin developing the verification process no later than the 2026-2027 academic year
CSU would be required to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature and Governor's office until all funding is spent
No explicit next steps stated in the article regarding SB 518's implementation timeline if passed

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint