Governor Gavin Newsom stood at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Sunday to sign legislation pumping $7 million in new state investment into Los Angeles' preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, putting his signature on three bills that touch everything from police staffing to college tuition to gun regulations. The signing took place at Exposition Park, home to the Coliseum itself, which is set to become the first venue in the world to host events across three separate Summer Olympic Games.
According to MyNewsLA.com, Newsom said the legislation allows California to keep “delivering for fans and athletes worldwide.” The Coliseum, built in 1923, previously hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, and its selection for 2028 marks the first time any stadium in Olympic history has been chosen for a third Games, according to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which notes the venue was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1984.
What the Three Bills Actually Do
The most security-focused of the three, Assembly Bill 2411, establishes the California Olympic and Paralympic Public Safety Command inside the state's Office of Emergency Services, according to GovBuddy. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, who chairs the Assembly Select Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, requires Cal OES to negotiate agreements with state, local and out-of-state law enforcement agencies for temporary deployments during the Games, per the seed reporting. It also sets up a temporary certification and training program through the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training so visiting officers from outside California can legally assist with security.
Assembly Bill 2436, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong and backed by the LA28 Organizing Committee, permanently removes a July 1, 2032 sunset date on in-state tuition eligibility for Team USA student-athletes training in California, according to Assemblymember Mike Fong's official site. That means the resident-tuition benefit for elite athletes training in the state will outlast the Games themselves rather than expiring years later.
Narrow Carve-Outs for Guns and Tents
The third bill, Assembly Bill 191, was enacted as part of the state's budget trailer package and introduces temporary statutory modifications tailored to Olympic logistics, as detailed by the Amendment tracking site. Among its provisions: exemptions for sanctioned target-shooting handguns from the state's assault weapon definitions, and extended duration allowances for temporary event tents. The bill implements what organizers describe as temporary statutory amendments needed to meet the Games' unique operational demands.
The $7 million signed off Sunday builds on a $96.5 million modernization plan already included in California's 2026-2027 fiscal year budget, plus a $1 million federal grant secured by Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove for Exposition Park, as Hoodline previously reported. Exposition Park is home to the Coliseum.
Federal Backing and Economic Stakes
Federal backing also figures into preparations. Hoodline's earlier coverage noted $1 billion in federal security allocations for the Games.
Reynold Hoover said the actions signed Sunday reflect “a shared ambition to create games that make Californians proud” and benefit the communities welcoming the world in 2028, according to the seed reporting. Hoover also called the 2028 Games “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase California's innovation and spirit on the world stage.”
An economic study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation's Institute for Applied Economics estimates the Games could generate between $20.5 billion and $40.6 billion in regional economic activity and support between 126,000 and 224,000 jobs, according to the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Those figures depend on visitor volume and infrastructure activity, per the same office.
Part of a Three-Year Sports Marathon
The Games cap an unprecedented three-year run of major international sports hosting for Greater Los Angeles. The region already hosted several 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, and Super Bowl LXI is set for SoFi Stadium on February 14, 2027, according to MyNewsLA.com's reporting on the bill signing.
The LA28 Summer Olympics are scheduled for 2028, followed by the Summer Paralympics — the first time Los Angeles has hosted the Paralympic Games, per Hoodline's Paralympics preview.
California's state investments include security coordination and venue modernization as the Games approach against the backdrop of the World Cup and Super Bowl.
