1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 1
City of Bakersfield: Positioned Bills as of September 18, 2025
Bill Number Summary Position Legislative Platform Status AB 237
(Patel)
Criminalization of Threats to Sensitive
Public Spaces – Creates a new criminal
offense for threats against locations like
schools, workplaces and public venues.
Support Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Senate Inactive
File
AB 339
(Ortega)
Local Public Employee Organizations -
Requires public agencies to give a recognized
employee organization 45 days’ written notice
regarding contracts to perform services that
are within the scope of work of job
classifications represented by the recognized
employee organization.
Oppose Support maximum flexibility for local
government in contracting and contract
negotiations.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 348 (Krell) Full Service Partnerships -- Sets criteria for presumptive eligibility for full-service
partnerships, including individuals with
serious mental illness transitioning from
prison or jail, but exempts counties from
enrolling if funding limits are exceeded.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 379
(Schultz)
Crimes: Human Trafficking: Increases the
penalty for solicitation of a minor in specified
circumstances, makes it a misdemeanor for
any person to loiter in any public place with
the intent to purchase commercial sex,
creates the Survivor Support Fund to fund
Support Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Chaptered
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 2 grant programs to community-based
organizations that provide direct services and
outreach to victims of sex trafficking and
exploitation, creates the human trafficking
vertical prosecution grant program, and
increases civil penalties for specified human
trafficking-related violations by businesses
AB 400
(Pacheco)
Police Canine Policy Standards – Requires
all law enforcement agencies with canine
units to adopt POST compliant use of force
policies by January 1, 2027.
Support Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 416 (Krell) Emergency Physicians - Expands access to state funding for supportive-recovery
residences that prioritize abstinence while
following Housing First principles. The DHCS
will certify these residences using national
standards, with a $1,000 certification fee.
Funding is capped at 25% of a county’s
permanent supportive housing.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 507
(Haney)
Adaptive Reuse Streamlining Incentives -
Streamlines approvals for adaptive reuse
projects, allowing ministerial approval in all
zones if projects meet affordability and
historic preservation criteria. Exempts
qualifying projects from CEQA, waives most
impact fees, and lets local governments offer
tax incentives starting in 2026-27. Cities must
approve or deny applications within set
timeframes and cannot impose new
development standards that alter existing
buildings.
Neutral Support legislation that streamlines
federal and state environmental review
processes and limits court reviews of
environmental documentation.
Governor’s
Desk
Moved to
Neutral after
9/5/25
amendments
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 3 AB 630
(Gonzalez)
Abandoned Recreational Vehicles -
Expands the abandoned vehicle disposal
process to include recreational vehicles
valued at $4,000 or less. Requires public
agencies to verify that recreational vehicles
are inoperable before disposal and mandates
annual reporting on removed recreational
vehicles, including data on occupants and
operability. The bill also includes provisions
for notification, hearings, and authorized
disposal procedures, with potential state
reimbursement for local costs.
Neutral Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Governor’s
Desk
Moved to
Neutral after
8/29/25
amendments
limiting
applicability to
only Los
Angeles and
Alameda
Counties
AB 650
(Papan)
Planning and zoning: housing element:
regional housing needs allocation.
The Planning and Zoning Law requires that
a housing element include, among other
things, a program that sets forth a
schedule of actions during the planning
period. Current law requires the
Department of Housing and Community
Development to develop a standardized
reporting format for programs and actions
taken pursuant to the requirement to
affirmatively further fair housing. This bill
would require the department to develop
the above-described standardized
reporting format on or before December
31, 2026.
Support Support legislation that would provide
additional time and resources to improve
Housing Element processes.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 735
(Carrillo)
Logistics use: truck routes - Changes the
timelines in AB 98 for local agencies to
update their circulation element and make
Support Support efforts that impact the City’s
ability to enhance the well-being, quality
of life, health, and safety of residents;
Senate Inactive
File
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 4 clarifying and conforming changes to law
established by AB 98.
and stabilize and enhance jobs and
economic growth.
Signed onto
CBPA coalition
letter
AB 825
(Petrie-
Norris)
Independent System Operator - authorizes
the California Independent System Operator
(CAISO) and the electrical corporations
whose transmission is operated by the CAISO
to use voluntary energy markets governed by
an independent regional organization (RO) if
specified requirements are met
Support Support legislation that promotes
retention, transition, and advancement
of the region’s traditional mainstay
industries of oil production, agriculture
and goods movement.
Governor’s
Desk
AB 1265
(Haney)
CA Historic Tax Credit -- Extends the tax
credit for the rehabilitation of certified historic
structures through 2031, increasing the credit
from 25% to 30% for certain structures,
including those adapted for affordable
housing. The bill also requires improvements
to preserve existing affordable housing and
mandates an annual review of the credit’s
effectiveness until 2031.
Support Support legislation that provides
incentives (tax benefits, grants, loans,
credits for affordable units) to local
agencies, private developers and non-
profit groups in order to rehabilitate
residential units and commercial
properties.
Assembly Rev
and Tax, 2-year
bill
SB 6 (Ashby) Controlled Substance Classification of
Xylazine -
adds xylazine to California’s list of Schedule
III controlled substances.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Assembly
Appropriations,
held in
committee
SB 27
(Umberg)
Community Assistance, Recovery, and
Empowerment (CARE) Court Program -
Allows California courts to hold the initial
CARE Court appearance at the same time as
the prima facie determination if certain
requirements are met. This change
streamlines proceedings and expedite access
to treatment for individuals with severe
mental illness.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Governor’s
Desk
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 5
SB 79
(Wiener)
This bill provides transit agencies land use
authority on property they own or have a
permanent easement on, within a half mile of
a transit stop. Transit agencies would have
the power to determine all aspects of the
development including height, density, and
design, without any regard to local zoning or
planning
Oppose Oppose legislation or governance that
attempts to supersede adopted planning
documents or projects that have already
been approved through appropriate
processes.
Governor’s
Desk
SB 237
(Grayson &
Hurtado)
Oil spill prevention - The Governor must
establish a state oil spill contingency plan,
and the administrator must implement
regulations for oil spill contingency plans and
permit these plans for use by similar
companies. Owners/operators of facilities
potentially impacting state waters must
obtain a financial responsibility certificate.
This bill mandates public posting of these
certificates and input solicitation for spill
volume and financial responsibility
standards, with revisions every 10 years.
Support Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Governor’s
Desk
SB 367 (Allen) Access to Mental Health Care - Expands the criteria for involuntary mental health
treatment and conservatorships under the
Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act by requiring
assessments to consider a person’s historical
condition and ability to meet basic needs. It
also broadens the list of professionals who
can recommend conservatorships, mandates
more detailed treatment plans, and enhances
coordination between agencies handling LPS
and probate conservatorships.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Senate
Appropriations,
held in
committee
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 6 SB 415
(Reyes)
Logistics use: truck routes - Changes the
timelines in AB 98 for local agencies to
update their circulation element and make
clarifying and conforming changes to law
established by AB 98.
Support Support efforts that impact the City’s
ability to enhance the well-being, quality
of life, health, and safety of residents;
and stabilize and enhance jobs and
economic growth.
Governor’s
Desk
Signed onto
CBPA coalition
letter
SB 445
(Wiener)
High Speed Rail; third party permits -
requires CHSRA to develop and adopt
regulations for governing third-party permits
and approvals that are necessary to deliver
the high-speed rail project, with specified
objectives, by July 1, 2026
Oppose Oppose legislation that puts either the
employer or employee at a disadvantage
or increases the cost of workers
compensation insurance in the State.
Assembly
Appropriations,
held in
committee
SB 487
(Grayson)
Worker’s Compensation - Provides injured
public safety workers priority in recovering
damages in third party civil suits.
Watch Oppose legislation that puts either the
employer or employee at a disadvantage
or increases the cost of workers
compensation insurance in the State.
Governor’s
Desk
SB 496
(Hurtado)
Advanced Clean Fleets. Establishes an
Appeals Advisory Committee by which local
agencies may request a review of exemption
request denials. update the emergency
vehicle exemption, allowing those vehicles
that respond to and support critical
operations related to emergencies and
disasters.
Support Support legislation and budget actions
that support local agencies that fund the
implementation of Advance Clean Fleet
Regulations.
Senate
Appropriations,
held in
committee
SB 556
(Hurtado)
Habitat Restorations: Floodplains. This bill
would appropriate $21,500,000 to be
allocated to the board for floodplain
acquisition, habitation restoration and
conservation projects in the Counties of Kern,
Kings and Tulare.
Support Support ongoing funding for water quality
improvements.
Assembly
Appropriations,
held in
committee
SB 569
(Blakespear)
Caltrans Coordination on Homeless
Encampments.
Support Support legislation that strengthens the
ability of the City to create safe
environments and well-being for all.
Assembly
Transportation,
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 7 Establishes a framework for cooperation
between Caltrans, local governments, and
state agencies to address homeless
encampments on state highway property.
held in
committee
SB 577 (Laird) State Government.
This bill would shorten the amount of time a
victim of childhood sexual assault that
occurred before January 1, 2024, would have
to file a specified action to 22 years from the
date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or
within 3 years of the date the plaintiff
discovers or reasonably should have
discovered that psychological injury or illness
occurring after the age of majority was caused
by the sexual assault, whichever period
expires later. This bill would, for actions filed
on or after April 15, 2025, against a public
entity, or one of its employees or agents, by a
plaintiff who is 40 years of age or older,
increase the standard of liability to gross
negligence.
Watch Oppose legislation that puts either the
employer or employee at a disadvantage
or increases the cost of workers
compensation insurance in the State.
Assembly
Inactive File
CAJAPA is
opposed.
SB 607
(Wiener)
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA): Categorical Exemptions: infill
projects – This bill modifies CEQA by limiting
the scope of environmental impact reports
when a project nearly qualifies for a
categorical exemption, streamlining reviews
for certain infill developments while excluding
distribution centers and oil and gas projects.
It also refines the record-keeping
requirements for legal challenges and
Watch Support legislation that streamlines
federal and state environmental review
processes and limits court reviews of
environmental documentation.
Language
inserted into
AB 131. Signed
by Governor
June 30, 2025.
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 8 restricts the scope of environmental review if
a project loses its exemption status.
SB 661
(Hurtado)
Airports: Financial Assistance – supports
regional air service by dedicating aviation fuel
tax revenues to non-hub airports like
Meadows Field Airport.
Support The bill would requires 50% of revenues
from the sales and use taxes on jet fuel
be transferred to the Aeronautics
Account.
Assembly Rev
and Tax, held in
committee
SB 707
(Durazo)
Open Meetings: Meeting and
Teleconference Requirements – Bill makes
various changes to Brown Act without
providing funding for cities such as changing
the definitions of legislative body and
meetings, requiring two-way telephonic or
audiovisual platform for all legislative bodies,
and changes to required language
translations.
Watch Support efforts to restore local authority
and control over revenues, governance,
and service delivery as well as protect
local governments against unfunded
mandates.
Governor’s
Desk
SB 801
(Hurtado)
Agricultural Workers: Definition This bill
creates an exemption for sheep and goat
herders from overtime pay provisions due to a
misapplication of overtime law.
Support Support legislation and governance that
provides for protections and reasonable
accommodations for the agriculture and
energy production industries.
Support legislation that would
strengthen community and disaster
preparedness, public health, safety, and
resiliency.
Assembly
Labor, held in
committee
1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 9 SB 820
(Stern)
Inmates Psychiatric Medical
Administration -- Allows psychiatrists to
administer psychiatric medication without
informed consent to misdemeanor
defendants found incompetent to stand trial
in emergency situations or when a court
determines they are gravely disabled and lack
the capacity to refuse treatment. Bill
establishes procedures for notification,
review, and limitations on involuntary
medication, ensuring due process
protections. It also clarifies that an inmate’s
temporary access to basic needs while
incarcerated does not determine their ability
to provide for those needs outside of custody.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Governor’s
Desk
SB 823
(Stern)
Mental Health CARE Act – Expands eligibility
for the Community Assistance, Recovery, and
Empowerment (CARE) Act.
Support Support legislation that reforms the
state’s behavioral health and substance
abuse policies and programs.
Senate
Appropriations,
held in
committee