May 30, 2025
RE: Opposition to Proposed Cuts to In-Home Supportive Services Overtime Funding
Dear Governor Newsom and Members,
We write to respectfully urge you to reconsider the proposed reduction in overtime hours for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers from 70 hours to 50 hours per month as outlined in your revised budget proposal. While we recognize the difficult fiscal decisions that must be made in times of economic uncertainty, this particular cut would have dire and life-threatening consequences for some of the most vulnerable Californians.
IHSS is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. For families caring for individuals with severe disabilities, this program provides essential, round-the-clock support that makes it possible to remain safely at home and out of institutional care. Reducing the number of hours that caregivers can be compensated for working overtime will directly impact the quality and consistency of care received by thousands of Californians who rely on these services to survive.
As a parent of a son with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia—who cannot use his arms or legs, cannot speak, and depends on a feeding tube—I know firsthand what’s at stake. These are not abstract policy decisions; they are decisions that determine whether families can keep their loved ones at home with dignity and safety.
The disability community has spoken clearly and urgently. Their voices must not be ignored. Preserving IHSS overtime funding is not merely a budgetary line item—it is a matter of public health, safety, and human decency.
We respectfully ask you to reconsider this proposed cut and instead prioritize the well-being of Californians who cannot advocate for themselves.
