California drivers could soon be footing the bill for increased security services for current and former state politicians, including term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is eyeing a White House bid.
State lawmakers on Tuesday, the final day of California’s legislative session, approved a budget tweak adding $20 million to the California Highway Patrol to pay for security for current and former state officials and their immediate family members.
That could include Newsom, whose term ends in January 2027, along with legislators, judges and other constitutional officers.
The $20 million would come from the Motor Vehicle Account to increase “authorization for security services” by the highway patrol, according to an analysis of a state budget bill. Drivers pay into that account with registration fees.
Another companion bill, also passed this week, touches on the already-existing authority of the highway patrol to provide security for current and former elected officials. That measure would expand that protection to include immediate family members.
The governor’s office told KCRA that the additional funding is needed, though it did not specifically address whether Newsom plans to take advantage of it after leaving office.
“We unfortunately live in a time when threats and political violence against public officials are very real and on the rise,” a Newsom spokesperson said.
“Protecting current and former officials facing credible threats as a result of their public service has long been a bipartisan notion, and these security decisions are based solely on threat assessments by law enforcement.”
The legislation calls on the highway patrol to assess threat levels to an official to determine how long security will be provided, and to re-assess every six months. Threat levels can’t be adjusted until a re-assessment under the bill.
Both measures await Newsom’s signature before becoming law.
However, the security funding has raised skepticism over whether it would make sense to continue paying for Newsom and his family’s security as he travels across the nation to key battleground or early-presidential election states, such as Michigan and South Carolina.
Another Californian and potential presidential contender, former Vice President Kamala Harris, attracted scrutiny for her state taxpayer-funded security while on a post-vice presidency book tour.
“It is in my opinion inappropriate, and it might even be unconstitutional,” state Sen. Roger Niello, a Republican on the senate’s budget committee, told KCRA.
Niello was referring to law that restricts how motor vehicle account revenues can be used.
“He has a sizable account for his campaign,” Niello added about the governor. “As opposed to the people paying their registration fees paying for that.”
California motorists already face some of the highest registration fees in the nation, averaging around $600, the fifth highest, according to one estimate.
Legislative consultants noted the motor vehicle account, while right now fiscally stable, can face insolvency starting 2028. Now is not the right time to pull $20 million from the fund, Niello said.
