CA State Lawmakers: Pass SCR 193 (Emperor Norton Tunnel) for Bay Bridge's 90th in 2026
The Issue
UPDATE — August 2026
On 3 August 2026, California State Senator Scott Wiener took up The Emperor Norton Trust's original proposal that the California state legislature designate the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge tunnel through Yerba Buena Island, S.F., as the "Emperor Norton Tunnel" and advanced this proposal as Senate Concurrent Resolution 193. The measure is co-authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. The Emperor Norton Trust is the citizen sponsor.
FIRST VOTE — Senate Transportation Committee (August 11) — PASSED 13–0
SECOND VOTE — Senate floor (August 20) — PASSED 39–0
SCR 193 was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee on August 24.
Had the measure arrived to the Committee earlier in the legislative session, it would have been expected to receive a hearing and third vote here — BUT…
What currently is being pursued is an expedited protocol, available under Assembly rules, to withdraw SCR 193 from Assembly Transportation and bring the measure directly to the Assembly floor for a final vote by the close of the legislative session on Monday August 31.
To learn more — and for resources you can use to email your Assemblymember urging their support — see our SCR 193 Action Guide.
Thank you!
John Lumea
The Emperor Norton Trust
:: :: ::
6 September 2025
For 10 years after its launch on 1 August 2013, this petition of The Emperor Norton Trust called on the California state legislature simply to add "Emperor Norton Bridge" as an honorary name for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge system.
This petition closed with 6,700 signatures a few days after its 10th anniversary — on 7 August 2023.
But...
In September 2025, the Trust reopened the petition in an effort to build support for our new proposal.
The tunnel through Yerba Buena Island that connects the eastern and western sections of the Bay Bridge opened as part of the bridge in 1936.
Although the tunnel is known as “Yerba Buena Tunnel,” it never has been officially named and has no dedicated signage.
The Emperor Norton Trust is calling on the state legislature to name this tunnel Emperor Norton Tunnel in 2026: the 90th anniversary of the bridge and the 180th anniversary of Joshua Norton's first arrival in the United States in 1846.
To learn more, click the Proposal button at:
By all means, sign this petition if you wish to show support for the Emperor Norton Tunnel naming — but please sign ONLY if you've not previously signed (2013–2023).
Thank you!
John Lumea
The Emperor Norton Trust
7,047
The Issue
UPDATE — August 2026
On 3 August 2026, California State Senator Scott Wiener took up The Emperor Norton Trust's original proposal that the California state legislature designate the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge tunnel through Yerba Buena Island, S.F., as the "Emperor Norton Tunnel" and advanced this proposal as Senate Concurrent Resolution 193. The measure is co-authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. The Emperor Norton Trust is the citizen sponsor.
FIRST VOTE — Senate Transportation Committee (August 11) — PASSED 13–0
SECOND VOTE — Senate floor (August 20) — PASSED 39–0
SCR 193 was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee on August 24.
Had the measure arrived to the Committee earlier in the legislative session, it would have been expected to receive a hearing and third vote here — BUT…
What currently is being pursued is an expedited protocol, available under Assembly rules, to withdraw SCR 193 from Assembly Transportation and bring the measure directly to the Assembly floor for a final vote by the close of the legislative session on Monday August 31.
To learn more — and for resources you can use to email your Assemblymember urging their support — see our SCR 193 Action Guide.
Thank you!
John Lumea
The Emperor Norton Trust
:: :: ::
6 September 2025
For 10 years after its launch on 1 August 2013, this petition of The Emperor Norton Trust called on the California state legislature simply to add "Emperor Norton Bridge" as an honorary name for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge system.
This petition closed with 6,700 signatures a few days after its 10th anniversary — on 7 August 2023.
But...
In September 2025, the Trust reopened the petition in an effort to build support for our new proposal.
The tunnel through Yerba Buena Island that connects the eastern and western sections of the Bay Bridge opened as part of the bridge in 1936.
Although the tunnel is known as “Yerba Buena Tunnel,” it never has been officially named and has no dedicated signage.
The Emperor Norton Trust is calling on the state legislature to name this tunnel Emperor Norton Tunnel in 2026: the 90th anniversary of the bridge and the 180th anniversary of Joshua Norton's first arrival in the United States in 1846.
To learn more, click the Proposal button at:
By all means, sign this petition if you wish to show support for the Emperor Norton Tunnel naming — but please sign ONLY if you've not previously signed (2013–2023).
Thank you!
John Lumea
The Emperor Norton Trust
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Petition created on August 1, 2013