Thursday evening update: SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced that he has signed the following bills:
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AB 1919 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) — Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District: transactions and use tax: qualified voter initiative.
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AB 1923 by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) — Local ballot measures: County of Fresno.
August 7, 2026 - SACRAMENTO, CA – The State Legislature on Thursday passed urgency legislation by Assemblywoman 
Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno), and State Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced). The bill ensures Fresno County residents have the opportunity to vote on the “Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act”, a successor to Fresno County’s Measure C, in the upcoming November 3, 2026 general election. AB 1923 is now on Governor Newsom’s desk awaiting his signature.
“This is a win for the democratic process, and it’s a win for voting rights,” Soria said. “If the Governor signs this bill, voters in Fresno County will have an opportunity to decide the future of Measure C, and the ‘Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act’ will appear on this year’s November ballot. This is the right thing to do, contrary to what the Fresno County Board of Supervisors chose to do.”
Senator Caballero is the principal co-author of AB 1923.
“This is a victory for the people of Fresno County, and for our democratic process, because it honors a simple principle: the voices of the people matter. I became involved because it was the right thing to do, and I believe public service means protecting the public’s right to be heard,” said Senator Anna M. Caballero.
11 out of 15 Fresno County Mayors support AB 1923, many of which traveled to Sacramento to express their support.
“For the Board of Supervisors, this measure was dead on arrival,” said Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez. “Politics should never be placed above the needs of our communities or the voices of the more than 30,000 residents who signed this petition. Our communities deserve leaders who listen, not leaders who look for ways to silence them.”
“Thank you Senator Caballero, and Assemblywoman Soria, and to our fellow mayors, community organizations, and everyone who has stood together to protect the voices of our residents. Now it's up to the people to decide,” said Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco.
Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria represents the 27th Assembly District, which includes communities in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.
Facebook: @Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria
Instagram: @asmesmeraldasoria
BlueSky: @esmeraldasoria.bsky.social
About Senator Anna M. Caballero
Senator Anna M. Caballero represents California’s 14th Senate District, which includes much of Merced,
Fresno, and Madera Counties. She is Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and a member of several other committees. Senator Caballero continues to work tirelessly on behalf of her district for policies that strengthen California’s agricultural industry, protects working families, supports affordable, accessible healthcare for all and fosters economic development across the state.
Source: Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria
