California Senate advances AB 1923 to put Better Roads tax on November ballot

The California Legislature is moving forward with Assembly Bill 1923, a measure that would require Fresno County to place a replacement for the expiring Measure C half‑cent sales tax on the November ballot. The bill, championed by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and State Senator Anna Caballero, passed the Senate Elections Committee on a 4‑1 vote and is now headed to the full Senate and Governor Gavin Newsom for final approval.

Supporters argue the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative is needed to fund transportation projects across Fresno County before the current tax expires in June 2025. Opponents, including several Fresno County supervisors, contend the legislation bypasses local control and may be challenged in court, potentially delaying the ballot measure. The county had previously ordered a study that would have postponed the initiative until 2028, a step the bill’s sponsors describe as a “bad‑faith maneuver.”