Maybe Gavin Newsom thinks it will help him against his impending recall? ----though the recall effort began right after he was elected so it will likely happen anyways.

One of the articles (that won't hit a paywall)

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-22/california-600-stimulus-checks-low-income-residents-grants-small-business-legislature-approves.

Funding UBI (universal basic income) at state level? Interesting concept although it seems as if there are businesses moving out of California because of high cost of living, environmental regs  + taxes.


Andrew Yang talked about Alaska in reference to a state currently adopting a form of UBI

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/andrew-yang-2638970046

"The Alaska Permanent Fund directs oil revenue into a fund that pays Alaskans a yearly dividend, usually between $1,000 and $2,000.
Andrew Yang points to this and other experiments to support the efficacy of a universal basic income.
However, Alaska's model leaves several important questions unanswered."