CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3212
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Date: February 19, 2026
Subject
Consider (1) adopting Resolution No. 26-___ to repeal and replace Resolution No. 23-026 regarding the Legislative Review Committee (LRC), (2) adopting the 2026 Legislative Platform, and (3), amending the 2026 Council Committee Assignments to designate Vice Mayor Liang Chao and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang to the LRC, with Mayor Kitty Moore as an alternate.
Recommended Action
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-___, to repeal and replace Resolution No. 23-026, regarding the Legislative Review Committee
2. Adopt the 2026 Legislative Platform
3. Amend the 2026 Council Committee Assignments to designate Vice Mayor Liang Chao and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang to the LRC, with Mayor Kitty Moore as an alternate.
Background
Many cities adopt legislative platforms to clearly outline official positions on federal and state bills with local impacts. Each year, the Council takes positions on numerous bills that may affect the City. In 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-010, which established a Legislative Advocacy Policy and formalized the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) to guide the City’s legislative positions. In 2023, Council adopted Resolution No. 23-026, dissolving the LRC in an effort to streamline the legislative process and consider positions as a full council. A council ad-hoc subcommittee was in effect for the 2025 legislative session to review legislation and bring recommendations to the full Council. At the December 16 Council meeting, the full Council approved the subcommittee’s recommendation to adopt a new Legislative Platform for 2026 and reestablish the LRC.
Reasons for Recommendation and Available Options
The Draft Resolution (Attachment A) establishes a Legislative Advocacy Policy intended to support timely, coordinated, and strategic engagement on state and federal legislation affecting the City through a formal, Brown-Acted, LRC, and an annual Legislative Platform.
2026 Legislative Platform
The proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (Attachment C) outlines the City’s legislative priorities and policy positions and serves as a guiding document for the LRC, staff and the City’s lobbyist
when engaging with state and federal legislators. The platform is intended to provide clear direction while allowing flexibility to respond to emerging legislation throughout the year.
Once adopted by the full Council, the LRC would be authorized to take legislative positions that are consistent with the platform without requiring further Council action. Any items not addressed in the platform, or with a monitor position, will require Council approval prior to any legislative position is taken by the City. The Legislative Platform would be reviewed annually prior to the beginning of each legislative session and brought to Council for adoption every January/February.
In developing the proposed platform, staff reviewed the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform, which was the most recent version, and made updates in consultation with the Mayor and the City’s lobbyist. The proposed 2026 Legislative Platform retains the overall policy framework and core positions adopted by the City Council in 2022, while incorporating targeted updates to reflect evolving legislative priorities and recent state and federal actions. Updates include the following:
• Climate Action and Sustainability: Support for funding and remediation of groundwater and drinking water contamination related to emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, PCE, TCE).
• Housing and Land Use: Acknowledgment of job-housing imbalance, with continued emphasis on preserving local control, affordable housing, parkland/open spaces, design review authority, and opposition to unfunded mandates and by-right approvals. • Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness: Added support for funding Proposition 36 and retrofitting local emergency operation centers. New monitoring of legislation related to wildfire preparedness and insurance for natural disasters. • Transportation and Infrastructure: Emphasized a data-driven approach to transit policies and added support for local micro-transit programs (e.g., SV Hopper). Added monitoring of transit agency fiscal stability and the use of cap-and-trade funds. • Technology and Governance: New monitoring of artificial intelligence and workforce impacts, digital governance, and remote participation. Updated opposition to legislation that lowers the voting requirements, absent local government approval. • Economic Development and Fiscal Strategy: New monitoring of sales tax legislation and new support for the preservation of retail and commercial spaces.
The detailed changes are redlined in the Proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (Attachment B).
Reestablishing the Legislative Review Committee
Since the dissolution of the LRC in 2023, legislative review has been conducted internally and through ad hoc processes. Based on this experience, Council identified benefits to reestablishing a standing LRC, which would be responsible for reviewing legislation, receiving updates from staff and the City’s lobbyist, and taking legislative positions on topics consistent with the adopted Legislative Platform. Reestablishing the LRC is intended to enhance efficiency by allowing for focused and timely review of legislative matters and increasing transparency and education for Cupertino’s residents.
For the 2026 legislative session, Mayor Moore recommends amending the 2026 Council Committee Appointments to appoint Vice Mayor Liang Chao and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang to the LRC and appointing herself as an alternate. This amendment is necessary to establish the LRC, and an alternate will ensure that attendance and quorum is met for all scheduled meetings.
Sustainability Impact
No sustainability impact.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact.
City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description
None
Council Goal:
Public Engagement and Transparency
California Environmental Quality Act
No California Environmental Quality Act impact.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Astrid Robles, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Kirsten Squarcia, Interim Deputy City Manager Floy Andrews, Interim City Attorney
Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Resolution
B – Proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (redline)
C – Proposed 2026 Legislative Platform (clean)
D – Amended 2026 Council Committee Assignments (redline) E – Amended 2026 Council Committee Assignments (clean)