The governor’s office said Gov. signed Senate Bill 895 at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge; the bill would put a $7.5 billion science and health research bond before voters in March 2028 and create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research.
The office said the measure would fund biomedical science, public health, disease prevention, behavioral health and work on climate, wildfire prevention, extreme weather, ocean science, agriculture and water; research proposals would undergo scientific peer review and be judged on their merit and potential benefits to Californians, public health, the environment and natural resources.
The release says the measure includes $1 billion for related infrastructure projects at the University of California and the California State University and that the new foundation would support research through grants, loans and contracts; the governor’s office described the bond as an investment in the people and institutions that drive the state’s innovation economy.
The release places the signing in context; it says the bill was the last of 1,160 bills acted on during the 2025–26 regular legislative session and the 7,803rd bill Gov. Newsom has acted on since 2019.
Supporters quoted in the release framed the bond as a safeguard for research and jobs; Senator said, "With this investment, California is imagining a better future for millions of families," and UAW International President Shawn Fain said, "Enough!," characterizing the measure as putting power in voters' hands to protect science.
if approved in March 2028, the bond would direct state borrowing toward university infrastructure and competitively reviewed research grants and loans; taxpayers would ultimately repay the bond through state debt service if the measure passes.
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named 4 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
State
Scott Wiener
State Senator · Democrat
Named once in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
This report was written from the primary materials below. Links open at the original publisher.
Office of the Governor of CaliforniaSee something we should correct? Read our corrections policy.