CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 23

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Castillo, Hadwick, Lackey, Macedo, Patterson, and Sanchez)
(Coauthor: Senator Dahle)

August 26, 2025

Relative to new state formation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AJR 23, as introduced, Gallagher. New state formation.
This measure would express the consent of the Legislature for specified counties to form a new state from within the current boundaries of the State of California, and would urge Congress to accept and embrace that consent.
Fiscal Committee: YES  
WHEREAS, California, the most populous state in the nation, has nearly six times the average population of the 50 states. However, this population is highly concentrated in certain urban and coastal areas, particularly in southern California; and
WHEREAS, As the nation’s third largest state by geography, California spans an area more than twice the size of the average state. Its diverse economy encompasses agriculture, energy, technology, and entertainment, making it one of the most economically complex regions in the country; and
WHEREAS, The socio-economic diversity and population distribution have contributed to difficulties in achieving equitable political representation. This has resulted in vast regions of the state being underserved by a government heavily influenced by elected representatives from a small, geographically and economically distinct part of the state; and
WHEREAS, Efforts to divide California are deeply rooted in its history, dating back more than a century. Notably, in 1859, voters overwhelmingly approved splitting the state into two. However, Congress did not act on this proposal due to the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, In the last decade, several counties in northern California, including Siskiyou, Modoc, Glenn, Sutter, Yuba, and Tehama, have expressed the desire to participate in, and voters from other counties have expressed their support for the formation of, a new state from within the current boundaries of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, Most recently in 2022, the County of San Bernardino passed a measure that expressed their support of having the elected representatives of the county “research and advocate for all methods (including secession from the state) for receiving an equitable share of state funding and resources”; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of northern California and inland regions have long been frustrated at being subjected to laws and regulations that they and their representatives have overwhelmingly opposed, but were nonetheless passed and authorized by the more populous coastal regions of California; and
WHEREAS, The right of a people to self-determination through the creation of a new state has long been a fundamental principle of American democracy and is consistent with the principles of federalism as outlined in the United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Dividing California into two smaller states would better serve the citizens by fostering governance that is more responsive and representative. The historical boundaries of existing counties, cities, and towns would be preserved in this process; and
WHEREAS, Creating two states would generate competition in governance, leading to more efficient, effective, and responsive state governments for all citizens; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California expresses its consent, as described in Section 3 of Article IV of the United States Constitution, for the County of Alpine, County of Amador, County of Butte, County of Calaveras, County of Colusa, County of Del Norte, County of El Dorado, County of Fresno, County of Glenn, County of Imperial, County of Inyo, County of Kern, County of Kings, County of Lassen. County of Madera, County of Mariposa, County of Merced, County of Modoc, County of Mono, County of Nevada, County of Placer, County of Plumas, County of Riverside, County of San Bernardino, County of San Joaquin, County of Shasta, County of Sierra, County of Siskiyou, County of Stanislaus, County of Sutter, County of Tehama, County of Trinity, County of Tulare, County of Tuolumne, County of Yuba, and any adjacent counties that vote to join the aforementioned counties, to form a new state from within the current boundaries of the State of California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California urges Congress to accept and embrace the consent provided by Legislature of the State of California for those counties to form a new state from within the current boundaries of the State of California; and be it further
Resolved, Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, the Governor, and the author for appropriate distribution.