Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) announced that Senate Bill 926 has passed the Senate Public Safety Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. SB 926 would establish a framework to distribute funding for Proposition 36, directing resources toward behavioral health and community-based intervention programs. Nearly 70% of voters across all 58 counties approved of the anti-crime measure, and this bill would deliver on that mandate.
“My bill makes funding Proposition 36 a top priority after Californians spoke clearly in 2024 by overwhelmingly passing this measure,” said Senator Strickland. “Now Sacramento must follow through. Counties are on the front lines of implementing this law, using a new treatment-mandated felony to steer repeat drug offenders into programs while holding them accountable, but they can’t do it without proper funding. We owe it to voters to get this done.”
SB 926 is part of a coordinated effort to secure funding for Proposition 36. Senator Strickland has also submitted a letter to the Senate Budget Committee requesting $400 million through the state budget process. Click HERE to read Senator Strickland’s letter.
Even the Democratic Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee addressed the lack of funding of Proposition 36 during the bill’s presentation and agreed that the Legislature needs to ensure its success.
“Proposition 36 is the law of California, and the voters of California spoke overwhelmingly in support of passing this act. So now, it’s our responsibility as the Legislature and the governor to fund the implementation of this measure, to honor the will of the voters, and to make sure it’s working right. Because right now, it’s not working right because this is woefully underfunded. And, so this will ultimately be addressed through the budget process,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland), Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
“I am grateful for the chair of Senate Public Safety and my colleagues for understanding the importance of ensuring funding for this law. I am ready to roll up my sleeves to continue to work with my Democratic colleagues in both chambers to ensure the bill’s passage and on to the governor’s desk for his signature,” concluded Senator Strickland.
All of the California Senate Republican Caucus have joined as coauthors in support of SB 926.
Background on Proposition 36 (2024):
In the November 2024 General Election, Proposition 36 was approved by more than 68 percent of voters statewide and earned majority support in all 58 counties. The measure strengthened penalties for certain theft and drug crimes. Most significantly, it created a new treatment-mandated felony designed to steer repeat drug offenders into treatment programs while holding them accountable.