(The Center Square) – Some bills that started out strong in 2026 ultimately petered out before crossing the finish line on Tuesday, the last day of California's legislative session.
From animal welfare to corporate tax breaks, here are the bills that didn’t pass.
Senate Bill 985
While this bill didn’t pass as its own piece of legislation, it was included in this year’s budget as a line item, according to previous reporting by The Center Square.
The bill aimed to require the California Office of Emergency Services to submit quarterly reports about the implementation and funding of the state’s beleaguered NextGen 911 system, which cost California taxpayers roughly $456 million and was plagued by dropped calls, routing problems and outages, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
“The legislative advancement of my Fix 911 Act, incorporated into the language of the budget bill, is a victory for California families,” Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach and author of the bill, told The Center Square on Wednesday. “No family should ever have to wonder whether a 911 call will be answered. Provisions from my legislation put that oversight in place and bring California one step closer to ensuring families can count on a reliable emergency response when they need it most.”
Assembly Bill 1382
The Ethics Over Aesthetics Act, while it did not pass, could make a comeback in the 2027 legislative year, Assemblymember Leticia Castillo, R-Corona, told The Center Square on Wednesday.
“This issue isn't going away, and neither am I,” Castillo told The Center Square via email on Wednesday. “The technology driving cosmetic genetic engineering of pets isn't slowing down, and California can't afford to let another year go by without closing this loophole. Animals shouldn't be bred and altered as novelty products while healthy dogs and cats sit in shelters waiting for homes. I'm committed to seeing this through until it becomes law."
The bill was introduced this year after concerns over genetic modification of animals for aesthetics, including novel new developments that could create glow-in-the-dark rabbits and even unicorns, according to previous reporting by The Center Square.
The bill stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Aug. 13, despite bipartisan support for the bill all year.
“AB 1382 never lost a vote on its merits — it simply never got one,” Castillo wrote in the email.
Assembly Bill 2108
This bill would have required prosecuting attorneys to consider those charged with certain theft-related offenses for a new diversion program, independently of any already-existing diversion program available to those facing theft charges.
According to an analysis of the bill, the charges that would be eligible for a new diversion program created under the bill include shoplifting, forgery, grand theft, petty theft, petty theft under $50, receiving stolen property and vandalism. Those facing such charges would be considered for diversion if the charge did not include violence.
“I was disheartened to see AB 2108 fail to get out of Senate Appropriations,” Sen. LaShae Sharp-Collins, D-La Mesa, told The Center Square via email on Wednesday. “The lies and misrepresentations from opponents of the bill muddied the policy discussion.”
Sharp-Collins added that the bill did not undermine Prop. 36, a tough-on-crime measure voters approved in 2024, and that it is identical to existing diversion for mental health and substance abuse.
“It was supported by the real victims of retail theft and the retail companies that lose when theft is rampant,” Sharp-Collins said. “I look forward to continuing the discussion to deliver on the real promise of Prop. 36, which is both accountability and options for treatment. Through partnerships with workforce programs and apprenticeships, AB 2108 would have delivered on both.”
Assembly Bill 1790
The legislation that would have ended California’s largest corporate tax break ultimately did not pass this year, stalling in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in May.
According to previous reporting by The Center Square, the bill aimed to end the Water’s Edge tax election, which allows corporations to pay taxes to the state based on revenues the company determines to have been generated in the “water’s edge” boundaries of California.
The author of that bill, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, wanted to end the tax break to generate $3 billion to $4 billion in revenue that could have helped pay for education, health care and other social services.
“The future is uncertain for millions of Californians who will lose health insurance coverage and access to critical resources,” Connolly told The Center Square on Wednesday via email. “My priority has always been to deliver a balanced budget that prioritizes our safety-net, which is why I introduced AB 1790. As I look to the next year, I will continue to fight against corporate interests and protect funding for essential services in any capacity.”
