Prop 36 funds rejected in party-line state Senate vote

Democrat state Senators on Thursday voted down a proposal to set aside $400 million in the state budget to implement Proposition 36.

Republican members sought to add language to a budget trailer bill on the Senate floor. AB 100 contains numerous updates to spending called for in prior budget years designed to help balance the 2025-26 state budget. The proposal went down in a 28-9 party line vote.

In a floor speech, Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, urged his colleagues to vote for the "very friendly amendments."

"Prop. 36 was voted in overwhelmingly by the people of California," Strickland said. "Over 70% of Californians voted in the affirmative for Prop. 36. Almost every one of your districts voted in the affirmative for Prop. 36."

For months, Republicans have been calling for Democrats to set aside money for the initiative that aimed at making it easier to charge defendants for felonies for multiple thefts and some drug crimes. The Legislative Analyst's Office has projected it could have significant but as-yet unknown costs due to higher incarceration rates. It also allows wide prosecutorial discretion, meaning that some counties might contribute disproportionately to the prison population.

But Proposition 36 was passed without a built-in funding mechanism--and several Democrats have gone on record saying they are under no obligation to provide additional money.

Responding to Strickland, Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, said her caucus is working on funding Proposition 36 through a combination of state and local sources.

"The Senate is committed to funding Prop. 36," Gonzalez said. "That's why we've convened local leaders from across the state in meetings, and through our public safety and budget oversight committee hearings are working to develop first year funding allocations from both state and local governments."