Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed the bill authorizing the creation of a task force to study reparations for black citizens of California in 2020, but as the task force prepares to send out its final report, he has not been clear on if he plans to support the proposals.

The fate of the various proposals by the task force, including payments of up to $1.4 million to black Californians, will be decided by the state legislature and Newsom. Here is what Newsom has publicly said about the task force and its proposals since its creation nearly three years ago.

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When Newsom signed the bill authorizing the creation of the task force, alongside other bills the governor said were aimed at combating racism, he called it one of the "important steps in the right direction" to build "a more inclusive and equitable future for all."

“As a nation, we can only truly thrive when every one of us has the opportunity to thrive. Our painful history of slavery has evolved into structural racism and bias built into and permeating throughout our democratic and economic institutions,” Newsom said in a statement upon signing the bill in September 2020.

“California’s rich diversity is our greatest asset, and we won’t turn away from this moment to make right the discrimination and disadvantages that Black Californians and people of color still face. While there is still so much work to do to unravel this legacy, these pieces of legislation are important steps in the right direction to building a more inclusive and equitable future for all,” he continued.

Newsom then addressed the task force as a "commitment as a state to build a California for all" when appointing members to it in May 2021.

“California is leading the nation, in a bipartisan way, on the issue of reparations and racial justice, which is a discussion that is long overdue and deserves our utmost attention. Last year, I signed into law a number of key bills focused on leveling the playing field in our society and ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at achieving the California dream," Newsom said.

After Newsom appointed the task force, he seldom discussed the proposals or work they were doing, instead opting to wait until the proposals had been made. After the task force approved its proposal, including the payments of up to $1.4 million per person, Newsom issued a statement commending their work.

"Dealing with the legacy of slavery is about much more than cash payments. Many of the recommendations put forward by the Task Force are critical action items we’ve already been hard at work addressing: breaking down barriers to vote, bolstering resources to address hate, enacting sweeping law enforcement and justice reforms to build trust and safety, strengthening economic mobility — all while investing billions to root out disparities and improve equity in housing, education, healthcare, and beyond. This work must continue,” Newsom said in a statement.

His statement continued, "Following the Task Force's submission of its final report this summer, I look forward to a continued partnership with the legislature to advance systemic changes that ensure an inclusive and equitable future for all Californians."

After headlines about Newsom's statement pointed out that the governor appeared to be lukewarm on the idea of approving the reparations payments by suggesting that the task force's work is "about much more than cash payments," the governor's office clarified to the Washington Examiner at the time those suggestions were "sensationalized framing" and "inaccurate."

"The Governor looks forward to reviewing the final report — and all recommendations — when complete," a spokesperson for the governor told the Washington Examiner at the time.

Nearly a month later, when asked about the reparations proposal by the task force, and specifically the payment plan, on Fox News's Hannity, Newsom reiterated that reparations are about more than just money.

"Ronald Reagan did reparations for the Japanese. It’s beyond — doesn’t have to be in the frame of writing a check," Newsom said. "Reparations come in many different forms, but one cannot deny these historical facts, and I really strongly believe people have to come to grips."

When asked by host Sean Hannity if he "understood" that those footing the bill for the reparations payments would be people who had no direct connection to slavery, the California governor said he understood that was the case if the payments were to be approved.

"Deeply understand that. I deeply understand. Do the math on the $1.4 [million]," Newsom said. "You had a group the last two years that is making a series of recommendations. That is one of many recommendations. You guys ran with that — over and over and over again."

When pressed again by Hannity if he would support the up to $1.4 million reparation payments, he referred to his earlier statement and continued to insist that the recommendations from the task force are about "more than just money."

"I put out a statement saying reparations is more than just about money," Newsom said. "That implies a deeper rationalization of what is achievable, what is reasonable, and what is right, and that is the balance that we will try to advance."

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The final task force meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. PDT in Sacramento, California, to approve its final report and recommendations to be sent to the state legislature.

It is unknown if the state legislature will have the votes to pass the recommendations by the task force, including the controversial reparations payment proposal, meaning Newsom may not even have a say in whether the proposals go forward.