On April 15, 2026, members of the Assembly Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging the immediate convening of a special legislative session to address growing concerns over fraud, waste, and lack of accountability across California’s state programs.
The request follows a recent announcement by Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding arrests tied to a major hospice fraud scheme—an incident lawmakers say highlights broader vulnerabilities within state systems. In their letter, Assembly Republicans emphasized the need for greater transparency and oversight, noting that programs such as Medi-Cal, homelessness spending, in-home supportive services, employment initiatives, and infrastructure investments have all faced scrutiny.
Citing estimates that California may have lost billions to fraud across major programs, the Caucus underscored the urgency of the issue, particularly amid the state’s budget challenges and ongoing affordability crisis. Lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive review to determine the full scope of improper payments, evaluate current oversight mechanisms, identify accountability gaps, and advance reforms to better safeguard taxpayer dollars.
A special session, they argue, would provide the Legislature with the necessary forum to bring departments forward, examine systemic weaknesses, and pursue meaningful solutions to prevent future abuse and recover lost public funds.
