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Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 897, legislation authored by Senator Steven Choi, Ph.D. (R-Irvine) that allows the City of Laguna Woods to put more than $42,000 in dormant abandoned vehicle funds toward Vehicle Code enforcement and improved public safety on local streets.
“SB 897 is a common-sense solution that allows taxpayer dollars to serve the public instead of sitting unused in an account,” said Senator Choi. “Laguna Woods has not had an abandoned vehicle requiring these funds in more than 17 years. This new law gives the city the flexibility to use the money for its related purpose of enforcing traffic laws and making local streets safer, without raising taxes or fees on residents.”
“For years, Laguna Woods has been required to carry forward funds that could no longer be used for their original purpose, resulting in an ongoing accounting burden without a public benefit,” said Christopher Macon, City Manager for the City of Laguna Woods, the bill’s sponsor. “With the Governor’s signature, the city will finally be able to direct these dormant funds toward enforcing traffic laws, improving roadway safety and delivering a meaningful benefit to our residents. We thank Senator Choi for carrying this commonsense legislation.”
SB 897 received unanimous, bipartisan approval throughout the legislative process, passing the Senate 37-0 and the Assembly 74-0. It was signed by the Governor on August 24 and chaptered as Chapter 126, Statutes of 2026, and will go into effect January 1, 2027.