Senator Strickland introduced SB 885, his first bill for 2026. For a high-resolution photo, please contact Jacqui.Nguyen@sen.ca.gov.
Senator Tony Strickland (R–Huntington Beach) has introduced Senate Bill 885, titled the Restoring Accountability Act. The measure is designed to restore accountability, transparency, and oversight to California’s regulatory process by returning final authority over major regulations to the California State Legislature.
“Californians deserve to know who is responsible when major regulations raise costs, eliminate jobs, or disrupt entire industries,” said Senator Strickland. “For too long, unaccountable boards and commissions have held too much power, allowing elected officials to dodge making tough votes, while imposing sweeping regulations with massive economic consequences for working families.”
Senator Strickland’s legislation stems from an admission by the former chair of the California Air Resources Board, who told lawmakers during an energy oversight hearing in May 2025 that ‘CARB does not analyze how the clean air rules it sets could impact costs for people across the state.’
“As an elected official, I answer directly to the people, but that’s not the case for these political appointees. My legislation puts accountability back where it belongs: with the legislators who are elected by, and answer to, the people of California.”
Under current law, state regulators such as the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission are granted broad authority to adopt regulations to implement legislative policy. SB 885 would change that law with two simple, key reforms:
First, the bill would stop state agencies and unelected boards from independently adopting major regulations that cost $50 million or more. Instead, after completing the existing regulatory process, agencies would send their proposals to the Legislature.
Second, lawmakers would vote to approve, change, or reject those proposals, just like any other bill, ensuring public debate and accountability.
“SB 885 doesn’t stop regulation. It stops unaccountable regulation. When a rule costs Californians tens of millions of dollars, elected lawmakers should be the ones accountable for making that call,” added Senator Strickland.
SB 885 would not weaken consumer or environmental protections. Instead, it would strengthen public trust by ensuring that decisions with multi-million-dollar consequences are made by officials who are held responsible by the voters.
The bill preserves flexibility for urgent circumstances by allowing the state regulators to adopt emergency regulations for up to 180 days, with the option to re-adopt them up to an additional 180 days, provided the proposal is submitted to the Legislature during that period.