SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KMJ) – A bill aimed at funding California’s voter‑approved Proposition 36 has passed a key Senate committee, marking an important step toward putting the law into action.
Senate Bill 926, authored by Senator Tony Strickland of Huntington Beach, passed the Senate Public Safety Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support.
The bill would create a framework for distributing funding to counties to help implement Proposition 36, which voters approved in November 2024.
Proposition 36 strengthened penalties for certain theft and drug crimes and created a new treatment‑mandated felony. The goal is to push repeat drug offenders into treatment programs, while still holding them accountable under the law.
Senator Strickland said voters made their wishes clear when nearly 70% of Californians across all 58 counties supported the measure.
He emphasized that counties are responsible for carrying out the law but cannot do so without reliable funding. Senator Strickland has also requested $400 million through the state budget to support Proposition 36.
Even Democratic leaders agreed funding is a major concern. Senate Public Safety Committee Chair Jesse Arreguín said the law is not working as intended right now because it is severely underfunded, and that lawmakers have a responsibility to honor the will of voters.
SB 926 now moves forward in the legislative process as lawmakers continue budget negotiations on how best to fund Proposition 36 statewide.
