Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach>) will present two key pieces of legislation in Senate Committee hearings this week focused on government accountability and lowering energy costs for Californians.
Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM – Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee – Click HERE to watch the committee’s livestream.
The Fix 911 Act – Senate Bill 985:
This legislation would require Governor Newsom’s California Office of Emergency Services (OES) to submit quarterly reports to the California State Legislature on the progress of the state’s Next Generation 911 upgrade program. Since 2019, OES has spent nearly $500 million on the Next Gen 911 system, yet Californians have seen little progress toward a fully modernized emergency response system. Senator Strickland introduced the measure following a series of investigative reports by NBC Bay Area reporter Candice Nguyenand Sacramento Bee reporter William Melhado that exposed serious concerns about the project’s lack of transparency, oversight, and accountability.
Wednesday, March 18 at 9:00 AM – Senate Environmental Quality Committee – Click HERE to watch the committee’s livestream.
The Gas Tax Relief Act – Senate Bill 1035:
This measure would reduce California’s gas tax by $1.08 per gallon and provide a short-term solution to the increasing gas prices that drivers are facing. USC Marshall School of Business professor Michael Mische will join Senator Strickland in the committee to testify in support of the legislation. Professor Mische has been warning for the past year that two California oil refineries scheduled to close in 2026 could reduce the state’s fuel production capacity by roughly 20%, putting additional upward pressure on gas prices.
Media outlets interested in interviewing Senator Strickland or Professor Mische should contact Communications Director Jacqui Nguyen at Jacqui.Nguyen@sen.ca.gov or text (858) 999-7706.