OC Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Board of Supervisors Meeting Where the Board Voted on 2026 Board Chair and Vice Chair, Fire Safety, Coastal Protection, State Nitrous Oxide Legislation, and More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
January 13, 2026 

Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley

(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@bos5.oc.gov

ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Vice Chair Katrina Foley released a statement following the Board’s 5-0 vote to re-elect Supervisor Doug Chaffee as the 2026 Board Chair and Supervisor Katrina Foley as Board Vice Chair.

“I look forward to continuing progress as Board Vice Chair for the second year in a row,” said Vice Chair Foley. “In 2025, we accomplished so much for Orange County residents, businessowners, safety and health professionals, our airport, and more. This year, we continue facing federal challenges and restraints that require us to step up at a local level and work collaboratively to protect our communities.”

Supervisor Foley continued, “As Vice Chair, I remain focused on protecting taxpayer dollars, keeping our neighborhoods safe, solving the root causes of homelessness, collaborating with federal, state and local agencies prioritizing the wellbeing of Orange County, and holding leaders accountable through transparency and strategic oversight investments.”

Item 21 (County Executive Office): Approve recommended positions on introduced or amended legislation and/or consider other legislative subject matters. Notably, California State Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the first part of his 2026 legislative package, which includes SB 758, the Substance Control and Retail Integrity Act, prohibiting retailers with cigarette and tobacco licenses from selling nitrous oxide and adds 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) to the controlled substances list.

“The unanimous passage of SB 758 out of the California Senate Public Safety Committee sets the tone for a statewide standard. The County of Orange passed the first countywide ban on NOX last year following my introduction to the Board. Today, the County Board reaffirms our opposition to dangerous NOX sales, which causes psychosis, paralysis, and diminished brain function,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Allowing unregulated sales offers zero benefit to residents and further endangers public health, while allowing manufacturers to escape accountability. We need to close unresolved loopholes, hold retailers accountable, and ensure real enforcement so communities are protected.”

District Discretionary Investments in Public Safety and Infrastructure

S31B – New HeloPod in San Clemente: The Board approved funding from Supervisor Foley’s Fifth District discretionary funds to support the purchase of a HeloPod in south San Clemente, which includes all costs associated with purchase and installation.

“One year after the devastating Los Angeles fires, it remains imperative to invest in our public safety and fire prevention infrastructure. In addition to the Hand Crew station we delivered to Rancho Mission Viejo, the investment from my office into a new HeloPod in San Clemente will ensure our firefighters can access up to 3,770 gallons of water to swiftly suppress fires before devastation occurs,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.

S31F – UCI Sediment by Rail Study: The Board approved a Fifth District grant to support a UC Irvine Climate Collaboration Master of Engineering student project focused on the design of rail solutions, including transporting sediment from the Prado Basin and additional points along the Santa Ana River to coastal beaches in Orange County. The project includes a field trip to the Prado Dam site and a kick-off student workshop featuring OC Water District, OC Public Works, OC Parks, OC Transportation Authority, US Army Corps of Engineers, and US Fish and Wildlife.

“This partnership with UC Irvine leans into the UCI students’ innovative work for Orange County. By empowering the next generation of engineers, we advance real solutions that restore our beaches, reduce carbon emissions, protect our coastline, and deliver long-term savings for taxpayers,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “This initiative represents a critical investment in the future of our students and beaches.”

Item #26 (CEO) Report on Grant Applications/Awards: Approve and ratify grant applications and awards for more than $8.6Million to fund existing programs in the District Attorney, John Wayne Airport, Sheriff-Coroner, OC Public Works, and the Social Services Agency as listed in the January 13, 2026, grant report. Authorize the District Attorney or designee to execute a $244,492 grant agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Unemployment Insurance Anti-Fraud Program (July 1, 2023-March 31, 2026) and find the action exempt from CEQA. Authorize the Director of OC Public Works or designee to accept federal grant funding totaling $580,000 for watershed management stakeholder outreach projects in North, Central, and South Orange County.

“Orange County taxpayers only receive $0.05 on every dollar they send to Sacramento and D.C. By aggressively pursuing grant funding, we return hard-earned tax dollars to our Orange County community. As Chair of Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, I commend our County staff for securing funding to support the watersheds along with more than $8.6 million in grant funding for existing programs ranging from public safety to watershed management and social services,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.

Item #30 (Office of Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission): The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt amended AB1234 Ethics Training Policy to reflect current State law requirements and completion deadlines for ethics training. The amendment clarifies administrative roles by designating OC Ethics as the repository for compliance certificates, supporting consistent oversight, accountability, and compliance across boards, commissions, and committees.

“Updating the County’s ethics training policy as our first order of business for 2026 ensures county leadership making decisions on behalf of our residents meet today’s legal and ethical standards,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “By strengthening oversight and accountability, this action reinforces transparency and builds public trust in County government.”

Item #S31A - #S31F (Vice Chair Foley): Fifth District Discretionary Funds

The Board voted unanimously to approve Supervisor Katrina Foley’s Fifth District grants:

Item #S31A: $5,000 to Women’s Journey Foundation
Item #S31C: $14,000 to Moulton Family Foundation, Inc. dba Moulton Museum
Item #S31D: $36,750 to Shoes That Fit, funding 1225 pairs of new shoes requested by D5 schools
Item #S31E: Sponsorship of various nonprofit entities from D5 events funds

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OC Board Vice Chair Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.    

Vice Chair Foley’s Board appointments include:

Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,

Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),

Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee,

Regional Transportation Committee,

Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency,

Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA),

TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee,

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel,

Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,

Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board,