SD 5 Bills Awaiting the Governor’s Signature

Dear neighbor,

Great news! This year was another very productive one in the California Senate. Thirteen of my bills won approval in the Legislature, including two that Gov. Gavin Newsom has already signed into law.

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

Below is a brief summary of the 11 bills that are now on the governor’s desk. For these bills to become law, the governor must sign them between now and Sept. 30.

You can express your support or opposition to any of the below bills by going to the governor's website and clicking the "Contact" tab at the top. On the contact page, under the tab, “Select an option,” choose “An Active Bill.” Then under “What specific bill?” select the bill you'd like to weigh in on, and you can communicate your views to the governor.

On the Governor’s Desk

• SB 327 Protecting Ratepayers
  SB 327 helps protect ratepayers from higher utility bills by strengthening oversight of investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and barring IOUs from using ratepayer funds to fight efforts to create municipal utilities.
• SB 813 Assessing AI Safety Risks 
  SB 813 establishes a framework for independent third-party assessments of the potential safety risks posed by AI systems. If enacted, it would be the first such AI safety law in the nation.
• SB 872 Protecting California's Water
  SB 872 safeguards California’s primary water source by establishing a state fund to protect both the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the State Water Project.  
• SB 881 Helping Farmers Fight Hunger
  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.
• SB 900 Political Ads Disclosure Act
  SB 900 updates California’s campaign disclosure rules to provide more transparency and clarity regarding who is paying for political advertisements.
• SB 925 Fusion Energy Roadmap
  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.
• SB 947 No Robo Bosses Act of 2026
  SB 947 requires human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to prevent AI from firing or disciplining workers on its own. SB 947 would also be the first such law in the nation if signed.
• SB 1168 Data Centers Pay Their Fair Share
  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.
• SB 1196 Accelerating ADU Utility Hookups
  SB 1196 directs the CPUC to establish clear timelines for processing utility hookup requests for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and other small energization projects and institute penalties for utilities that violate the new standards.
• SB 1240 Boosting California Nonprofits
  SB 1240 establishes the Office of Nonprofit Empowerment within the governor’s office – a one-stop shop to improve nonprofits’ access to essential resources and help them navigate the often-complicated processes of state government.
• SB 1406 Closing the Montana Tax Loophole
  SB 1406 bars tax scams in which California residents create phony shell companies to buy exotic luxury cars in Montana to avoid paying California sales taxes and vehicle license fees.  

I am also joint author of the following legislation on the governor’s desk:

• SB 420 No Tax Breaks for Detention Centers (with Sens. Padilla and Umberg)
  SB 420 clarifies California law to ensure that counties do not provide property tax breaks for privately run immigration detention centers.
• SB 886 California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act (with Sen. Padilla)
  SB 886 requires the CPUC to establish separate tariffs for data centers to help protect ratepayers from rate hikes.

Already Signed Into Law

• SB 1058 Local Meals for Kids
  Signed into law by Gov. Newsom on July 13, 2026, SB 1058 allows school districts to provide more high-quality, locally grown and culturally appropriate foods for students.
• 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.

I am also very pleased to report that the California Legislative Delta Caucus, of which I am co-chair, secured $158.2 million in state funds to protect the Delta and the State Water Project. This is the start of my effort to secure a safe and reliable water supply for California for the remainder of the 21st Century.

Of the $158.2 million, $90.2 million will go to safeguard the Delta and fortify its aging levees, and up to $68 million will be used to shore up the State Water Project’s California Aqueduct and canals, which are being undermined by the over-drafting of groundwater. 

The $158.2 million in budget allocations are linked to my legislation SB 872, which is on the above list of bills on the governor’s desk. The funding will come from Proposition 4, the $10 billion bond measure approved by California voters in 2024.

Also, I am proud to report that I and Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom secured $2 million in state funding for the planned School of Medicine at University of the Pacific in Stockton.

It is an honor serving you in the state Senate.