LA28 Actions by California Legislature in August and September 2026

by Jason Sisney*

The California Legislature began considering legislation to support the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28 or "the Games") during its 2015-16 Regular Session. Last year, my post, "The 2028 Games: California State Actions to Date," summarized legislation passed through 2025. In July this year, my post, "New California Law on LA28 'Games Route Network' Dedicated Lanes," summarized budget legislation passed in June on those lanes. 

The 2025-26 regular session of the Legislature ended its scheduled work on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in Sacramento. This post summarizes legislation actions related to LA28 that have been approved by the Legislature since June, as well as one June state budget action and a recent executive branch transit funding allocation not listed in my earlier posts.

California State Capitol, Sacramento, August 30, 2026.

 

Passed on September 1: $30 Million for Local Transit and Security.  A bill amending the June 2026 state budget act--Assembly Bill (AB) 113--appropriates up to $20 million from the General Fund to local transit agencies and up to $10 million to local governments for security needs, all related to future federally-designated National Special Security Events (NSSEs) in the state. NSSEs include the Games and some other major sports events. The funding is provided in Section 7.30 of the state budget act, which is in Section 247 of AB 113. State departments, in coordination with the Legislature, would determine how these funds are allocated in the coming years. The efforts by Los Angeles area transit agencies, as well as local public safety departments, to seek more federal funding is well documented, including at a recent event hosted by area congressional representatives. Section 247 of AB 113 states, "It is the intent of the Legislature to consider providing additional funds for the purposes of this section in upcoming fiscal years." The bill also includes a $500,000 allocation to the Marine Safety Division of the Long Beach Fire Department "to support the hiring, training, and preparedness of marine safety personnel and equipment needed for water rescue, emergency response, and public safety during NSSEs or other periods." Key  senators led on providing this funding, and assemblymembers from the Los Angeles area also voiced support for various local funding requests during the 2026 session. AB 113 includes many state budget provisions. It passed the State Senate on a 29-4 vote on September 1, and it passed the State Assembly on a 61-11 vote the same day. Governor Gavin Newsom must sign or veto the bill or veto individual items in it before mid-September.

Passed on August 31: Assisting LA28 Construction and Specific Events. A bill related to the end-of-session state budget package (known as a budget "trailer bill")--AB 191--would benefit the state budget by streamlining LA28 operations, reducing the chances of operational frictions that could ultimately increase possible city and state costs to pay for Games deficits. AB 191 includes several actions to streamline LA28 construction and conform state law to the requirements of the Games:

• Exempting judo, wrestling, boxing, and taekwondo at the Games from California State Athletic Commission supervision.
• Clarifying that the 2025 edition of the state building code would cover LA28's large array of temporary structures, authorizing local officials to approve installation of such structures for specified periods of time if certain requirements are met. 
• Creating a process, overseen by the State Fire Marshal and local fire officials, to consider requests from LA28 for alternate means of protection for fire and panic safety at its temporary venue builds.  
• Adjusting state gun and ammunition laws to allow shooting competitors at the Games, including athletes who are minors (with adult supervision), to use their firearms as needed.

AB 191 also makes technical changes to the state's film and television tax credit to ensure that credited productions previously planned at Warner Bros.' The Ranch soundstages in Burbank--recently designated as a site for LA28's International Broadcast Center operations--continue to benefit from the tax incentive. AB 191 passed the Senate on a 40-0 vote on August 31, and it passed the Assembly on a 78-1 vote the same day. Governor Newsom must sign or veto the bill by the end of September.

Passed on August 27: Supplementing Local Law Enforcement. As described in official bill analyses, AB 2411, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), requires the California Olympic and Paralympic Public Safety Command--created in AB 1754 of 2019 in the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)--"to create a temporary process allowing in-state and out-of-state law enforcement agencies, in coordination with federal security efforts, to supplement local security operations" during the Games. The bill also "will require a streamlined Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification process for out-of-state law enforcement agencies operating in California which will only apply during the 2028 Games and clarifies that such agencies must adhere to California state law." The bill was sponsored by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' office, which noted in support that it "will ensure that California standards and laws are upheld and that public safety personnel are fully staffed during the largest international sporting event in history." AB 2411 passed the State Senate on a 39-0 vote on August 26, and Senate amendments were concurred in by the State Assembly on a 74-0 vote on August 27. The bill awaits Governor Gavin Newsom's signature or veto by the end of September. 

Passed on August 20: Continuing Existing Tuition Benefit for Team USA Athletes. AB 2436, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) and others and supported by LA28, removes the 2032 expiration date for an existing provision of law that entitles a Team USA athlete who trains in an approved elite-level program in California to resident status for tuition and fees at the state's public community colleges and universities. This tuition and fee benefit was passed in AB 2747 of 2022. Under this year's bill, AB 2436, resident status would be provided indefinitely for athletes meeting the bill's requirements. While California leads the country in producing Team USA athletes, "the number of students who have benefit from this is limited" to date, according to official bill analyses. "During the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 academic years, there were 11, 13, and 11 students at the University of California, respectively, who paid in-state tuition and fee waivers as a result of this provision," and "during the 2025-26 academic year, three California State University students received this benefit." Other Team USA members attend the institutions based on their prior in-state residency. According to bill analyses, the benefit "serves as a critical incentive for elite athletes to train and study in California, reinforcing the state's position as a premier destination for Olympic and Paralympic development." AB 2436 passed the Assembly on a 78-0 vote on May 26 and passed the Senate on a 39-0 vote on August 20. The bill awaits Governor Newsom's signature or veto by the end of September. 

June Budget Action: $5 Million for LA28 Cultural and Arts Programs. This item was approved in June’s SB 111 as part of the 2026 state budget. $5 million was appropriated to the California Arts Council “to support LA28-related arts and cultural programming that showcases California artists and communities.” Such programming seems broadly consistent with the Games’ “Cultural Olympiad” effort.

Allocation of Previously Legislatively Appropriated Funds. A recent announcement by Governor Newsom announced an allocation of federal and state transportation funds totaling “$2.45 million to add infrastructure improvements, and safety upgrades to four transit stations in Los Angeles County in time” for the Games. These include “improvements to the 7th Street/Metro Center, Norwalk, Union Station, and Harbor Gateway stations include new wayfinding, lighting, security, passenger amenities and landscaping.”

(Updated Sept. 2, 2026 to reflect end-of-session legislative actions and the $2.45 million transit allocation.)

*Jason Sisney is a senior staffer of the California State Assembly who advises elected legislators on LA28 and California's state budget. He is a member of the International Society of Olympic Historians and author of  "California's Olympic Financial Failure: The 1960 Winter Games" (Journal of Olympic History, 2025).