Legislator: NextGen 911 bill to be part of California's budget

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(The Center Square) – A bill to enact more legislative oversight of California’s NextGen 911 system will be implemented as part of the state’s budget this year, according to one lawmaker.

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Stockton, announced that provisions of Assembly Bill 1805, which she authored, will be implemented as part of the budget instead of being considered as separate legislation.

The Legislature approved the state's $350 billion budget in June, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it. But lawmakers can still make revisions. AB 1805's oversight and accountability measures will be added as line items in the state’s budget and would take effect immediately once the Democratic governor signed those items, according to Ransom. Newsom hasn't said whether he would sign them.

“Californians have waited more than a decade and invested hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in the promise of a modernized 911 system, yet after that time and money was spent, we still do not have a reliable network,” Ransom told The Center Square. “This budget finally demands the transparency and accountability needed to break that wasteful cycle and move this project into the next generation of 911 services. We are bringing greater accountability to this project and establishing a responsible path forward that protects Californians for years to come.”

The provisions of Ransom's bill that would be included in the budget are requirements that the California Office of Emergency Services, which oversees the rollout of the NextGen 911 system, to submit quarterly reports detailing progress to the Legislature and other state agencies, including funding totals and how much has been spent each year. The bill also requires the State Auditor's Office to audit the NextGen 911 system and report its findings to the Legislature, according to a legislative analysis.

According to previous reporting by The Center Square, the California Office of Emergency Services started pushing for a transition to a Next Generation 911 system in 2015. That NextGen 911 system was meant to replace the traditional copper landline-based 911 calling system, and would include an internet-based system that allows for sending and receiving of texts, photos, video and enhanced location data, a February 2026 report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office shows.

That report also states California’s taxpayers spent more than $456 million to date on implementing the NextGen 911 project, well over the projected $132 million the Office of Emergency Services initially expected to spend in 2018-19. The NextGen system was supposed to go live in 2022 and has still not launched. The Legislative Analyst’s Office report found that the Office of Emergency Service plans for it to be launched in 2030.

Law enforcement agencies across the state have been apprehensive about commenting on the bill, telling The Center Square they don’t comment on pending legislation. However, the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office told The Center Square via email late Monday that the office is closely monitoring the bill.

“A modern, reliable 911 system is critical to public safety, and any efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and the successful implementation of Next Generation 911 are important for first responders and the communities we serve,” Tara Moriarty, director of communications for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, wrote to The Center Square via email. “Because the bill is still moving through the legislative process, it would be premature to speculate on its ultimate impact. If enacted, we would work with our local and state public safety partners to understand any operational changes and ensure a smooth implementation while continuing to provide the highest level of service to the public.”

Other bills advancing accountability measures over the NextGen 911 system include Senate Bill 985, authored by Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach. That bill requires quarterly reports to be submitted to the Legislature outlining the progress of the NextGen 911 rollout. Strickland’s bill is set to be heard on the consent calendar in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, according to the state’s bill tracker.