Supervisors approve emergency ordinance expanding mayor's powers to combat fentanyl; vote 10-1

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 on Jan. 28 to approve an ordinance that gives the mayor temporary emergency authorities intended to speed up the city's response to the fentanyl and overdose crisis.

The ordinance, described at the meeting as an "emergency" measure, changes the Administrative Code to allow expedited contracting and temporary waivers of certain approval processes, and it includes provisions intended to accelerate hiring of mental and behavioral health staff and expand shelter and treatment capacity over the coming year. The board voted to adopt several amendments before the final roll call.

Why this matters: supporters said the ordinance aims to remove bureaucratic delays that have impeded rapid expansion of shelter, treatment and outreach services; opponents said the board was being asked to grant broad powers without seeing a concrete plan or an accurate estimate of cost.

Supervisor Chan, speaking for the budget committee that shepherded the legislation, said the package "does give the executive branch ways to implement their vision, without waiving all oversight authority from the legislative branch." Chan moved the amendments; Supervisor Jackie Fielder seconded them. Fielder said she supported the ordinance while emphasizing added oversight and transparency measures and said she was "voting in support of Mayor Lurie's fentanyl emergency ordinance aimed at tackling the fentanyl and overdose crisis with expediency." Fielder also urged the administration to provide details about staffing hundreds of treatment beds the city needs.

Supervisor Walton cast the sole "no" vote, saying the measure was "extremely premature" without a public plan. Walton said the board was being asked to cede contracting and payment-authority waivers "all without knowing what will be done" and warned of the risk of an open-ended financial exposure.

Supporters pointed to amendments adopted at the meeting. The board approved changes that, among other things: - Set a $10,000,000 limit on non-governmental donations that may be accepted for the "core initiatives" covered by the ordinance, as described in the bill text circulated to the board; - Clarified publication and filing language so that statutory timelines reference the Clerk of the Board's publication date; - Narrowed the scope of waivers to which the "behest of payment" exceptions apply and added additional oversight requirements; and - Established a deadline (Jan. 8, 2026) by which the city must return to the board with implementation details so the body can evaluate progress and provide further direction.

Supervisor Mahmood, who spoke in support prior to the vote, said the ordinance's goal was to "cut through the red tape" and deliver life-saving resources to people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental-health crises, particularly in neighborhoods such as the Tenderloin. Mahmood said the ordinance "will streamline the city's ability to quickly address homelessness, addiction, mental health, and public safety." He also said the hard work of implementation would follow the vote.

The final roll call, as read into the record, recorded 10 ayes and one no (Supervisor Walton). The clerk announced that the ordinance passed as amended.

The board's discussion repeatedly returned to two themes: (1) supporters stressed urgency and the need to eliminate procedural barriers to deliver shelter and treatment quickly, and (2) opponents and cautious members asked for a concrete, public operational plan and more precise fiscal estimates before granting broad waiver authorities.

The ordinance passed on the board's vote that day; the administration must now provide the implementation plan and details the board requested as part of ongoing oversight.

ACTIONS: Motion to adopt the ordinance as amended (mover: Supervisor Chan; second: Supervisor Jackie Fielder). Vote: 10 ayes, 1 no (Supervisor Walton).