SB-985 • 2026

911 emergency system.

Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Strickland (S) , Seyarto
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the content of the quarterly reports beyond mentioning development, implementation, and spending on the Next Generation 911 system.

Next Generation 911 Emergency System

The bill requires quarterly reports on the development and implementation of a Next Generation 911 emergency communication system in California, including unspecified limits on fees charged for using the service.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Office of Emergency Services to provide quarterly reports to the Legislature about the progress of setting up a Next Generation 911 emergency communication system, including text-to-911 services across California.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use phones or internet-based calling services in California
The Office of Emergency Services

Terms To Know

Next Generation 911 system: A new emergency communication system that allows people to send text messages and other types of data to 911.
Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act: A law that lets the government charge a fee on phone bills to help pay for emergency services like 911.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify an exact limit for monthly fees charged for using the 911 service.
It is unclear how much money will be collected and spent each year on implementing this new system.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
April 27 hearing postponed by committee.
2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 27.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 14.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 3589.) (March 17).
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 17.
2026-02-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.M.
2026-02-09 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 8.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 985, as amended, Strickland.
911 emergency system.
Existing law requires the Office of Emergency Services to develop a plan and timeline of target dates for the testing, implementation, and operation of a Next Generation 911 emergency communication system, including text to 911 service, throughout California.
This bill would require the office to provide quarterly reports to the Legislature on the development, implementation, and spending on the Next Generation 911 system, as specified.
The Emergency Telephone Users Surcharge Act generally imposes a surcharge on amounts paid by every person in the state for intrastate telephone communication service and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service that provides access to the 911 and 988 emergency systems. Existing law requires the surcharge to be based on the Office of Emergency
Services’ estimate of the number of access lines to which the surcharge will be applied per month for a calendar year period that it estimates, pursuant to a specified formula, will produce sufficient revenue to fund the current fiscal year’s 911 and 988 costs. Existing law prohibits the 911 surcharge from exceeding $0.80 per month.
This bill would instead prohibit the charge from exceeding an unspecified amount per month.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF