RESOLUTION NO. 26-____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL
REVISITING THE CITY OF CUPERTINO LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
POLICY
WHEREAS, the City Council has an interest in weighing in on state, federal, and regional legislative issues that impact the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the City receives legislative action alerts sent by various city associations that need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis; and
WHEREAS, the Council had previously established the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) to make recommendations on legislative advocacy issues that could impact the City; and
WHEREAS, the ad -hoc legislative subcommittee recommended that the City adopt a new Legislative Platform for 2026 and reestablish the LRC by resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to revise the Legislative Advocacy Policy to support timely, coordinated, and strategic engagement on state and federal legislation that may impact the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby:
1. Adopt the revised Legislative Advocacy Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A, including reestablishing the Legislative Review Committee and adopting an annual Legislative Platform .
2. Repeal and Replace Resolution No. 23 -026 and any other procedures, policies, or rules adopted by the Council that are inconsistent with this Resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this 19 day of February, 2026, by the following vote:
Members of the City Council
AYES:
NOES:
Resolution No. 26-___
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
SIGNED:
___________
Kitty Moore, Mayor
City of Cupertino
________________________
Date
ATTEST:
_____________
Lauren Sapudar, Acting City Clerk
________________________
Date
Resolution No. 26-___
Exhibit A
Legislative Advocacy Policy
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines regarding City legislative advocacy by the City Council.
II. BACKGROUND
A Legislative Platform identifies the City’s broad advocacy positions on issues and legislation with local impacts. Advocacy positions typically relate to pending legislation and current issues, and guide Council and staff on intergovernmental matters directly related to service delivery, or otherwise contribute to the City’s operational success and/or health and well-being of its residents.
III. OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of establishing an annual Legislative Platform is for the City Council and the Legislative Review Committee to adopt official City positions on clearly stated legislative issues at the start of a legislative session. By doing this, the legislative approval process is streamlined by receiving clear direction at the beginning of the legislative session from the City Council on pertinent legislative issues.
IV. POLICY STATEMENT
1. Each year the City Manager shall present for Council’s consideration a draft Legislative Platform. Once approved by the City Council, this platform informs official City advocacy positions on pending legislative issues.
2. The Legislative Platform is utilized by staff throughout the year to determine, in consultation with the Legislative Review Committee, City positions on legislation and intergovernmental issues and minimizes the need for staff to request further direction from Council on legislation and issues as they arise.
3. During the year, staff monitors and researches pending legislation to identify bills that could significantly impact Cupertino. With authorization from the Legislative Review Committee, City staff shall Resolution No. 26-___
prepare position letters consistent with the Council-approved Legislative Platform for the Mayor’s signature.
4. Items not addressed in the City’s Legislative Platform will require Council approval prior to any legislative advocacy efforts.
5. Legislative priorities should focus on issues directly relevant to or impacting the provision of municipal services. Generally, the City will not address matters that are not pertinent to the City’s local government services, such as international issues.
V. Implementation
The City Manager shall monitor the provisions of this policy. Disagreements in interpretation of the City’s Legislative Platform shall be resolved by the City Council.
City departments are encouraged to monitor and be knowledgeable of any legislative issues related to their discipline. However, any requests for the City to take positions on a legislative matter must be directed to the City Manager’s Office. City departments may not take positions on legislative issues without City Manager’s Office review and approval from the Legislative Action Committee.