Fox News’ Jeff Paul reports on a new California program allowing free health care for illegal immigrants and more state laws taking effect in 2024.

Much of America’s future is made, tested and — more often than not in recent years — fails in California.

California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom just announced that California would begin providing health care coverage to an additional 764,000 illegal immigrants on top of the 1.1 million already in the Medi-Cal system, California’s version of Medicaid. More than one-third of California’s shrinking population of 39 million is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program.

California has been incrementally adding illegal immigrants to the Medi-Cal program since 2015. That was the year it made undocumented children eligible. Four years later, it added adults 50 and older.

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO BE DOMINATED BY AI REGULATIONS AND STATE'S STRUGGLING BUDGET

The latest expansion round adds those aged 26 to 49 at an estimated annual cost of $3.1 billion to California taxpayers — or about $4,058 a year in medical coverage subsidies from the state General Fund for those residing in California illegally in this age cohort.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to expand healthcare for illegal immigrants could leave citizens of other states paying the bill. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

The federal government only underwrites Medicaid expenses for those lawfully present........

© Fox News