As costs and delays mount on the massive overhaul of California’s aging 911 system, a newly proposed bill in the state legislature takes aim at beefing up transparency and oversight around the stalled project.  The “Fix 911 Act,” proposed by State Senator Tony Strickland (R – Huntington Beach), comes after the senator said he watched reporting by NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit on California’s “Next Generation 911” endeavor, which uncovered concerns about cost overruns, project delays, and technological issues that dispatchers said threatened public safety in regions where the system first went online. Senator Strickland introducing SB 985 in February 2026. State leaders originally predicted the project could be completed by 2021. Yet more than four years past that promised finish line, and nearly $500 million already spent, the system appears far from complete. After placing implementation on hold for a year shortly following NBC Bay Area’s original reporting, state leaders within the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) recently announced plans to take the project in a completely new direction, although the final price tag remains a mystery and the agency doesn’t anticipate completing the new network until 2030. “Where did that $500 million go?” Strickland said. “You can’t just scrap it and go, ‘oops,’ and move on. We as legislators need to go after waste, fraud, and abuse, because every wasted dollar from the legislature and the governor is a dollar they’re not spending on a valuable program.” SB 985 would mandate that Cal OES file quarterly reports with the state legislature, keeping lawmakers apprised of Next Gen 911 spending, timelines, and progress. It also “opens the question” of whether it’s appropriate for the agency to fund the project through higher 911 phone fees. Cal OES told NBC Bay Area the phone fees are set by a formula. “This bill clearly brings back accountability,” Strickland said. “The legislature needs to hold the governor and the administration accountable when they waste dollars.” Where did that $500 million go? You can’t just scrap it and go, ‘oops,’ and move on.State Sen. Tony Strickland When contacted by NBC Bay Area, both Cal OES and the Governor’s Office said they typically don’t comment on pending legislation. In a November State 911 Advisory Board meeting, however, former Cal OES Chief Deputy Director Lisa Mangat, who recently retired from the agency, acknowledged a handful of issues with the project but stressed the state’s commitment to transparency. “Smart, thoughtful changes are necessary,” Mangat said. “We hope that you see we are committed to not only the success of the project, but open, transparent communication.” Click here to check out more than a year of reporting from NBC Bay Area on California’s troubled Next Gen 911 project. Candice Nguyen is the investigative reporter on this series. If you have a question or comment, email her at [email protected]. ...read more read less