HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2503-4303CITY OF PALO ALTO
Policy & Services Committee
Special Meeting
Tuesday, April 08, 2025
6:00 PM
Agenda Item
3.Update, Discussion, and Potential Direction Regarding State and Federal Legislation,
Executive Orders and Other Regulatory and Funding Activity Presentation
Policy & Services Committee
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: April 8, 2025
Report #:2503-4303
TITLE
Update, Discussion, and Potential Direction Regarding State and Federal Legislation, Executive
Orders and Other Regulatory and Funding Activity
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Policy and Services Committee receive an update on state and federal
legislation, executive orders and other regulatory and funding activity, and provide feedback on
advocacy efforts.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The City Council adopted the 2025 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines1 on January 13, 2025.
The guidelines provide a baseline for the City’s legislative advocates at the state and federal level
to advocate on the City’s behalf in relation to proposed legislation and other federal and state
governmental activity. Where the Guidelines provide sufficient direction, the City’s legislative
advocates may discuss Palo Alto's interests with state legislators and their staff and/or prepare a
letter of advocacy in alignment with the guidelines for the Mayor's signature. This is key to
enabling the City to weigh in on fast-moving developments.
The Policy and Services Committee receives regular updates from Townsend Public Affairs (TPA),
the City’s legislative advocates, and recommends legislation for TPA to monitor on behalf of the
City. For the April 8 Committee discussion, TPA prepared the attached memo (Attachment A)
outlining major legislative and budgetary updates for the state and federal governments.
Attachment B lists legislation with potential Palo Alto impacts that TPA and staff will monitor as
they progress. If desired, Committee members may also raise for discussion other legislation of
Palo Alto interest that is not listed in the memo or may recommend action on any of the bills
listed on the monitoring list.
1 City of Palo Alto’s 2025 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/city-manager/legislation/2025-legislative-guidelines.pdf
The 2025 State legislative calendar (which includes deadlines and other important dates) can be
found online at: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/schedules-publications/legislative-deadlines.
This calendar provides helpful context when reviewing the bills included in the Townsend memo.
On March 24, 2025 the City Council discussed potential support or sponsorship of SB 457
(Becker)2 and continued the item to its April 7, 2025 City Council meeting. A brief summary of the
bill and TPA’s engagement is included in the memo. TPA will provide additional verbal updates
on actions that take place between the agenda packet publication and the committee meeting.
Lastly, on March 17, 20253 the City Council adopted a Resolution Reaffirming City Council's
Commitment to Palo Alto Values which links to actions at the Federal government.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The City Council budgets annually for the
legislative advocacy services and these efforts are led by staff in the City Clerk’s Office in close
collaboration with the City Manager’s Office with stakeholder support across other City
departments on key issues.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff from multiple departments are involved in the legislative process in helping to review the
impacts of bills as well as discussing grant opportunities linked to state and federal programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City’s legislative advocacy activities are not a project under section 15378(b)(25) of the
California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (administrative activities that will not result in
direct or indirect physical changes in the environment).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Townsend Public Affairs State and Federal Legislative Updates
Attachment B - City of Palo Alto Priority Bill Matrix
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
2 SB-457https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB457
3 March 17, 2025 City Council Meeting, Item AA1: Adoption of a Resolution Responding to Federal Actions. Link:
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M E M O R A N D U M
To: The Honorable Ed Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council
CC:Ed Shikada, City Manager
From: Townsend Public Affairs
Christopher Townsend, President
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
Alex Gibbs, Grants Director
Carlin Shelby, Senior Associate
Joseph Melo, Senior Federal Associate
Date: March 27, 2025
Subject: State and Federal Legislative Updates
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) has prepared this report for the City of Palo Alto to provide a
summary of State, Federal, and funding efforts and highlight the current status of the legislative
process.
STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
State Legislative Updates
Since reconvening on January 6, the California State Legislature has introduced a total of 2,350
new bill vehicles—comprised of 850 Senate bills and 1,500 Assembly bills. This year marks the
implementation of a new rule that caps the number of bills each legislator may introduce during
the two-year session from 40 or 50 down to 35 bills per member, contributing to a modest
reduction in overall bill volume.
Following the bill introduction deadline in late February, the Legislature has shifted focus toward
budget informational hearings—which serve to unpack the Governor’s January Budget
Proposal—and policy committee hearings. These hearings will continue through early to mid-May,
depending on whether bills have a fiscal impact and must move through the Appropriations
Committees. As a result, late April through early May is expected to be an especially busy time at
the Capitol, with packed hearing agendas as lawmakers work to move the more than 2,000 active
bills through their first policy committees.
Notable themes that have dominated the legislature this year include:
1.Permitting Reforms: A major package of bills aims to accelerate housing construction,
particularly in areas impacted by wildfires, including the coastal zone. These proposals
would require local governments and state agencies to speed up permitting processes,
place temporary freezes on certain building standards, and provide stronger protections
for tenants displaced by natural disasters. Speaker Rivas has indicated that several of
these bills will include urgency clauses to ensure immediate implementation.
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2.Viewing All Measures Through the Lens of Affordability: Speaker Rivas has
emphasized to his caucus that all policy proposals will be evaluated based on their impact
on working families and affordability. Several key bills already reflect this focus,
addressing student loan forgiveness, tax relief on essential goods, lower utility bills, and
expansion of the state child tax credit. Despite this broad affordability push, housing
remains the top priority—particularly in the wake of the devastating LA wildfires, which
destroyed more than 16,000 homes in a region already grappling with a severe housing
shortage.
3.Brown Act Reforms: Several temporary statutes granting local officials remote meeting
flexibility—enacted during emergencies—are set to expire during the 2025–26 session.
While multiple bills have been introduced to extend specific provisions, Senate Local
Government Committee Chair María Elena Durazo is calling for a comprehensive overhaul
of the Brown Act. Her aim is to modernize local transparency laws in a cohesive and
forward-looking way.
4.Wildfire Insurance Affordability and Availability: Fire insurance has emerged as a
dominant issue amid widespread policy cancellations by major insurers, new fire hazard
mapping, and regulatory reforms meant to stabilize the insurance market. Legislators are
considering bills to make coverage more accessible, incentivize best practices in
defensible space and home hardening, and provide funding for local wildfire resilience and
prevention programs.
5.Proposition 36 Implementation: Following the overwhelming voter approval of
Proposition 36 in the November 2024 election—which rolled back some leniencies related
to serial theft under Proposition 47—lawmakers are now advancing bills to implement the
new provisions. These include establishing diversion programs and services for repeat
offenders, particularly those struggling with substance use or behavioral health disorders.
State Budget Update
Despite the fact that Governor Newsom presented a balanced budget proposal in early January,
California’s fiscal picture remains in flux. Several dynamic factors are reshaping the budget
conversation in real time — including federal uncertainty, unanticipated wildfire response costs,
and structural pressures from previously enacted program expansions.
Key Drivers of Budget Uncertainty:
1.California–DC Fiscal Dynamics: Federal action—or inaction—continues to significantly
influence California’s fiscal standing. As of March, Congress has yet to finalize key
appropriations or act on potential extensions of federal health and human services
waivers, leaving states like California in a holding pattern. For example, delayed federal
matching funds for Medicaid and housing programs are creating uncertainty in budget
planning. California’s Department of Finance is closely monitoring whether anticipated
federal reimbursements will materialize, particularly for behavioral health initiatives
funded in prior years.
2.Impact of the LA Wildfires: The catastrophic wildfires that swept through Los Angeles
in late 2024, destroying more than 16,000 structures, have had widespread fiscal ripple
effects. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has submitted multiple requests
for federal disaster aid, but reimbursement timelines remain unclear. In the interim, the
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state is advancing more than $325 million in emergency wildfire response and cleanup
costs, straining the General Fund. Budget writers are considering reserve fund
withdrawals and potential deferrals to other programs to offset wildfire-related
expenditures.
3.Overspending in Key Programs – Especially Medi-Cal: The expansion of Medi-Cal to
all income-eligible Californians, regardless of immigration status, while widely
applauded, has introduced steep cost overruns. The Department of Health Care
Services recently revised its cost projections, estimating that Medi-Cal will run a $6.2
billion shortfall in 2025-26. The Governor’s budget proposes a mix of internal borrowing,
one-time fund transfers, and an additional $2.8 billion in emergency General Fund
support to stabilize the program. This comes on top of a previously approved $3.4 billion
bridge loan, prompting legislators to scrutinize the sustainability of the program’s long-
term growth.
Updated Revenue Conditions and Legislative Response:
While November personal income tax withholdings fell short by $806 million, collections
rebounded in December and January, largely due to delayed stock option and bonus payments.
As a result, the state is still projected to close the fiscal year with a small operating surplus, but
the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) continues to warn of $20–30 billion structural deficits in
future years if spending patterns persist.
Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire have both emphasized the need for a
"preservation-first" approach, signaling that new programs are unlikely to be funded unless
offset by cuts or savings elsewhere. Both houses are also examining sunsetting or delaying
previously approved initiatives that have yet to launch.
Looking Ahead:
•The May Revision (May Revise) of the Governor’s budget is expected to reflect updated
tax filing data and incorporate adjustments for wildfire, Medi-Cal, and any finalized
federal aid.
•Budget subcommittees are currently reviewing every major program for cost
containment opportunities.
•The state’s Rainy Day Fund remains at approximately $22 billion, but lawmakers are
hesitant to tap into it early in the fiscal year unless revenue forecasts worsen.
While the January budget proposal struck a cautiously optimistic tone, California’s fiscal outlook
is still evolving. Lawmakers face difficult choices in the months ahead as they balance long-term
investments with near-term stability in the face of natural disasters, federal delays, and
ballooning costs in health and human services.
SB 457 (Becker) – Housing Element Compliance and Builder’s Remedy Reform
On March 24, the amended language for SB 457 (Becker) was released, reflecting critical
changes developed in collaboration with the City of Palo Alto and Senator Becker’s office. SB 457
seeks to uphold the intent of the Builder’s Remedy provision while preventing its misuse, and at
the same time, incentivizes timely compliance with state housing element requirements.
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Under current law, a jurisdiction’s housing element is not deemed compliant until formally certified
by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) or a court. This
creates a significant vulnerability: even if a local agency adopts a substantively compliant housing
element well in advance, it remains subject to the Builder’s Remedy until HCD completes its
review—often delayed due to capacity constraints.
Separately, existing law permits developers to establish eligibility for the Builder’s Remedy by
submitting a preliminary application, which can lack specificity and be significantly altered later,
provided the changes stay within a 20% threshold for density or floor area. While this flexibility
may serve practical purposes in general land use planning, it poses serious concerns when used
in conjunction with the Builder’s Remedy. Developers can file incomplete or speculative
applications to “reserve” Builder’s Remedy status, even after a jurisdiction has done the work to
bring its housing policies into full compliance with state law.
This loophole undermines the legislative intent of the Builder’s Remedy, which is to promote
housing production in cities that are genuinely out of compliance—not to bypass carefully
developed and state-approved housing elements.
SB 457 aims to address these issues in two key ways:
1. Aligning Builder’s Remedy protections with timely local action: The bill clarifies that an
agency should not remain subject to the Builder’s Remedy after it has adopted a
substantively compliant housing element, even if HCD’s formal certification is still pending.
2. Requiring complete applications for Builder’s Remedy eligibility: The bill would require a
developer to submit a complete application—not just a preliminary one—prior to the
adoption of a compliant housing element in order to qualify for the Builder’s Remedy. This
ensures that only serious, well-prepared projects benefit from the provision.
SB 457 provides a more equitable and predictable framework for both local governments and
housing developers, preserving the original spirit of the Builder’s Remedy while strengthening the
integrity of local planning efforts.
The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Housing Committee, chaired by Senator Aisha
Wahab (D–Hayward), on April 29.
Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) is actively engaging with stakeholders, committee staff, and key
legislators to educate them on the merits of the bill and to build momentum ahead of this important
legislative hearing.
FEDERAL UPDATES
Federal Appropriations Update: FY 2025 and Outlook for FY 2026
As of March 27, 2025, the federal appropriations process for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 has reached
a pivotal juncture. On March 11, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R.
1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, by a vote of 217 to
213. Subsequently, the Senate approved the measure on March 14, 2025, with a 54 to 46 vote,
and President Trump signed it into law on March 15, 2025.
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This legislation extends federal government funding through September 30, 2025, effectively
maintaining FY 2024 funding levels via a continuing resolution (CR). Notably, the CR does not
incorporate any FY 2025 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects. As a result,
previously approved earmarks—including Congresswoman Eshoo’s $1.25 million request for
the City of Palo Alto’s Fire Station No. 4 project—were not included in this funding package.
Implications for Palo Alto’s Fire Station No. 4 Project
The exclusion of earmarked funds necessitates a reassessment of our funding strategy for the
Fire Station No. 4 project. While this development is a setback, it is imperative to explore
alternative avenues to secure the necessary resources.
Looking Ahead to FY 2026
In light of the current appropriations landscape, we are preparing to resubmit our funding
request for the Fire Station No. 4 project in the FY 2026 appropriations cycle. This will involve
close collaboration with Congressman Liccardo’s office and other members of our congressional
delegation to advocate for the project's inclusion in future funding bills.
GRANT FUNDING UPDATES
Ongoing legal proceedings and broader uncertainty at the federal level continue to delay the
disbursement of several critical funding streams the City is set to receive—most notably from the
Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the
Department of Energy (DOE).
While the Trump Administration has indicated its intention to comply with court orders directing
federal agencies to release previously frozen funds, officials have acknowledged the complexity
of the process. As they’ve described it, restoring access to funding is not as simple as “turning a
faucet back on,” and will take time to fully implement.
Recent conversations with staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation suggest greater
confidence that DOT-related awards, including grants administered through FHWA, will proceed
as expected once agency reviews conclude. However, the City’s Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) award appears to be at greater risk, as the program is less
aligned with the administration’s current funding priorities.
Ongoing Advocacy Efforts
Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) continues to engage directly with federal agency contacts to
monitor developments and advocate for the timely release of funds. While agency staff remain
engaged, many are still awaiting legal guidance on how to proceed under the administration’s
evolving directives.
TPA is also coordinating with the City’s congressional delegation and is preparing a letter for the
Mayor’s signature to highlight the potential impact of delayed funding on City projects. The letter
will be directed to Congressmember Liccardo and Senators Padilla and Schiff. In the meantime,
TPA will continue to monitor developments, advocate for funding release, and work with City staff
to prepare additional outreach and strategy as needed.
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Potentially Impacted City Funding
Grant Name Award
Amount Project Award
Year
DOT – Natural Gas Distribution
Infrastructure Safety and
Modernization (NGDISM)
$16,500,000
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration – Natural Gas Distribution
Modernization
2024
DOT – Federal Highway
Administration: Safe Streets and
Roads for All (SS4A)
$338,000 Safe Streets for All Action Plan:
Implementation Project 2024
DOE – Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)$141,008 Fleet Modernization: Electric Vehicle
Purchase 2024
M E M O R A N D U M
To: City of Palo Alto From: Townsend Public Affairs Date: March 27, 2025 Subject: Priority Bill Matrix
Building and Development Standards
AB 306 (Schultz, D) Building regulations: state building standards.
Status: 03/20/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Summary: Current law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development
(department) in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. The California Building Standards Law establishes the California Building Standards Commission (commission) within the Department of General Services. Current law requires the commission to approve and adopt building
standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code (code). The State
Housing Law establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human
habitation. Current law requires, among other things, the building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval by the commission, as specified, to be adopted by reference, with certain exceptions. Current law authorizes any city or county to make changes in those building standards that
are published in the code, including to green building standards. Current law requires the governing body
of a city or county, before making modifications or changes to those green building standards, to make an
express finding that those modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. This bill would, from June 1, 2025, until June 1, 2031, inclusive, prohibit a city or county from making changes that are applicable to residential units to the above-
described building standards unless a certain condition is met, including that the commission deems
those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety. (Based
on 03/12/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Community Services
AB 421 (Solache, D) Immigration enforcement: prohibitions on access, sharing information, and law enforcement collaboration.
Status: 03/19/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Summary: The California Values Act generally prohibits California law enforcement agencies from investigating, interrogating, detaining, detecting, or arresting persons for immigration enforcement purposes. Current law provides certain limited exceptions to this prohibition. This bill would prohibit California law enforcement agencies from collaborating with, or providing any information in writing,
verbally, on in any other manner to, immigration authorities regarding proposed or currently underway
immigration enforcement actions when the actions could be or are taking place within a radius of one mile of any childcare or daycare facility, religious institution, place of worship, hospital, or medical office. To
the extent this bill would impose additional duties on local law enforcement agencies or officials, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 02/05/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 456 (Ashby, D) Contractors: exemptions: muralists.
Status: 03/18/2025 - Set for hearing April 7.
Summary: Current law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business, or act in the capacity, of a contractor without a license, unless exempted. Current law exempts from the Contractors
State License Law, among other things, a nonprofit corporation providing assistance to an owner, as
specified. This bill would exempt from that law a muralist, as defined, who produces a mural, as defined,
pursuant to an agreement with a person who could legally authorize the work. (Based on 02/19/2025 text)
Position: Support
Energy, Utilities, and Communications
AB 737 (Quirk-Silva, D) Energy: building decarbonization: notice and recordation of a decarbonization charge.
Status: 03/03/2025 - Referred to Com. on U. & E.
Summary: Current law requires the Public Utilities Commission, or the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative, to require an energy supplier, defined as an electrical corporation, local publicly owned electric utility, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or electrical cooperative, administering a decarbonization upgrade program or initiative, to
record, no later than 30 days after funding a decarbonization upgrade, a notice of decarbonization
charge, as defined, with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is located, as specified. Current law requires, among other things, an energy supplier, within 30 days of full cost recovery of the outstanding charges related to the recorded notice of decarbonization charge, to record a notice of the full cost recovery and removal of the decarbonization
charge with the county recorder of the county where the property subject to the decarbonization charge is
located. This bill would additionally add gas corporations to the definition of “energy supplier” for purposes of the above-described provisions. (Based on 02/18/2025 text)
AB 1020 (Schiavo, D) Public utilities: energy: nontraditional funding: reporting.
Status: 03/11/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.
Summary: Current law requires electrical corporations and gas corporations to submit various information to the Public Utilities Commission, and requires the commission to annually report to the
Legislature on, among other things, all sources and amounts of funding and actual and proposed
expenditures, including any costs to ratepayers, related to entities or programs established by the commission, as specified. This bill would require each utility, defined as an investor-owned electrical corporation or gas corporation, to report certain information for any nontraditional funding, as defined, that the utility has applied for or received. The bill would require the commission, for each application in which
a utility is seeking ratepayer funding, to require the utility to report all relevant nontraditional funding the
utility is pursuing or has secured, and, if the commission determines that a utility is not in compliance with that requirement, the bill would authorize the commission to impose a penalty against the utility, as specified. The bill would require the commission to require each utility to promptly deliver the financial benefits of nontraditional funding to ratepayers, as provided. This bill would require the commission to
provide an annual report to the Legislature with a summary of the information on nontraditional funding
reported by each utility, including the number of grants or loans, the source of those grants or loans, the
dollar amount received, the projects funded by the grants or loans, and the demonstrated ratepayer
savings. (Based on 03/10/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1191 (Tangipa, R) California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program: hydroelectric generation.
Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.
Summary: Current law establishes the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program, which
requires the Public Utilities Commission to implement annual procurement targets for the procurement of
eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, for all retail sellers, as defined, and requires local
publicly owned electric utilities to adopt and implement renewable energy resources procurement plans to achieve the targets and goals of the program. Under current law, eligible renewable energy resources include small hydroelectric generation facilities of 30 megawatts or less that meet specified criteria. This
bill would revise the definition of an eligible renewable energy resource for the purposes of the California
Renewables Portfolio Standard Program to include all hydroelectric generating facilities and would make
conforming changes. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 282 (Wiener, D) Residential heat pump systems: water heaters and HVAC: installations.
Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 7.
Summary: Current law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, on or before January 1, 2019, in consultation with the Contractors State License Board,
local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that promotes compliance with specified regulations relating to building energy efficiency standards in the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps, as specified. Current law authorizes the commission to adopt regulations to increase compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central air conditioning and heat pumps, and
associated sales and installations, consistent with the above-described plan. This bill would require the
commission, on or before January 1, 2027, to establish a statewide certification program for licensed contractors of residential heat pump water heaters and heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to obtain a heat pump installation certification, and would require the commission to create a state training program, as described, on residential heat pump water heaters and
heat pump HVAC systems for purposes of the certification program, as specified. (Based on 03/17/2025
text)
Position: Watch
SB 540 (Becker, D) Independent System Operator: independent regional organization.
Status: 03/24/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
Summary: Existing law provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a
nonprofit public benefit corporation and requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of
the electrical transmission grid consistent with achieving planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Electric Reliability Council. Existing law, the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015, provides for the transformation of the ISO into a regional organization, with the approval of the Legislature,
pursuant to a specified process. That process provides that modifications to the ISO’s governance
structure, through changes to its bylaws or other corporate governance documents, will not become effective until the ISO, the Public Utilities Commission, the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission, the State Air Resources Board (state board), the Governor, and the
Legislature take specified actions on or before January 1, 2019. This bill would delete the above-
described provisions providing for the transformation of the ISO into a regional organization. The bill would authorize the ISO and the electrical corporations that are participating transmission owners whose transmission systems are operated by the ISO, in lieu of the ISO managing related energy markets, as provided, to use voluntary energy markets governed by an independent regional organization, provided
that specified requirements are satisfied. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 593 (Hurtado, D) Power surges: ratepayer notice.
Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 7.
Summary: Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction
of their governing board. This bill would require a utility, which includes a community choice aggregator,
an electrical corporation, and a local publicly owned electric utility, to develop and implement a system to
notify a ratepayer of a power surge, as defined. The bill would require the notification to be transmitted within 5 minutes of detecting a power surge and to include specified information. The bill would also require a preemptive warning of a power surge, as provided, under specified circumstances. The bill
would require a utility to install and maintain equipment capable of detecting power surges and to submit
quarterly reports to the commission regarding power surges, as provided. The bill would require a utility to
compensate a ratepayer for damages to electrical systems, appliances, or devices caused by a power surge if the power surge resulted from utility equipment failure or negligence, to process claims for compensation within 30 days of receipt, and to offer financial incentives or rebates for the installation of
whole-house surge protection systems by ratepayers. This bill contains other related provisions and other
existing laws. (Based on 02/20/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Environmental Quality
AB 762 (Irwin, D) Disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device: prohibition.
Status: 02/19/2025 - From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
Summary: Would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2026, a person from selling, distributing, or offering for
sale a new or refurbished disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device in this state. The bill
would define a “disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device” to mean a vaporization device that is not designed or intended to be reused, as specified. (Based on 02/18/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 961 (Ávila Farías, D) Hazardous materials: California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004.
Status: 03/26/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Summary: The California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004 provides, among other things, that
an innocent landowner, bona fide purchaser, or contiguous property owner, as defined, qualifies for immunity from liability from certain state statutory and common laws for pollution conditions caused by a release or threatened release of a hazardous material if specified conditions are met, including entering into an agreement for a specified site assessment and response plan. The act prohibits the Department of
Toxic Substances Control, the State Water Resources Control Board, and a California regional water
quality control board from requiring one of those persons to take a response action under certain state
laws, except as specified. Existing law repeals the act on January 1, 2027. Current law provides that a
person who qualifies for immunity under the act before January 1, 2027, shall continue to have that immunity on and after January 1, 2027. This bill would extend the repeal date of the act to January 1, 2037, and would provide that a person who qualifies for immunity under the act before January 1, 2037, shall continue to have that immunity on and after January 1, 2037, if the person continues to be in
compliance with the requirements of the former act. (Based on 02/20/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 682 (Allen, D) Environmental health: product safety: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Status: 03/11/2025 - Set for hearing April 2.
Summary: Current law requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control, on or before January 1, 2029, to adopt regulations to enforce specified covered perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) restrictions, which include prohibitions on the distribution, sale, or offering for sale of certain
products that contain specified levels of PFAS. Current law requires the department, on and after July 1,
2030, to enforce and ensure compliance with those provisions and regulations, as provided. Current law requires manufacturers of these products, on or before July 1, 2029, to register with the department, to pay a registration fee to the department, and to provide a statement of compliance certifying compliance
with the applicable prohibitions on the use of PFAS to the department, as specified. Current law
authorizes the department to test products and to rely on third-party testing to determine compliance with
prohibitions on the use of PFAS, as specified. Current law requires the department to issue a notice of violation for a product in violation of the prohibitions on the use of PFAS, as provided. Current law authorizes the department to assess an administrative penalty for a violation of these prohibitions and
authorizes the department to seek an injunction to restrain a person or entity from violating these
prohibitions, as specified. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2027, prohibit a person from distributing,
selling, or offering for sale a covered product that contain intentionally added PFAS, as defined, except for previously used products and as otherwise preempted by federal law. The bill would define “covered product” to include cleaning products, cookware, dental floss, juvenile products, food packaging, and ski
wax, as specified. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Governance and Transparency
SB 239 (Arreguín, D) Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.
Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 2.
Summary: The Ralph M. Brown Act requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body, as defined, of a local agency be open and public and that all persons be permitted to attend and
participate. The act generally requires for teleconferencing that the legislative body of a local agency that
elects to use teleconferencing post agendas at all teleconference locations, identify each teleconference location in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, and have each teleconference location be accessible to the public. Current law also requires that, during the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over
which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, except as specified. Current law, until January 1, 2026,
authorizes specified neighborhood city councils to use alternate teleconferencing provisions related to notice, agenda, and public participation, as prescribed, if, among other requirements, the city council has adopted an authorizing resolution and 2/3 of the neighborhood city council votes to use alternate teleconference provisions, as specified. This bill would authorize a subsidiary body, as defined, to use
alternative teleconferencing provisions and would impose requirements for notice, agenda, and public
participation, as prescribed. The bill would require the subsidiary body to post the agenda at the primary physical meeting location. The bill would require the members of the subsidiary body to visibly appear on
camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online
platform, as specified. (Based on 01/30/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 707 (Durazo, D) Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements.
Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 2.
Summary: Would, until January 1, 2030, require a city council or a county board of supervisors to comply with additional meeting requirements, including that all open and public meetings include an
opportunity for members of the public to attend via a two-way telephonic option or a two-way audiovisual
platform, as defined, that a system is in place for requesting and receiving interpretation services for
public meetings, as specified, and that good faith efforts are made to encourage residents to participate in public meetings, as specified. By imposing additional meeting requirements on city councils and county boards of supervisors, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Homelessness
AB 820 (Pellerin, D) Homelessness: transport.
Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and JUD.
Summary: Current law establishes various programs to assist homeless individuals, including the Homeless Emergency Aid Program, the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program, and the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program. This bill would
prohibit an employee of a local government or law enforcement agency, when acting in their official
capacity, from transporting and dropping off, or arranging for or funding the transport and drop off, of a homeless individual within a jurisdiction unless the employee first coordinates shelter or long-term housing for the homeless individual, as defined and specified. This bill would make a local government or law enforcement agency liable for a civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation of these provisions. (Based
on 02/19/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 16 (Blakespear, D) Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: housing element: Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes.
Status: 03/25/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use
development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Current law requires the housing
element to include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to meeting these needs. For a local government that does not receive funding to address the population of individuals who are unhoused pursuant to certain state programs, this bill would require the assessment to include, among other things, specified data regarding the
population of individuals who are unhoused and a description of key actions that will be taken to reduce
individuals who are unhoused based on the data. (Based on 03/25/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 569 (Blakespear, D) Department of Transportation: homeless encampments.
Status: 03/05/2025 - Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Summary: The bill would require the Department of Transportation to develop a joint action plan for
each district of the department in which homeless encampments are located on department property in
collaboration with local governments located in the district. The bill would require the department, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate funds to support collaborative efforts with local governments to address homeless encampments on department property. The bill would require the department to establish an advisory committee in each district for the purpose of providing advice on the implementation
of these provisions. The bill would require the department to submit an annual report to the Legislature
summarizing specified information and recommendations regarding homeless encampments on
department property. (Based on 02/20/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 692 (Arreguín, D) Vehicles: homelessness.
Status: 03/25/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
Summary: Current law makes it unlawful for a peace officer or an unauthorized person to remove an
unattended vehicle from a highway, except as provided. Under current law, the removal of a vehicle is a seizure, subject to the limits set forth in jurisprudence for the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Current law authorizes a city, county, or city and county to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or
inoperative vehicles or parts of vehicles from private or public property. Current law requires that any
ordinance for the removal of abandoned vehicles contain certain provisions, including a provision exempting vehicles under certain circumstances, and a provision providing no less than a 10-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle or part thereof as a public nuisance, unless the property owner and the owner of the vehicle sign releases. Current law also exempts from the 10-day notice prior
to removal provision, a vehicle meeting specified requirements, including being valued at less than $200
and being determined to be a public nuisance, if the property owner has signed a release. This bill would additionally authorize a city, county, or city and county to adopt an ordinance for the abatement and removal of vehicles formerly used as shelter by persons experiencing homelessness. The bill would require an ordinance establishing procedures for the removal of abandoned vehicles to contain a
provision making the ordinance applicable to public agencies operating certain vehicle buyback
programs, as specified. (Based on 03/25/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Housing and Land Use
AB 557 (McKinnor, D) California Factory-Built Housing Law.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
Summary: The California Factory-Built Housing Law requires all factory-built housing after a specified
date that is sold or offered for sale to first users within the state to bear insignia of approval issued by the
department, deems that housing to comply with the requirements of all ordinances or regulations enacted by any city, city and county, county, or district that may be applicable to the construction of housing, as specified, and prohibits a city, city and county, county, and district from requiring submittal of plans for any factory-built housing manufactured, or to be manufactured pursuant to these provisions, as specified.
The law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to enforce its provisions,
except for in-plant inspections of the manufacture and installation of factory-built housing by local
enforcement or inspection agencies, as specified. Current law requires the department to provide by
regulation for the qualification and disqualification of design approval agencies to perform approval of
factory-built housing plans and specification and of quality assurance agencies to perform inspections of factory-built housing. Current law makes approval by these agencies the equivalent of department approval. The law requires the department to adopt rules and regulations to interpret and make specific these provisions, as specified. The law provides that any person who violates any of these provisions and
other specified law is guilty of a misdemeanor, as specified. This bill would expand the application of the
California Factory-Built Housing Law to include the inspection and approval of factory-built developments, defined to mean any development project that uses factory-built housing for at least 50% of the residential square footage of the project. The bill would remove the inspection and enforcement duties on local governments and would require the department to provide by regulation for the qualification and
disqualification of installation inspection agencies, as defined and specified. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 592 (Gabriel, D) Business: retail food.
Status: 03/04/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
Summary: The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act requires the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to make and prescribe rules to carry out the purposes and intent of existing state constitutional provisions
on the regulation of alcoholic beverages, and to enable the department to exercise the powers and
perform the duties conferred upon it by the state constitution and the act, not inconsistent with any statute
of this state. The act makes it unlawful for any person other than a licensee of the department to sell, manufacture, or import alcoholic beverages in this state, with exceptions. The department, pursuant to its powers and in furtherance of emergency declarations and orders of the Governor under the California
Emergency Services Act regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus, established prescribed temporary
relief measures to suspend certain legal restrictions relating to, among other things, the expansion of a
licensed footprint, sales of alcoholic beverages to-go, and delivery privileges. Current law authorizes the department, for a period of 365 days following the end of the state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor on March 4, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to permit licensees to exercise
license privileges in an expanded license area authorized pursuant to a COVID-19 Temporary Catering
Authorization approved in accordance with the Fourth Notice of Regulatory Relief issued by the
department, as specified. Existing law makes these provisions effective only until July 1, 2026, and repeals them as of that date. This bill, instead, would make those provisions operative indefinitely and make conforming changes. (Based on 03/03/2025 text)
AB 609 (Wicks, D) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare a
mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts from its requirements various projects, including, but not limited to, housing projects that meet certain
requirements. This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA a housing development project, as
defined, that meets certain conditions. The bill would require a local government, as a condition of approval for the development, to require the development proponent to complete a phase I environmental assessment, as provided. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a housing development project qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 610 (Alvarez, D) Housing element: governmental constraints: disclosure statement.
Status: 03/18/2025 - In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use
development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Current law requires the housing element to include an analysis of potential and actual governmental constraints upon the maintenance, improvement, or development of housing for all income levels, including, among others, locally adopted ordinances that directly impact the cost and supply of residential development. Current law also requires
the analysis to demonstrate local efforts to remove governmental constraints that hinder the locality from
meeting its share of the regional housing need. This bill would require the housing element to include, in addition to the above-described analysis, a governmental constraints disclosure statement, as specified. The bill would also prohibit any new or amended governmental constraint, or a more stringent revision of a governmental constraint, from being adopted during the planning, unless, among other things, it was
both (1) included in the governmental constraints disclosure statement, and (2) the local government has
completed all of the housing element program commitments to eliminate or mitigate governmental constraints contained in the prior and current planning periods, or the adoption of the measure is required by state or federal law and the local government has taken specified actions. By imposing new requirements upon local governments submitting a housing element, the bill would impose a state-
mandated local program. (Based on 02/13/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 628 (McKinnor, D) Hiring of real property: dwellings: untenantability.
Status: 03/26/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (March 25).
Summary: Current law requires that any building with a dwelling unit maintain certain characteristics in order to be tenantable, including the maintenance of adequate heating and hot water systems that conform to the standard of quality set by applicable law. This bill would add a stove and refrigerator that
were purchased within the last 10 years and maintained in good working order to the list of characteristics
required for the dwelling unit to be tenantable for leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2026. (Based on 02/13/2025 text)
AB 660 (Wilson, D) Planning and Zoning Law: postentitlement phase permits.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law requires a local agency, as defined, to compile one or more
lists that specify in detail the information required from any applicant for a postentitlement phase permit,
as defined. Current law also establishes time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant, and whether to approve or deny an application. If a local agency finds that a complete application is noncompliant, current law requires the local agency to provide the applicant with a list of items that are noncompliant and a description of how
the application can be remedied by the applicant within specified time limits. Current law requires the time
limits to be tolled, if the local agency requires review of the application by an outside entity, until the outside entity completes the review and returns the application to the local agency, as specified. This bill would prohibit the local agency from requiring or requesting more than 2 plan check and specification reviews in connection with an application for a building permit, as part of its review. If the local agency
fails to make a determination about whether housing development project applications are compliant
within specified timeframes contract after the application is deemed complete, the bill would authorize the applicant to contract with or employ a licensed professional engineer or architect to check the plans and specifications for compliance with the permit standards at the applicant’s own expense. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 712 (Wicks, D) Housing reform laws: enforcement actions: fines and penalties.
Status: 03/11/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
Summary: Current law within the Planning and Zoning Law describes various reforms and incentives
enacted by the Legislature to facilitate and expedite the construction of affordable housing. Current law
within the Planning and Zoning Law, in certain civil actions or proceedings against a public entity that has
issued specified approvals for a housing development, authorizes a court to award all reasonably incurred costs of suit to a prevailing public entity or nonprofit housing corporation that is a real party in interest and the permit applicant of the low- or moderate-income housing if the court makes specified findings. This
bill, where the applicant for a housing development is a prevailing party in an action brought by the
applicant to enforce a housing reform law against a public agency, would entitle an applicant for a
housing development project to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and would require a court to impose fines on a local agency, as specified. The bill would prohibit a public agency from requiring the applicant to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless the public agency in any action alleging the public agency violated
the applicant’s rights or deprived the applicant of the benefits or protection provide by a housing reform
law. (Based on 03/10/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 782 (Quirk-Silva, D) Subdivision Map Act: security.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Summary: The Subdivision Map Act vests the authority to regulate and control the design and improvement of subdivisions in the legislative body of a local agency and sets forth procedures governing
the local agency’s processing, approval, conditional approval or disapproval, and filing of tentative, final,
and parcel maps, and the modification of those maps. The act requires prescribed security from a developer if the act or a local ordinance authorizes or requires the furnishing of security in connection with the performance of any act or agreement. This bill would prohibit a local agency from requiring the furnishing of security in connection with the performance of any act or agreement related to an
improvement that will be privately owned and maintained, and from conditioning the subdivision or any
approval necessary for the development or construction of the project as a whole on the furnishing of that security related to an improvement that will be privately owned and maintained. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 818 (Ávila Farías, D) Permit Streamlining Act: local emergencies.
Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and H. & C.D.
Summary: The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency to determine whether an application for
a development project is complete within specified time periods, as specified. The act requires a public agency that is the lead agency for a development project to approve or disapprove that project within specified time periods. The California Emergency Services Act among other things, authorizes a local emergency to be proclaimed by the governing body of a city, county, or city and county, as specified, and
grants political subdivisions various powers and authorities in periods of local emergency. This bill would
prohibit, during the period of a local emergency, a local agency from denying an application for a permit necessary to rebuild or repair a residential property affected by a natural disaster unless the permit would result in the property being deemed a substandard building. The bill would require the local agency to approve or disapprove that application within 45 days of receipt of the application, and would require
other expedited approvals. (Based on 02/19/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 893 (Fong, D) Housing development projects: objective standards: campus development zone.
Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.
Summary: The Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, until January 1, 2033, authorizes a
development proponent to submit an application for an affordable housing development or a mixed-
income housing development that meets specified objective standards and affordability and site criteria,
including being located within a zone where office, retail, or parking are a principally permitted use. The act makes a development that meets those objective standards and affordability and site criteria a use by right and subject to one of 2 streamlined, ministerial review processes depending on, among other things,
the affordability requirements applicable to the project. The act requires the Department of Housing and
Community Development to undertake at least 2 studies, one completed on or before January 1, 2027,
and one completed on or before January 1, 2031, on the outcomes of the act. This bill would expand the eligibility for the above-described streamlined, ministerial approval to include developments located in a campus development zone, as defined, as long as the development meets certain affordability
requirements and objective standards, as provided. (Based on 02/19/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1007 (Rubio, Blanca, D) Land use: development project review.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Summary: The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency that is the lead agency for a development project to approve or disapprove a development project within specified time periods. The act requires a public agency, other than the California Coastal Commission, that is a responsible agency
for specified development projects to approve or disapprove the project within 90 days of the date on
which the lead agency has approved the project or within 90 days of the date on which the completed application has been received and accepted as complete by the lead agency, whichever is longer. This bill would reduce the time period that a responsible agency is required to approve or disapprove a project, as described above, from 90 days to 45 days. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would
impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1050 (Schultz, D) Unlawfully restrictive covenants: housing developments: reciprocal easement agreements.
Status: 03/26/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (March 25).
Summary: Current law provides that specified recorded covenants, conditions, restrictions, or private
limits on the use of land contained in specified instruments affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in
real property are not enforceable against the owner of an affordable housing development, as defined, if an approved restrictive covenant affordable housing modification document has been recorded in the public record, as provided. As part of this process, current law requires the owner to submit to the county recorder a copy of the original restrictive covenant and any documents the owner believes necessary to
establish that the property qualifies as an affordable housing development and requires the county
counsel to determine, among other things, if the property qualifies as an affordable housing development and if a modification document may be recorded. Current law provides that these provisions do not authorize any development that is not otherwise consistent with local general plans, zoning ordinances, and any applicable specific plan. This bill would extend those provisions to any housing development that
is owned or controlled by an entity or individual that has submitted a development project application to
redevelop an existing commercial property that includes residential uses permitted by state housing laws or local land use and zoning regulations and would make various conforming changes. (Based on 03/13/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1206 (Harabedian, D) Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.
Status: 03/26/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L.
GOV. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (March 26).
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law provides for the adoption and administration of zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations by counties and cities and the implementation of those general plans as may be in effect in those counties or cities. In that regard, current law requires each local agency, by
January 1, 2025, to develop a program for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans. This bill
would require each local agency, by January 1, 2026, to develop a program for the preapproval of single-
family and multifamily residential housing plans, whereby the local agency accepts single-family and multifamily plan submissions for preapproval and approves or denies the preapproval applications, as specified. The bill would authorize a local agency to charge a fee to an applicant for the preapproval of a
single-family or multifamily residential housing plan, as specified. The bill would require the local agency
to post preapproved single-family or multifamily residential housing plans and the contact information of
the applicant on the local agency’s internet website. The bill would require a local agency to either approve or deny an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit within 30 days that utilizes either a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit plan preapproved within the
current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle or a plan that is identical to a plan
used in an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit approved by the local
agency within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1276 (Carrillo, D) Housing developments: ordinances, policies, and standards.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
Summary: The Housing Accountability Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, prohibits a
local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project, as defined for purposes of the act, for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes specified written findings based on a preponderance of the evidence in the record. That act states that it shall not be construed to prohibit a
local agency from requiring a housing development project to comply with objective, quantifiable, written
development standards, conditions, and policies appropriate to, and consistent with, meeting the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing need, except as provided. The act further provides that for its purposes, a housing development project or emergency shelter shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other
similar provision if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the
housing development project or emergency shelter is consistent, compliant, or in conformity. The act requires a housing development project to be subject only to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when a preliminary application, as specified, was submitted, except as otherwise provided. The act defines “ordinances, policies, and standards” to include general plan, community plan,
specific plan, zoning, design review standards and criteria, subdivision standards and criteria, and any
other rules, regulations, requirements, and policies of a local agency, as defined, including those relating to development impact fees, capacity or connection fees or charges, permit or processing fees, and other exactions. This bill would include in the definition of “ordinances, policies, and standards” materials requirements, postentitlement permit standards, and any rules, regulations, determinations, and other
requirements adopted or implemented by other public agencies, as defined. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1294 (Haney, D) Planning and zoning: housing development: standardized application form.
Status: 03/18/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
Summary: The Permit Streamlining Act, among other things, requires each public agency to provide a
development project applicant with a list that specifies the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project. The act requires a public agency that has received an application for a development project to determine in writing whether the application is complete within 30 calendar days and to immediately transmit the determination to the applicant of the development project. This bill would
require that an application for a housing entitlement, as defined, be deemed complete upon payment of
the permit processing fees and upon providing specified information, including, among other things, the information required in the above-described list provided by the public agency. The bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a standardized application form that applicants for a housing entitlement may use for the purpose of satisfying these requirements and would
require a city, county, or city and county to accept an application submitted on the standardized
application form. The bill would prohibit the city, county, or city and county from requiring submission of any other forms, beside the standardized application form, except as specified. This bill would prohibit a city, county, or city and county from requiring certain information or approvals, including, among others, any requirement for preapplication submissions, approvals, reviews, meetings, consultations, public
outreach notices, or any other preapplication requirements, as a condition of determining that an
application for a housing entitlement is complete. The bill would prohibit a city, county, or city and county from imposing a penalty or an additional fee, processing requirement, or submittal requirement as a consequence of an applicant using the standardized application form. (Based on 03/17/2025 text)
Position: Watch
AB 1308 (Hoover, R) Residential building permits: fees: inspections.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
Summary: Current law authorizes a county’s or city’s governing body to prescribe fees for permits,
certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law. Current law entitles a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work for which the permit fees have been charged within 60 days of receiving notice of completion of the permitted work. This bill would require a county’s or city’s building department
to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s
internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. The bill would instead entitle a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work within 30 days of receiving the notice. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 79 (Wiener, D) Planning and zoning: housing development: transit-oriented development.
Status: 03/12/2025 - Re-referred to Coms. on HOUSING and L. GOV.
Summary: Current law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines “surplus land” for these purposes to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Current law defines “agency’s use” for these purposes to
include land that is being used for agency work or operations, as provided. Current law exempts from this
definition of “agency’s use” certain commercial or industrial uses, except that in the case of a local agency that is a district, except a local agency whose primary purpose or mission is to supply the public with a transportation system, “agency’s use” may include commercial or industrial uses or activities, as specified. This bill would additionally include land leased to support public transit operations in the
definition of “agency’s use,” as described above. (Based on 03/05/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 328 (Grayson, D) Hazardous waste generator permits: housing development projects.
Status: 03/26/2025 - Re-referred to Coms. on E.Q. and REV. & TAX.
Summary: The hazardous waste control laws require the Department of Toxic Substances Control to regulate the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials. Current law, as part of the hazardous waste control laws, requires a facility handling hazardous waste to obtain a
hazardous waste facilities permit from the Department of Toxic Substances Control. This bill would
establish time limits for completing reviews to determine whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit, as defined, is complete and compliant, and whether to approve or deny an application, as specified. (Based on 03/17/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 436 (Wahab, D) Unlawful detainer: right to redeem tenancy.
Status: 02/26/2025 - Referred to Com. on JUD.
Summary: Current law prescribes summary procedures for actions to obtain possession of real property.
Current law authorizes a landlord to serve a notice of termination of tenancy on a tenant who is in default in the payment of rent. The notice must permit the tenant at least 3 days, excluding weekends and judicial holidays, to pay the amount that is in default and due. If the tenant does not pay the amount stated in the 3-day notice to pay rent or quit after its expiration, the landlord may file a complaint for unlawful detainer
against the tenant to obtain possession of the premises. In such a summary proceeding, the court has
discretion to relieve a tenant against forfeiture of their lease or rental agreement and restore the tenant to their former estate or tenancy. To seek such discretionary relief, the tenant must, among other things, make a showing of hardship and pay the full amount of rent due. This bill would require a court presiding over an unlawful detainer action to restore a residential tenant to their former estate or tenancy if the
tenant: (1) pays the full amount of rent in arrears, as specified, or (2) submits documentation of approval
for rental assistance funds in an amount that would cover the full amount of rent in arrears. The bill would not require a tenant to make a showing of hardship to obtain this relief. The bill would allow a residential tenant seeking this relief to tender payment or submit required documentation to the landlord, the landlord’s designated agent, or the court. If the tenant tenders such payment or submits required
documentation before entry of judgment, the bill would require the plaintiff to request dismissal of the
action against the tenant with prejudice. If the plaintiff fails to do so, the bill would require the court to dismiss the action upon receiving evidence that the tenant tendered such payment or submitted the required documentation. If the tenant tenders payment or submits required documentation after entry of judgment, but before restoration of the premises to the landlord, the bill would require the court to relieve
the tenant against forfeiture of the lease according to specified procedures, set aside the judgment
against all defendants in the action, and restore the tenant to their former estate or tenancy. (Based on 02/18/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 457 (Becker, D) Housing element compliance: Housing Accountability Act: housing disapprovals.
Status: 03/24/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-
referred to Com. on HOUSING.
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law requires each county and each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law, commonly referred to as the housing element law, prescribes requirements for a city’s or county’s
preparation of, and compliance with, its housing element, and requires the Department of Housing and
Community Development to review and determine whether the housing element substantially complies
with the housing element law, as specified. Existing law within the Planning and Zoning Law, the Housing
Accountability Act, among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning
approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes written findings, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that one of 6 specified conditions exist. Among these conditions, the act allows a local agency to disapprove a housing development project that is inconsistent
with the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinances and general plan land use designation as it existed on the date
the application was deemed complete, if the jurisdiction has adopted a revised housing element that is in substantial compliance with the housing element law, as specified. The act defines “deemed complete” for purposes of its provisions, until January 1, 2030, to mean that the applicant has submitted a preliminary application, as specified, or if the applicant has not submitted a preliminary application, the
submission of a completed application, as specified. This bill, for the purpose of allowing a local agency to
disapprove a housing development project that is inconsistent with the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinances and general plan land use designation, as described above, would revise the definition of “deemed complete” to mean that the applicant submitted a complete application, as specified. The bill would provide that this definition would apply to an application that as of January 1, 2026 has not (1) received
approval from a local agency or (2) incurred substantial liability in good faith reliance upon the local
agency approval. Existing law provides that a housing element or amendment is considered substantially compliant with the housing element law when the local agency adopts a housing element or amendment, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction determines the adopted housing element or amendment to be in substantial compliance with the housing element law, and the department’s
compliance findings have not been superseded by subsequent contrary findings by the department or by
a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or the court’s decision has not been overturned or superseded by a subsequent court decision or by statute, as applicable. This bill would, instead, provide that a housing element or amendment is considered substantially compliant with the housing element law on the date when the governing body of a local agency adopts the housing element or amendment,
provided that after the date the housing element or amendment is adopted and without further action by
the governing body, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction determines the adopted housing element or amendment to be in substantial compliance with the housing element law, and the department’s compliance findings are not superseded by subsequent contrary findings by the department or by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or the court’s decision is not overturned or
superseded by a subsequent court decision or by statute. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Consider Sponsor
SB 489 (Arreguín, D) Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects.
Status: 03/25/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
Summary: The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency to compile a list of the information
required from an applicant for a development project, as provided, and, until January 1, 2030, specifies
that a development project for purposes of this requirement includes a housing development project, as
defined. The act defines various terms for its purposes, including, among others, a “development project,” which is generally defined as any project undertaken for the purpose of development. This bill, until January 1, 2030, would require a public agency, for each approval issued in connection with a housing
development project, to publish online the above-described list, including the criteria that the public
agency will apply in order to determine the completeness of the development application and the name of
the approval, as provided. The bill would revise the definition of “housing development project” for these purposes. (Based on 03/25/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 607 (Wiener, D) California Environmental Quality Act: categorical exemptions: infill projects.
Status: 03/24/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-
referred to Com. on E.Q.
Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to
adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead
agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the
environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law defines “negative declaration” and “mitigated negative declaration” for these purposes.This bill would
revise the definition of negative declaration to mean a written statement briefly describing the substantial
evidence in the record that the proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment, as
specified. The bill would also revise the definition of mitigated negative declaration to mean that revisions would avoid or mitigate the effects on the environment, as determined by the public agency based upon substantial evidence in the record, as specified, and that there is substantial evidence that the project as
revised will not have a significant effect on the environment, as provided. (Based on 03/24/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 677 (Wiener, D) Housing development: streamlined approvals.
Status: 03/05/2025 - Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and L. GOV.
Summary: (1)Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone to be considered ministerially, without discretionary review or hearing, if the proposed housing development meets certain
requirements. This bill would require ministerial approval for proposed housing developments containing
no more than 2 residential units on any lot hosting a single-family home or zoned for 4 or fewer residential units, notwithstanding any covenant, condition, or restriction imposed by a common interest development association. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 786 (Arreguín, D) Planning and zoning: general plan: judicial challenges.
Status: 03/25/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-
referred to Com. on RLS.
Summary: The Planning and Zoning Law requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and of certain land outside its boundaries, and requires the general plan to contain specified mandatory elements. Current law specifies that these provisions generally do not apply to a charter city, but requires a charter city to adopt a general
plan that contains the mandatory elements, among other things. Current law prescribes a process to
challenge the validity of a general plan. Among other things, existing law requires a petitioner to request a hearing or trial, as specified. Current law requires a court to set a date for the hearing or trial to be heard no later than 120 days after the filing of the request, as specified. Current law authorizes a court to continue for a reasonable time the date of the hearing or trial upon written motion and finding of good
cause. Current law requires a court to grant the petitioner temporary relief if the court grants a
continuance to a respondent, as specified. This bill would apply to the above-described process to challenge the validity of a general plan to a charter city and state that this is declaratory of existing law. The bill would limit the period for which a court may continue a trial or hearing, as described above, to no more than 60 days and would additionally authorize a court to grant a continuance on the court’s own
motion. (Based on 03/25/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Revenue and Taxation
SB 346 (Durazo, D) Local agencies: transient occupancy taxes: short-term rental facilitator.
Status: 03/20/2025 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Summary: Current law authorizes a local authority, by ordinance or resolution, to regulate the
occupancy of a room or rooms, or other living space, in a hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, or other lodging for a period of less than 30 days. This bill would authorize a local agency, defined to mean a city, county, or city and county, to enact an ordinance to require a short-term rental facilitator, as defined, to
report, in the form and manner prescribed by the local agency, the assessor parcel number of each short-
term rental, as defined, during the reporting period, as well as any additional information necessary to
identify the property as may be required by the local agency. The bill would authorize the local agency to impose an administrative fine or penalty for failure to file the report, and would authorize the local agency to initiate an audit of a short-term rental facilitator, as described. The bill would require a short-term rental
facilitator, in a jurisdiction that has adopted an ordinance, to include in the listing of a short-term rental
any applicable local license number associated with the short-term rental and any transient occupancy
tax certification issued by a local agency. (Based on 03/20/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 549 (Allen, D) Second Neighborhood Infill Finance and Transit Improvements Act.
Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing May 7.
Summary: Current law authorizes the infrastructure financing plan to provide for the division of taxes
levied on taxable property in the area included within the district, as specified, and authorizes the public
financing authority to issue bonds by adopting a resolution containing specified provisions, including a determination of the amount of tax revenue available or estimated to be available for the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds. This bill would revise NIFTI-2 to instead authorize, for resolutions adopted under that act’s provisions on or after January 1, 2026, a city, county, or city and county to adopt
a resolution, at any time before or after the adoption of the infrastructure financing plan for an enhanced
infrastructure financing district, to allocate property tax revenues, and to remove the authorization for adoption of a resolution that allocates revenues derived from local sales and use taxes imposed pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or transactions and use taxes. The bill would also repeal the condition that the boundaries of the enhanced infrastructure financing district are
coterminous with the city or county that established the district. (Based on 02/20/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Works
AB 1340 (Wicks, D) Metropolitan Transportation Commission: duties.
Status: 03/13/2025 - Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Summary: The Metropolitan Transportation Commission Act establishes the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to provide comprehensive regional transportation planning for the San Francisco Bay area,
as provided. Existing law requires the commission to establish a regional transit coordinating council to
better coordinate routes, schedules, fares, and transfers among the San Francisco Bay area transit operators and to explore potential advantages of joint ventures in certain areas. The act authorizes the commission, in consultation with the regional transit coordinating council, to identify functions performed by individual public transit systems that could be consolidated to improve the efficiency of regional transit
service, and recommend that those functions be consolidated and performed through inter-operator
agreements or as services contracted to a single entity. This bill would require the commission to consult
with the general manager from each transit operator, instead of the regional transit coordinating council,
when identifying functions that could be consolidated and recommending their consolidation, as described
above. To the extent that this bill would impose additional duties on transit operators, it would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 63 (Wiener, D) San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation funding.
Status: 03/25/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-
referred to Com. on RLS.
Summary: Would establish the Transportation Revenue Measure District with jurisdiction extending throughout the boundaries of the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa and the City and County of San Francisco and would require the district to be governed by the same board that governs the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a
retail transactions and use tax applicable to the entire district to be imposed by the board of the district or
by a qualified voter initiative for a duration of 10 to 15 years, inclusive, and generally in an amount of 0.5%, subject to voter approval at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. After allocations are made for various administrative expenses, the bill would require an unspecified portion of the proceeds of
the tax to be allocated by the commission to initiatives included in a specified commission plan and to the
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, the Peninsula Rail Transit District, commonly known as Caltrain,
the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for operating expenses, and would require the remaining proceeds to be subvened directly to the counties comprising the district for public transportation expenses, as prescribed. (Based on 03/25/2025
text)
Position: Watch
SB 71 (Wiener, D) California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions: transit projects.
Status: 03/25/2025 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) until January 1, 2030, exempts from its requirements active transportation plans, pedestrian plans, or bicycle transportation plans for the restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and
highway intersection operations, and the related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles. This bill
would extend the operation of the above-mentioned exemption indefinitely. The bill would also exempt a transit comprehensive operational analysis, as defined, a transit route readjustment, or other transit agency route addition, elimination, or modification, from the requirements of CEQA. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a plan qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose
a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/25/2025 text)
Position: Watch
SB 445 (Wiener, D) Sustainable Transportation Project Permits and Cooperative Agreements.
Status: 02/26/2025 - Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV.
Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to
adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead
agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial
evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA, until
January 1, 2030, exempts from its requirements certain transportation-related projects if specified
requirements are met. CEQA includes within these exempt transportation-related projects a public project for the institution or increase of bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service, which will be exclusively used by low-emission or zero-emission vehicles, on existing public rights-of-way or existing highway rights-of-way. This bill would require a lead agency to provide a written notice with specified information to a third-
party entity, defined by the bill to mean a local agency, electrical corporation, or private
telecommunications provider, regarding its need to use, relocate, alter, change, or otherwise improve facilities, publicly owned and managed utilities, public spaces, or other publicly or privately owned facilities under the third-party entity’s jurisdiction or ownership for the implementation of a sustainable transportation project. This bill would define “sustainable transportation project” to mean a project where
the lead agency is a state agency, operator, or local agency that proposes the construction or
modification of facilities meeting at least one of several specified criteria, including that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the above-described provisions. (Based on 02/18/2025 text)
Position: Watch
Total Measures: 48 Total Tracking Forms: 48
April 8, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Legislative AdvocacyUpdates
Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk
Carly Shelby, Senior Associate,
Townsend Public Affairs
1
•Discuss bills with recommended positions (no action is needed from
the Committee unless there is disagreement with these positions)
•SB 456 (Ashby) – recommended support
•SB 457 (Becker) – recommended support
•AB 650 (Papan) – recommended support
•AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) – recommended oppose
•AB 259 (Rubio) – recommended support
•SB 239 (Arreguin) – recommended support
•SB 707 (Durazo) – seek amendments
•SB 346 (Durazo) – recommended support
•Provide feedback on the monitoring list (Attachment B, packet pg. 55-
73), including changes or other bills the Committee would like to
discuss
Recommendation
Slide 3
Presentation Overview
Bills With Positions
Recommended Positions
Looking Forward
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 4
Bills With Positions
Exempts an artist who paints a mural
from the provisions of the Contractors
License Law
Position: Support
Status: Policy Committee
Local Artist Protections: SB 456
(Ashby)
Prevents the misuse of the Builder’s
Remedy while continuing to provide strong
incentives for cities to develop and adopt
compliant housing elements on a timely
basis.
Position: Support
Status: Policy Committee
Development Standards: SB
457 (Becker)
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 5
Recommended Positions: Housing and Land Use
Extends key state housing timelines:
•Housing Needs Determination by
HCD: 30 months before housing
element update (up from 24)
•Methodology Consultation with HCD:
32 months before update
•RHNA Methodology Development by
COGs: 30 months before update (up
from 24)
•Draft RHNA Allocations to Cities: 18
months before update (up from 12)
•Requires HCD to create a standard
reporting format for local jurisdictions
to document actions to affirmatively
further fair housing
RHNA Process Improvements: AB 650
(Papan)
•More Predictable Planning Cadence
Supports smoother alignment of city
planning timelines with HCD’s regional
housing processes
•Improved Methodology Development
Allows for more robust, collaborative
RHNA methodology discussions between
local governments, COGs, and HCD
•Reduces Compliance Risk
Helps staff meet deadlines and avoid
penalties tied to late or noncompliant
housing elements
•Supports Equity Goals
Standardized reporting ensures local fair
housing actions are consistent,
transparent, and measurable
RHNA Process Improvements: AB 650
(Papan) – Impacts
Recommendation: Support
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 6
Recommended Positions: Building Standards
•Creates a moratorium on the adoption
of new state and local building standards
affecting residential units from June 1,
2025, to June 1, 2031
•Local governments prohibited from
making changes to existing building
standards unless specific conditions are
met, such as the California Building
Standards Commission deeming the
changes necessary as emergency
standards
Building Code Moratorium: AB 306
(Schultz, Rivas)
•Restricts local authority over building
standards, including climate adaptation
and energy efficiency initiatives
•Hinderance to Climate Goals including
new reach codes to achieve emission
reduction targets
•Economic implications, including higher
long term energy costs for residents
AB 306 (Schultz) - Impacts
Recommendation: Oppose
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 7
Recommended Positions: Brown Act Flexibility
•Extends indefinitely the provisions of
AB 2449 (Rubio, 2022), which allow
elected officials to utilize teleconferencing
during specific emergencies, travel, or
medical circumstances.
Teleconferencing during Emergencies:
AB 259 (Rubio)
•Allows advisory-only subsidiary bodies
to meet via teleconference without
having to notice or open remote locations.
•Requires at least one physical, publicly
accessible location with staff presence.
Includes other public access provisions.
Subsidiary Body Teleconferencing: SB
239 (Arreguin)
Recommendation: Support
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 8
SB 707 (Durazo) - Comprehensive Brown Act
Modernization
Extends teleconferencing flexibility until January 1, 2030.Adds standardized rules for all types of teleconferencing (e.g., visual presence, notice, real-time comment).
Expands remote participation to subsidiary and multijurisdictional bodies with stricter quorum and equity requirements.
Requires city councils and boards of supervisors to offer remote public access and make language accommodations.
Enhances transparency rules and creates new language access mandates.
Recommended Position: Seek Amendments
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 9
Recommended Positions: Revenue and Taxation
•Provides cities with the assessor
parcel number of each short-term
rental listed on the facilitator’s website
and full audit authority of TOT dollars.
•Ensures the correct amount of TOT is
collected and remitted and allows for
enforcement against unlicensed units.
Transient Occupancy Taxes: SB 346
(Durazo)
•Better equip cities to enforce local
ordinances related to short-term rentals,
including the collection and remittance of
transient occupancy taxes (TOT).
•Important gearing up toward big events like
FIFA World Cup in 2026
SB 346 – Impacts
Recommendation: Support
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 10
Looking Forward: State Budget
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
May Revision Coming Soon
CA-DC Fiscal Dynamics Drive Uncertainty
Impact of LA Wildfires Overspending in Key Programs
Stock Market Spiral Could Mean Turbulence in Future Years
Slide 11
Advocacy Program
•Regular check in meetings with staff
•Legislative and budget priorities for 2025 – including federal earmark request
•Consistent reports and updates on priority issues
•Grant funding advocacy and protection of federal funds
•Ongoing advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, DC on behalf of City legislative priorities and budget requests
•Relationship development with Legislative Delegation and Leadership
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
Slide 12
California Advocacy | Federal Advocacy | Grant Writing
www.TownsendPA.com | (949) 399-9050
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
California Advocacy,
Featuring:
Niccolo De Luca
Vice President
ndeluca@townsendpa.com
Casey Elliott
Vice President
celliott@townsendpa.com
Carly Shelby
Senior Associate
cshelby@townsendpa.com
Federal Advocacy,
Featuring:
Ben Goldeen
Fed. Advocacy Director
bgoldeen@townsendpa.com
Joseph Melo
Senior Associate
jmelo@townsendpa.com
Sammi Maciel
Fed. Funding Associate
smaciel@townsendpa.com
Grant Writing,
Featuring:
Alex Gibbs
Grants Director
agibbs@townsendpa.com
Anastasia Heaton
Senior Associate
aheaton@townsendpa.com
Barbarah Torres
Senior Associate
btorres@townsendpa.com
Policy and Services Legislative Update | April 8, 2025
1
•Discuss bills with recommended positions (no action is needed from
the Committee unless there is disagreement with these positions)
•SB 456 (Ashby) – recommended support
•SB 457 (Becker) – recommended support
•AB 650 (Papan) – recommended support
•AB 306 (Schultz, Rivas) – recommended oppose
•AB 259 (Rubio) – recommended support
•SB 239 (Arreguin) – recommended support
•SB 707 (Durazo) – seek amendments
•SB 346 (Durazo) – recommended support
•Provide feedback on the monitoring list (Attachment B, packet pg. 55-
73), including changes or other bills the Committee would like to
discuss
Recommendation