Press Release

Senator Wiener, UC, UAW Announce $23 Billion Bond To Fund Scientific Research While Requiring Drug Discounts For Californians

SACRAMENTO – In the face of unprecedented federal cuts to scientific research, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced SB 895, bipartisan legislation to authorize a $23 billion bond for the November 2026 ballot to fund scientific research in California. SB 895 establishes the California Foundation for Science and Health Research to fund research grants, loans, and facilities for research into health, agriculture, pandemic threats, wildfire resilience, and more. The bill protects scientific advances that provide a lifeline for millions of Californians struggling with conditions that may soon be treatable, and the engine of California’s economy.

SB 895 includes groundbreaking requirements to make health care more affordable for Californians and ensure profitable discoveries reinvest some funds back in California. The measure does so in three main ways:

  • Makes pharmaceuticals developed through this research available to Californians at a discount;
  • Allows the state to recoup a portion of licensing and royalty fees from inventions and technologies produced as a result of bond-funded research; and
  • Allows California to publicly produce pharmaceuticals invented with bond-funded research via CalRx in order to sell them at cost to Californians and for profit to other states.

The bill is supported by Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and the University of California Office of the President, and sponsored by United Auto Workers Region 6 and Union of American Physicians and Dentists UAPD, unions representing tens of thousands of researchers across California. SB 895 is joint authored by Senators Pérez and Wahab and principal co-authored by Assemblymembers Solache, Jr., Gipson, Irwin, Muratsuchi, Patel Ph.D.

Thirty-one members of the Legislature are co-authoring it.

“Science has fueled California’s prosperity for decades. Now, it’s time to spread the benefits of that prosperity to all Californians, preserving our scientific leadership while lowering health care costs for families,” said Senator Wiener. “The advancements produced with this funding will not only blaze new paths for science — they will reinvest a share of their success in the future of California. With this legislation, we are showing the world how to invest in our future while making life more affordable for everyone.”

"Reductions in federal funding are already disrupting critical UC research that supports thousands of jobs, drives medical innovation, and leads to life-changing solutions that benefit everyone,” said UC President James B. Milliken. "The University is grateful for Sen. Wiener’s efforts to ensure that UC remains the greatest research university in the world.”

“This measure could help you or someone you love by continuing research in groundbreaking therapies for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and more,” said Mike Miller, UAW Director of Region 6. “It also makes health care more affordable for Californians by leveraging the innovations made in our state to lower costs here. On behalf of the 60,000 UAW members working on life-saving research in labs across California and the patients who benefit from their work, we urge every legislator to support this bill.”  

“More than ever, California needs to continue innovative and credible medical research,” said Stuart Bussey, MD JD, President of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD/AFSCME Local 206). “SB 895 provides a crucial foundation for funding such critical research. The Union of American Physicians and Dentists strongly supports this bill.”

Scientific research powers a massive share of California’s economy in industries ranging from biotech, agriculture, software, higher education, and more. The life sciences industry alone supports 1.15 million jobs and $395.7 billion in economic output.

The return on public investment in scientific research is tremendous: For every dollar invested in National Institutes of Health research there is a return of approximately $2.50 in economic activity. 

California contributes an astonishing share of the world’s scientific advancements, making the state an international leader in scientific progress. The University of California is the top research institution in the world for U.S. patent generation. The state accounts for 47% of U.S. biotechnology research and development spending, and generates 53% of the nation’s biotech revenues. Research at the University of California alone has made foundational contributions to the invention of:

  • the internet
  • the gene editing technology CRISPR
  • the first modern AI algorithms
  • Viagra
  • high-yield rice varieties that supply food to tens of millions of people
  • treatment that saves the lives of 90% of premature babies
  • treatments for 30 million Americans with genetic diseases

This progress is under threat. In 2025, the federal government froze or suspended $584 million in grants to UCLA and demanded $1 billion in fines—jeopardizing thousands of life-saving projects. Research areas at risk include cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, pandemic preparedness, climate science, and earthquake and wildfire safety.

SB 895 is coauthored by Senators Allen, Becker, Caballero, Cortese, Durazo, McNerney (PhD), Padilla, Reyes, Richardson, Stern, and Weber Pierson (MD), and Assemblymembers Addis, Ahrens, Bennet, Caloza, Connolly, Carillo, Garcia, Garcia, Mark Gonzalez, Haney, Harabedian, Hoover, Ortega, Petrie Norris, Celeste Rodriguez, Rubio, Stefani, Wallis, Ward, and Zbur.

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