California to Vote on $7.5 Billion Scientific Research Fund

California voters will soon decide on the creation of a $7.5-billion state scientific research fund. This initiative, akin to the National Institutes of Health, was prompted by Gov. Gavin Newsom signing a bill to place the proposal on the March 2028 ballot.

The fund seeks to mitigate the impact of federal research cuts by the Trump administration. It aims to support state and private institutions like the University of California and California State University in advancing scientific innovations.

If approved, the $7.5 billion in bonds will finance research related to diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s, and ALS. Additional areas of focus will include wildfire risk reduction and initiatives to combat pandemics and climate change.

This is a research and science bond that does the opposite of what Donald Trump is doing. It will allow us to double down on what makes this state great…

California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed these thoughts during the bill signing at the Golden Gate Bridge. He highlighted the importance of investing in the future to bolster the state’s economy.

The legislation for the bond measure, known as state Senate Bill 895, was spearheaded by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Wiener described it as a “bold step to protect science, improve lives, and maintain California’s global leadership in innovation.”

Key supporters included the Union of American Physicians, the University of California, and the United Auto Workers Local 4811, representing about 60,000 UC academic workers.

The current proposal is a scaled-back version of an initial larger bond measure. Initially, a $23 billion bond was proposed, but it was reduced to $12 billion due to legislative timelines and eventually agreed upon at $7.5 billion for the 2028 ballot.

The proposed state fund will establish regulations to recuperate part of its investments without hindering innovation.

“This is a major achievement, made possible by an extraordinary coalition of people who understand the importance of investing in scientific research,” expressed UC President James B. Milliken.