SB 1020: State of emergency: Governor’s powers and annual report.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act (CESA), among other things, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected by, or likely to be affected by, conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state if specified local officials request the proclamation or the Governor determines that local authority is inadequate to cope with the emergency. During a state of emergency, existing law confers on the Governor, to the extent the Governor deems necessary, complete authority over all agencies of the state government and the right to exercise within the area designated all police power vested in the state by the Constitution and laws of the state to effectuate the purposes of the CESA. Existing law requires the Governor, in the exercise of that authority, to promulgate, issue, and enforce orders and regulations as the Governor deems necessary.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature, in enacting the CESA, to provide flexibility for the administration to respond to emergencies, but not an alternative legislative, budget, or regulatory process. The bill would further state that, to the greatest extent possible, additional spending should be undertaken through the Legislature’s budget and policy process, as defined, and changes to law or regulation should be undertaken through state legislation.

This bill would further require the Governor, in cases where the Governor orders the suspension or modification of existing statutes or regulations, including the state Budget Act, or promulgates new statutes or regulations, to demonstrate in each order the need for those suspensions, modifications, or promulgations and specify the general reasons why the Legislature’s budget and policy processes are insufficient to address these needs.

The bill would require the Office of Emergency Services, on or before July 1, 2027, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, to prepare and submit a prescribed annual report to the Legislature and the Legislative Analyst’s Office consisting of a review of all open state of emergency proclamations.

Existing law establishes the Disaster Response-Emergency Operations Account in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties. Moneys in the account are continuously appropriated, subject to specified limitations, for allocation by the Director of Finance to state agencies for disaster response operation costs incurred by state agencies as a result of a state of emergency proclamation by the Governor. Existing law requires funds to be allocated from the account subject to certain conditions and upon notification by the Director of Finance to the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the chairpersons of the fiscal committees in each house.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature in enacting existing law to provide flexibility for the administration in response to unanticipated emergency expenses. The bill would further state that existing law does not provide an alternative budget process, and proposals for additional spending ordinarily should be considered in the annual state budget or other state legislation to the greatest extent possible, as specified. The bill would require notification by the Director of Finance to include certain information, including a description of the entities that will receive funding allocations from the account.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 14, 2026May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. May 12, 2026Set for hearing May 14.
3. May 11, 2026May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
4. May 4, 2026Set for hearing May 11.
5. April 27, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. April 23, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3972.) (April 21).
7. April 14, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
8. April 10, 2026Set for hearing April 21.
9. March 20, 2026March 24 hearing postponed by committee.
10. March 16, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
11. March 4, 2026Set for hearing March 24.
12. February 18, 2026Referred to Com. on E.M.