FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Newsom Rejects Flexible Plan for Reducing Prison Capacity, Favors Expanding the California Model Instead
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2178, a measure that would have required the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to gradually reduce excess prison capacity over the next five years.
The bill, authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-19th District) and supported by Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) alongside more than 100 other organizations, aimed to address the state’s prison budget crisis by aligning prison capacity with the declining incarcerated population.
AB 2178 would have mandated CDCR to reduce empty beds from 11,300 in 2025-26 to 2,500 by 2029-30, potentially saving the state billions of dollars. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature with a clear majority before being vetoed by the Governor.
“Everyday Californians who are struggling to pay rent, who don’t have enough food on the table, who don’t have options for transportation, would have benefitted from a strong plan to shift spending away from CDCR and into the life-affirming programs that are currently suffering under our budget deficit,” said CURB Executive Director Amber-Rose Howard.
“AB 2178 offered a smart budget solution to gradually cut unnecessary prison capacity. Our governor has skipped over an opportunity to curb wasteful prison spending by billions of dollars each year, thereby choosing not to protect the most vulnerable families. He is not building a ‘California for all’ but is instead prioritizing preserving prisons that continue to cost people their safety and lives,” Howard continued.
CURB has long warned that the so-called California Model could be used to justify maintaining excess prison capacity. The veto of AB 2178 appears to confirm these concerns. Dax Proctor, Statewide Coordinator at CURB, notes:
“By vetoing AB 2178, Newsom has rejected the leadership of the Legislature in reducing government waste.”
Proctor further explains:
“Newsom is claiming that need to maintain prison space to implement his California Model. However, AB 2178 (Ting) would have allowed CDCR flexibility to accommodate needs for more rehabilitative space while also reducing wasteful capacity. With this veto, the Governor misses an opportunity to check the scope and power of CDCR while prioritizing rehabilitation.”
The veto comes at a time when California faces significant budget challenges. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that closing five prisons could save the state more than $1 billion annually, with an additional $2 billion in capital costs over the next decade.
CURB organizer Tannah Oppliger emphasized the disconnect between the Governor’s stated goals and his actions:
“The Governor’s veto statement misses the point of AB 2178. This bill isn’t about limiting rehabilitation efforts. This bill is about cutting spending on empty prison beds, which are not offering rehabilitation to anyone. It is about freeing up millions of dollars for true prevention and rehabilitation. By vetoing the bill, Newsom missed the opportunity to achieve true reform.”
As California continues to grapple with its prison system and budget priorities, CURB and its coalition partners remain committed to advocating for responsible budget allocations that prioritize community well-being over wasteful incarceration spending.
Read CURB’s Public Statement on the AB 2178 veto here.
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