Gavin Newsom after he signed legislation forcing local officials to put a controversial road tax before voters. The governor signed AB 1923 on Thursday, requiring Fresno County to place the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative on the November ballot. Gavin Newsom signed legislation forcing local officials to put a road tax before voters in Fresno County. AB 1923 originally dealt with California’s Distressed Hospital Loan Program before lawmakers stripped that language and replaced it with the Fresno County election mandate. The proposed tax will now head toward the November ballot — unless Fresno County gets a judge to stop Sacramento’s latest intervention first.