Newsom Signs Bill Placing Fresno Transportation Tax on Ballot

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1923 on August 6, 2026, ensuring the Better Roads, Safe Streets Initiative will appear on the November ballot in Fresno County. The legislation, introduced by State Senator Anna Caballero and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, overrides a previous decision by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to pause the citizen-led replacement tax for Measure C.

Supporters of the bill argue the move protects local control and democratic rights. Following the governor's signature, the Fresno City Council announced it would withdraw its own separate Measure C replacement proposal to avoid redundancy.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors condemned the state's intervention as an attack on local government. Supervisor Garry Bredefeld defended the board's initial pause of the initiative as a constitutional responsibility and called for immediate litigation to challenge the state's action.