Newsom tells counties to move faster in enacting new conservatorship law

Governor Gavin Newsom is urging county leaders to take advantage of new state law that makes it easier to place people with severe mental health issues or substance use disorders in conservatorships — a step he believes will help prevent people unable to care for themselves from winding up on the streets, in jail or dead.

County health departments must enact the new rules contained in Senate Bill 43 before a Jan. 1, 2026 deadline, but can opt to do so sooner. So far only San Francisco and...