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SACRAMENTO – Senator Steven Choi, Ph.D. (R-Irvine) has announced that Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 971, legislation sponsored by the California Senior Legislature to strengthen community-based programs supporting healthy aging, independence, and social engagement. SB 971 establishes the Healthy Aging Community Partnerships Program, providing a voluntary framework for local entities and community organizations to collaborate on programs that help older Californians remain active and independent. “California’s seniors deserve the opportunity to remain active, informed, and engaged in the communities they helped build,” said Senator Choi. “SB 971 gives those communities another tool to bring together existing resources and partnerships to better serve older adults. I am grateful to the California Senior Legislature and everyone who worked with us to get this legislation across the finish line.” The new law encourages locally driven partnerships that can provide technology assistance, social engagement activities, health and wellness resources, caregiver support, fraud prevention, nutrition programs, and other services that promote healthy aging and aging in place. “SB 971 began with a simple goal: give communities greater flexibility to help older Californians stay healthy, connected, and independent,” said Steve Lipson, Senior Senator with the California Senior Legislature. “Seeing this proposal become law is a tremendous accomplishment for California’s seniors. We thank Senator Choi for listening to older Californians and working with us to turn this idea into law.” SB 971 is structured as a permissive, locally administered program, allowing communities to participate based on available resources and existing partnerships.
The Governor signed SB 971 on September 27, 2026. |