California Signs Fusion Bills and Pledges $30M for Quantum and Deep‑Space Research

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a legislative package aimed at accelerating both fusion energy and quantum research in the state. The public announcement was made at a quantum laboratory at UC Berkeley and included a new $30 million state investment targeted at quantum and deep‑space research, public‑private partnerships, and a quantum start‑up ecosystem.

SB 925 (Sen. Jerry McNerney) directs the California Energy Commission to create a comprehensive strategic plan for fusion energy. The bill requires certification and environmental review frameworks intended to support commercialization and scaling of fusion technologies and related manufacturing.

AB 2647 (Asm. Lisa Calderon) requires a statewide technical assessment of advanced nuclear technologies. That assessment is framed as a way to understand the potential role of new nuclear power plants and advanced nuclear options in helping California achieve 100% zero‑carbon electricity by 2045 and to support critical infrastructure.

• Create a strategic plan for developing fusion energy in California.
• Expand opportunities for fusion research and development across public and private research hubs.
• Develop a commercial fusion strategy to connect R&D with market pathways.
• Advance fusion manufacturing capabilities within the state.
• Solicit public input and produce a comprehensive assessment of advanced nuclear technologies and their potential integration with state energy goals.

$30 million for quantum and deep‑space research

The announced $30 million allocation supplements California's earlier 2025 launch of Quantum California, a statewide initiative that brings together universities, national labs, private companies, investors, and policymakers. The new funding is described as targeted to research infrastructure, workforce programs, university research hubs, incubators, hardware supply chains, and the broader startup ecosystem tied to quantum and deep‑space technology.

Context and rationale quoted by lawmakers

Sen. McNerney framed SB 925 as groundwork to enable wider adoption of fusion energy and build an economic ecosystem comparable to existing high‑tech clusters. Assemblymember Calderon said AB 2647 would provide the information necessary to evaluate modern nuclear technologies against current grid reliability and affordability needs. Governor Newsom highlighted California's position in emerging technologies and tied the measures to workforce development and research capacity.

How this fits with prior state activity

The $30 million follows the 2025 Quantum California initiative. The state has been incrementally building funding, workforce programs, research infrastructure, and industry partnerships related to quantum technology. This action continues that pattern by directing explicit capital to hubs and by pairing energy policy work on fusion and advanced nuclear with investments in quantum-enabled science and industry.

• The scope and timeline of the AB 2647 technical assessment and how it frames "advanced" nuclear options in relation to the 2045 zero‑carbon target.
• Allocation details for the $30 million: which institutions, research hubs, and incubators receive funding and how public‑private partnerships are structured.

California has legislated a planning and assessment pathway for fusion and advanced nuclear technologies while allocating $30 million to expand quantum and deep‑space research support. The package links energy policy planning with targeted research investments and builds on the state's 2025 Quantum California initiative.