California lawmakers advanced SB 895, a bill to create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research with $12 billion in state-issued bonds to fund research grants and awards at California universities and institutions. The proposal would prioritize work that replaces federal funding cutbacks. SB 895 passed the state Senate by a 29–9 vote and would require House passage, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, and voter approval at the next statewide general election. The bill sets a competitive, peer-review distribution process and creates a council that includes appointees from the state’s two public higher education systems. The advance comes as the Trump administration’s actions continue to disrupt the federal research environment. The legislative move positions California as a backstop for research areas targeted by federal cut policy, including climate change, public health, and HIV and AIDS. For universities, the development matters because it adds a potentially scalable, state-level funding lane that could stabilize grant-funded research timelines while institutions navigate uncertainty from federal reallocations and compliance scrutiny.