California Governor Gavin Newsom advances reparations study task force, avoiding direct payments.

Governor Gavin Newsom has advanced a legislative package aimed at addressing historical racial injustices, including measures to study reparations for Black Californians, while avoiding direct financial payouts. The proposal, introduced in 2025, focuses on establishing a task force to examine the impacts of slavery and systemic racism, with recommendations expected by 2027. Newsom’s approach reflects a cautious middle ground, balancing pressure from advocacy groups with political and fiscal constraints, as lawmakers debate the feasibility of broader reparative actions.