2026 Legislative and Budget Packages

2026 Legislative and Budget Packages

I am proud to report that 2026 was an outstanding year for our Senate district in the state Capitol. Eleven of my bills were signed into law by the governor, including three landmark laws that are the first of their kind in the nation.

In addition, we achieved several major state budget wins totaling more than $150 million for the district, including historic funding secured by the Delta Caucus, of which I am co-chair, to help repair the Delta’s aging levees.

My 2026 legislative and budget packages were designed to help ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) is safe and beneficial; make California and our region more affordable; safeguard our water; accelerate our transition to clean energy; reform our campaign finance system; help local farmers and schools and reduce hunger; and make our tax system fairer.

Below is a summary of my bills that were signed into law this year followed by our budget accomplishments.

First-in-the-Nation Laws:

• SB 813 Assessing Artificial Intelligence Safety Risks 
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 9, 2016, SB 813 establishes a first-in-the-nation framework for independent third-party assessments of the potential safety risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. For more information, email Heather.Caden@sen.ca.gov and Aaron.Gilbert-O’Neil@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 947 No Robo Bosses Act of 2026
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Aug. 30, 2026, SB 947 requires human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to prevent AI from firing or disciplining workers on its own. For more information, email Heather.Caden@sen.ca.gov and Aaron.Gilbert-O’Neil@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 1350 Expanding Green Hydrogen
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on June 29, 2026 SB 1350 expands California's clean energy program by including the use of green hydrogen, a promising form of renewable energy, to generate electricity. For more information, email Lauren.Winn@sen.ca.gov

   

Also Signed:

• SB 327 Protecting Ratepayers
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 27, 2016, SB 327 protects ratepayers by strengthening oversight of investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and barring IOUs from using ratepayer funds to fight efforts to create municipal utilities. For more information, email Brett.Hailey@sen.ca.gov

• SB 881 Helping Farmers Fight Hunger
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 27, 2026, SB 881 enables farmers, growers, and food producers to continue to provide fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more to food-insecure families and receive tax credits for donating surplus food to food banks. For more information, email Lauren.Winn@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 900 Campaign Finance Disclosure Reform
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 27, 2026, SB 900 updates California’s campaign disclosure rules to provide more transparency and clarity regarding who is paying for political advertisements. For more information, email Brett.Hailey@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 925 California Fusion Energy Roadmap
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Aug. 29, 2026, SB 925 directs the California Energy Commission to develop a strategic plan to advance fusion energy, which has the potential to provide nearly limitless clean, safe, and reliable power. For more information, email Brett.Hailey@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 1058 Local Meals for Kids
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on July 13, 2026, SB 1058 updates California law to allow school districts to provide more high-quality, locally grown and culturally appropriate foods for students. For more information, email Aaron.Gilbert-O’Neil@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 1168 Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 21, 2026, SB 1168 directs the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to examine data centers’ use of excessive amounts of energy and ensure that Californians don’t face rate hikes as a result. For more information, email Brett.Hailey@sen.ca.gov.

   

• SB 1196 Accelerating ADU Utility Hookups
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 27, 2026, SB 1196 directs the CPUC to establish clear timelines for processing utility hookups requests for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and other small energization projects and institute penalties for utilities that violate the new standards. For more information, email Robert.Gammon@sen.ca.gov

   

• SB 1406 Closing the Montana Tax Loophole
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Aug. 30, 2026, SB 1406 cracks down on tax scams in which wealthy Californians create phony shell companies to buy luxury vehicles in Montana and other states to avoid paying California sales taxes and vehicle license fees. For more information, email Robert.Gammon@sen.ca.gov

In addition, the Legislature approved my Senate Joint Resolution 18, calling for the overturning of the infamous Supreme Court case “Citizens United,” which opened the floodgates to big money spending in politics.

I am also joint author of the following legislation this year:

• SB 420 No Tax Breaks for Detention Centers (with Sens. Padilla and Umberg)

  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Aug. 29, 2026, SB 420 clarifies California law to ensure that counties do not provide property tax breaks for immigration detention centers. For more information, email Robert.Gammon@sen.ca.gov

• SB 886 California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act (with Sen. Padilla)

  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Sept. 21, 2026, SB 886 requires the CPUC to establish separate tariffs for data centers. For more information, email Brett.Hailey@sen.ca.gov.

   

Budget Wins

• The Delta Caucus secured a total of $158.2 million to protect California’s water, including:
  • $90.2 million for the Delta’s aging levees
  • $68 million to shore up the California Water Project’s canals, which are being impacted by sinking land.
• $5 million to acquire Jersey Island in the Delta and repair its levees. This funding was a Delta Caucus priority in partnership with Sen. Christopher Cabaldon.
• $6 million to address the invasive golden mussel infestation in the Delta. This request was also a Delta Caucus priority in partnership with Asm. Rhodesia Ransom.
• $2 million for the planned University of Pacific Medical School. I secured this funding in partnership with Asm. Ransom.
• $2 million for the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.
• $1 million for Tracy Animal Shelter.
• $400,000 to East Bay Regional Parks District for livestock pond restoration.
• $85 million in statewide funding for Clean Cars for All, which will also fund Valley Clean Air Now. Valley CAN enables low-income families to trade in their old polluting vehicles for cleaner ones.
• $230 million in statewide transit funding, which will also support local transit funding for the San Joaquin County Council of Governments (SJCOG).
• $24.9 million in statewide funding for the Healthy Soils Program at the CA Department of Agriculture to support sustainable farming practices.