Newsom signs bill placing $7.5B science bond on 2028 ballot
California voters will decide in March 2028 whether to approve a $7.5 billion bond measure to fund state scientific research. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 895 on September 30, 2026, placing the proposal on the ballot. The measure aims to counter federal research cuts and support institutions like the University of California and California State University. If approved, the funds would support medical research for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and ALS, as well as efforts to mitigate wildfire risks, pandemics, and climate change. The bill was authored by Senator Scott Wiener and sponsored by a coalition including the Union of American Physicians and the United Auto Workers Region 6.