An act to amend Sections 53115.1 and 53115.2 of, and to add Sections 53115.2.1, 53115.4, and 53115.5 to, the Government Code, relating to emergency services, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
AB 1805 revises California’s 911 governance structure and increases legislative and independent oversight of the state’s transition to Next Generation 911. The bill renames the State 911 Advisory Board, adds a Department of Technology representative to the board, makes the Chief of the Public Safety Communications Division a nonvoting board member rather than chair, and gives the Department of Technology oversight authority over specified policies, practices, standards, funding decisions, and transition planning for the California 911 Emergency Communications Office. It also authorizes the board to retain independent experts, with conflict-of-interest limits on recent OES or vendor employment.
The bill also imposes new reporting and accountability requirements on the Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). CalOES would have to submit quarterly reports to the Legislature on the development, implementation, funding, and challenges of the Next Generation 911 system, including progress, obstacles, proposed solutions, and responses to board recommendations. In addition, the bill bars CalOES from issuing an RFP or awarding a contract for the Next Generation 911 system until a State Auditor-ordered audit is completed and CalOES reports how it will implement the audit’s findings. The State Auditor would be required to examine the project’s implementation, vendor vetting, governance choices, cybersecurity and privacy protections, procurement status, and whether a statewide, regional, or hybrid model is most effective.
AB 1805 would amend the Government Code provisions governing the Warren-9-1-1-Emergency Assistance Act by restructuring the State 911 Advisory Board and expanding oversight of the California 911 Emergency Communications Office. It would create a formal oversight role for the Department of Technology, require more detailed and frequent reporting to the Legislature, and condition future Next Generation 911 contracting on completion of an audit and follow-up reporting. The bill also directs the State Auditor to evaluate the project’s governance, procurement, cost, redundancy, and implementation strategy, which could influence how California completes the transition from legacy 911 systems to Next Generation 911.
The bill appears to have generally favorable support among lawmakers concerned with accountability, technology oversight, and public safety readiness. It received a unanimous 7-0 do pass vote in committee on April 23, 2026, suggesting broad agreement on the need for closer scrutiny of the 911 modernization effort. The urgency clause indicates the author’s view that immediate action is needed to protect public health and safety, and the bill’s structure reflects a policy consensus that the project requires stronger oversight before major contracting decisions proceed.
The main points of contention are likely to center on governance authority, procurement timing, and the scope of state oversight. The bill shifts meaningful oversight power to the Department of Technology and gives the advisory board more independent authority, which may raise questions about whether CalOES should retain primary control over the 911 transition. Another likely issue is the contract moratorium: requiring an audit and legislative follow-up before any new RFP or award could delay implementation, even as the bill is framed as an urgency measure. The audit’s examination of the prior regional approach, vendor vetting, and the possibility of a statewide or hybrid model suggests underlying concern about whether the current implementation path has been effective, but no recorded committee opposition or transcript debate is available in the provided materials.