To:
FROM:
DATE:
CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Tamara S. Letourneau, City Manager
July 15, 2025
SUBJECT: Update on the City's Legislative Advocacy Efforts and Annual Review of the City's Adopted Legislative Platform
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Receive and file this update on the City's Legislative Advocacy Efforts.
2. Review the current Legislative Platform and determine if any changes are necessary.
BACKGROUND
On February 19, 2019, the City Council adopted the City's Legislative Platform. The purpose of the legislative platform is to provide an outline and means for summarizing the City's core legislative principles and positions on legislative matters for the purpose of advocacy efforts at the regional, state, and federal levels. The legislative platform serves as the foundation for the City to support or oppose various state and federal legislation.
The legislative platform was developed to be consistent with and support the City's long term strategic mission and vision, as well as to maintain the City's Municipal Code.
On May 21, 2024, the City Council adopted an updated Legislative Platform and instructed staff to bring the Legislative Platform back to the City Council on an annual basis.
The Legislative Platform contains "Guiding Principles," which are values that are paramount when determining whether taking action on legislation is required. The Guiding Principles are:
• Preserve and Enhance Local
Control
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Promote Economic Development
• Support Responsible Funding
Opportunities
• Maintain Quality Public Safety
The Legislative Platform also includes "Policy Statements," which capture positions on issues the City has previously stated concern for or acted upon. These issues include:
• Local Control • Homelessness
• Local Revenue • Public Safety
• Fiscal Responsibility and • Sober Living Homes
Sustainability • Air Traffic Noise
• Economic Development • Utilities
• Funding Opportunities • Environment
• Drug Abuse • Miscellaneous
Since the City Council's adoption of the legislative platform, City Staff has been able to take timely action on legislation and regulatory issues. This has allowed staff to effectively and efficiently communicate the City's positions to legislators and policymakers in Sacramento and Washington D.C. on crucial legislation and regulatory efforts that affect the City and its residents.
ANALYSIS
As we approach the Summer Recess in the 2025 Legislative Session, it is appropriate to provide an update on the City's legislative advocacy efforts. Staff continues to work collaboratively and diligently with regional and statewide associations to identify bills of interest as outlined in the City's Legislative Platform (Attachment A).
Using the adopted Legislative Platform, 71 proposed bills are currently being tracked (Attachment B). Staff continues to monitor these bills and take advocacy steps when necessary to ensure the City's identified long-term strategic needs and vision are being advocated.
Thus far, in the 2025 legislative session, the City has submitted 21 advocacy letters to the state legislator, of which 18 have passed the house of origin and remain active. The active bills on which the City has taken a position can be divided into four broad categories: Local Control, Public Safety, Sober Living Homes/Treatment Facilities, and Miscellaneous.
Local Control
• Assembly Bill 261 - Fire Safety: Fire Hazard Severity Zones: State Fire Marshal (Support): AB 261 (Quirk-Silva) would strengthen the accuracy of California's Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps by allowing the State Fire Marshal to assess and consider input from public agencies, nonprofits, and other stakeholders about actions that may affect fire hazard severity designations. • Assembly Bill 1206 - Single-Family and Multifamily Housing Units:
Preapproved Plans (Oppose): AB 1206 (Harabedian) would require each local agency to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and multifamily residential housing plans for public use.
• Senate Bill 79 - Housing Development: Transit-Oriented Development (Oppose): SB 79 (Wiener) would make housing development an allowable use within a half-mile radius of a major transit stop and allows transit agencies to adopt objective standards for both residential and commercial developments proposed to be constructed on transit-oriented land owned by the transit agency or on which the transit agency has a permanent operating easement.
• Senate Bill 445 - Transportation: Planning: Sustainable Transportation Project Delivery Reform Act (Oppose): SB 455 (Wiener) would impose strict deadlines on municipalities reviewing sustainable transportation projects. SB 445 would grant transit agencies the authority to begin construction if those deadlines are not met, undermining the ability of local jurisdictions to thoroughly review projects, assess environmental and community impacts, and ensure that development aligns with local planning needs.
Public Safety
• Assembly Bill 544 - Electric Bicycles: Required Equipment (Support): AB 544 (Davies) would require a person under the age of 18 to take an electric bicycle safety course if they receive a violation for failing to wear a proper helmet, and want the court not to impose a fee.
• Assembly Bill 545 - Vehicles: Electric Bicycles (Support): AB 545 (Davies) would prohibit a person from selling an application that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle.
• Assembly Bill 615 - Power Facilities: Emergency Response and Action Plans (Support): AB 615 (Davies) would require energy storage applications submitted to the California Energy Commission for opt-in permitting to include an emergency response and action plan.
• Assembly Bill 841 - State Fire Marshal: Personal Protective Equipment:
Battery Fires (Support): AB 841 (Patel) would require the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, to develop a working group with specified membership to make recommendations regarding personal protective equipment used in responding to lithium-ion battery fires. • Assembly Bill 875 - Vehicle Removal (Support): AB 875 (Muratsuchi) would authorize a peace officer to remove and impound a vehicle that 1) has fewer than four wheels but does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle or 2) is a class 3 e-bike, and the operator is under 16 years old.
• Assembly Bill 1285 - State Fire Marshal: Lithium-Ion Battery Facilities:
Guidance (Support): AB 1284 (Ransom) would require the State Fire Marshal to develop fire prevention, response, and recovery measures for utility-grade lithium ion battery storage facilities.
Sober Living Homes/Treatment Facilities
• Assembly Bill 424 - Alcohol and Other Drug Programs: Complaints (Support): AB 424 (Davies) would require the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS ), when it receives a complaint from a member of the public about a licensed adult alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, or a facility alleged to be providing services without a proper license, to provide specified notification to the person who filed the complaint.
Page4
• Assembly Bill 492 - Alcohol and Drug Programs: Licensing (Support): AB 492 (Valencia) would require DHCS, whenever it issues a license to operate an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, to concurrently provide written notification of the issuance of the license to the city or county in which the facility is located.
• Senate Bill 35 - Alcohol and Drug Programs (Support): SB 35 (Umberg) would require DHCS to take action when it determines an entity is providing residential alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment services without a proper license, including initiating and completing investigations within specified timeframes and requires a county behavioral health agency to investigate these complaints in specified counties upon request by DHCS.
• Senate Bill 83- State Department of Health Care Services: Substance Abuse Treatment: Disclosure (Support): SB 83 (Umberg) would expand current law to require the DHCS to post on its website an identification and summary of each violation issued for licensed adult residential alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities.
• Senate Bill 329 - Alcohol and Drug Recovery or Treatment Facilities:
Investigations (Support): SB 329 (Blakespear) would require the DHCS, within 10 days of receiving a complaint about a residential alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, assign the complaint to an analyst, and complete an investigation within 60 days of assigning the complaint.
Miscellaneous
• Assembly Bill 75 - Residential Property Insurance Images (Support): AB 75 (Calderon) would require insurers to notify residential property insurance policyholders at least 45 days in advance of taking any aerial images of the insured property, and requires insurers to provide any aerial images taken or obtained of the insured property to the policyholder upon request.
• Assembly Bill 334 - Operators of Toll Facilities: Interoperability Program:
Vehicle Information (Support): AB 334 (Petrie-Norris) would enable toll operators in California to participate in a national interoperability program, providing toll customers with seamless access to all U.S. tolled facilities using their home toll account.
• Assembly Bill 571 - California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption:
Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery (Support): AB 571 (Quirk-Silva) would exempt from the requirements of CEQA any activity or approval necessary for the completion of the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in the County of Orange.
As the legislative session progresses, staff will continue to take appropriate action on legislation in line with the City's Legislative Platform and will provide similar legislative advocacy effort updates as necessary in the future.
This report serves to update the City Council on recent legislative advocacy efforts, while also providing an opportunity for any City Council changes to the adopted Legislative Platform. As such, staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this legislative update and provide direction to staff on any changes to the City's Legislative Platform.
FISCAL REVIEW
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this report.
LEGAL REVIEW
No legal review is required for this report.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Receive and file this update on the City's Legislative Advocacy Efforts.
2. Review the current Legislative Platform and determine if any changes are necessary.
Kevin X. O'Connor
Assistant to the City Manager
Attachments:
A. Legislative Platform
B. Legislative Tracking Sheet
ATTACHMENT A
Legislative Platform
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
Adopted: 02/19/2019
Last Revised: 05/21/2024
Table of
Contents
Introduction 3
Legislative Advocacy Process 3
Guiding Principles 4
Policy Statements
Local Control 5
Local Revenue 5
Fiscal Responsibility and Stability 6
Economic Development 6
Funding Opportunities 6
Drug Abuse 6
Homelessness 7
Public Safety 7
Sober Living Homes 7
Air Traffic Noise 7
Utilities 8
Environment 8
Miscellaneous 8
2 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the legislative platform is to provide an outline and means for summarizing the City's core legislative principles and positions on legislative matters for the purpose of advocacy efforts at the regional, state and federal levels. The legislative platform serves as the foundation for the City to support or oppose various state and federal legislation.
The legislative platform is developed to be consistent with and support the City's long term strategic vision, General Plan and maintain the City's Municipal Code.
This platform is an evolving document that will be amended regularly from year to year or within each year as critical legislation is introduced. The City Manager's Office will continually update the legislative platform, taking into account new issues or priorities as they relate to the City. When an issue arises that is not addressed within the legislative platform, staff will return to the City Council for direction as needed. The policies established within the platform do not preclude the City Council to consider additional legislative matters that arise throughout the year. These matters may be brought forward by the City Council for the consideration of action.
Approval of the legislative platform streamlines the City's process of effectively responding and taking immediate action, by responding to legislators and policymakers in Sacramento and Washington D.C., on crucial legislation that affects the City and its residents.
Laguna Niguel is Orange County's hidden gem. Actions taken by the City since incorporation has allowed Laguna Niguel to become one of the best cities for business, rank in the top 15 safest cities in all of California, maintain a desirable quality of life, preserve an unmatched natural beauty. This legislative platform is aimed towards securing legislative action and resources that will assist in maintaining the City's economic growth, safety record, scenic natural beauty, and enhancing the quality of life our residents have come to enjoy.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PROCESS
1. Develop and adopt a yearly legislative platform based off of the long-term strategic vision and current needs of the City
2. Monitor and analyze proposed legislation and regulations to determine effects on City and residents
3. When necessary, communicate City's position on proposed legislation and regulations through letters of support or opposition, direct contact with legislators and policymakers, and other forms of communication
4. When issues arise that are not addressed within the platform, staff will return to the City Council for direction
5. City Council may seek action on legislation or regulations that are not addressed within the platform
3 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
I. Preserve and Enhance Local Control
Support measures that preserve, protect and enhance the City's local authority to enact policy and make regulatory determinations as needed pertaining to local affairs. Oppose measures that seek to preempt or degrade local control.
II. Fiscal Responsibility
Support measures that promote sound fiscal policy that ensures good stewardship of the City's taxpayer's dollars. Support efforts that preserve and promote the City's ability to maintain and grow its revenue base. Oppose measures that diminish the City's ability to obtain revenue sources that are required to provide critical services to its residents, or that result in unbudgeted expenditures Ill. Promote Economic Development
Support legislation and regulatory reforms that provide the City with the necessary tools and opportunity to continue to grow its economy and enhance economic development efforts. Support measures that provide the City with the capability to attract and retain businesses, as well as encourage current businesses to expand and retain jobs locally.
IV. Support Responsible Funding Opportunities
Support responsible funding opportunities and measures that allow the City to compete for its fair share of regional, state and federal funding. Support initiatives that are promoted to dedicate funding streams to cities for critical residential services.
V. Maintain Quality Public Safety
Support legislation that provides the City with the ability to maintain quality public safety for its residents. Support measures and initiatives that are designed to preserve law enforcement action that provided residents with the safety needed to achieve a desirable quality of life. Oppose efforts that would diminish the City's ability to properly fund its police services and funding decreases that negatively affect public safety. Oppose measures that would bypass local authority and control, therefore creating the possibility of rises in illegal activity. 4 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
POLICY STATEMENTS
Local Control
• Support efforts to preserve and protect local control and authority over local affairs, as well as the values reflected within the City
• Support measures that protect locally generated revenues through sales taxes and regional shares
• Support legislation that protects local governments from new regulations that would be burdensome and increase costs of services provided by cities, or regulations that would increase costs of services without a proportionate benefit to cities • Support the reform of regulatory approaches or mandates that transfer state responsibilities to local agencies without protected funding sources • Oppose any legislation that preempts local control and authority or transfers jurisdiction over local programs
• Oppose legislation that would transfer regulatory control and responsibility from the local level to the county, state or federal level
• Oppose legislation that would limit or restrict local land use decision-making authority • Oppose any state or federal mandates without the direct or indirect reimbursement for the costs associated with complying with the new and/or modified laws, regulations, policies, procedures, permits, and/or programs
• Oppose any legislation that creates unnecessary regulations, and/or restricts the City's capability to choose the most cost efficient and effective form of providing essential services
• Oppose any infringements upon the City's resident's right to vote on their own local taxes and fees
• Oppose any legislation that causes the City to become more dependent on federal, state, and/or county government or agencies for policy direction • Oppose federal efforts that would bypass California law designed to preserve provisions found in local ordinances
Local Revenue
• Protect the City's ability to receive revenue through local taxes and fees • Support measures that would keep all local revenues intact • Support local sales and use tax reform that would create an equitable distribution structure that appropriately captures and allocates online sales taxes • Oppose legislation that would preempt or threaten local taxation authority • Oppose legislation that provides for the borrowing or redistribution of local revenues for state budgetary purposes
• Oppose proposals to add new taxes and proposals to increase current taxes 5 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Fiscal Responsibility and Stability
• Support common sense fiscal policy that results in the responsible handling of the City's revenue
• Support predictable and consistent funding levels for local programs to allow cities to properly plan for administering services
• Oppose unfunded state or federal mandates and regulations that would force the City to become responsible for the burden of the cost
• Oppose efforts which provide for burdensome regulation on government access channels • Oppose legislation and the promulgation of rules and regulations that allow regulatory agencies to encroach upon or supersede local authority
• Oppose measures that result in the diversion of local government funds to the state or other entity
• Oppose proposals that create an additional financial burden on or threaten the viability of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) • Oppose legislation or ballot initiatives that would alter or erode the legislative intent of Proposition 13 approved in 1978
Economic Development
• Support legislation that creates, or gives the City the ability to create, an environment that is deemed business-friendly or would create an opportunity for economic growth • Support initiatives that by preserving and enhancing a positive business climate, the business tax base grows
• Oppose legislation that is deemed by the City to be anti-business or would prevent economic growth, job creation and retention, business creation and retention • Oppose excessive regulations that would hurt job creation or would prevent the City from providing an economic climate likely to attract new businesses, retain current businesses and create and retain jobs
Funding Opportunities
• Support funding availabilities that allows for the improvement of quality of life, public safety, and residential services for City residents
• Oppose efforts to decrease sources of local funding, i.e., Community Development Block Grant or Federal Highway Administration
• Oppose initiatives that provide for the loss of potential or current funding for the City Drug Abuse
• Support efforts that would decrease the amount of excess, unused, or unwanted prescription medication throughout the City, region, county and state • Support efforts to fight back against the opioid crisis and its effects on individuals, families and communities
• Oppose legislation, regulations and rules that would prevent the City from collecting prescription medications through its police services
• Oppose measures that prevent the City's ability to require fair and proper permits, regulate cannabis dispensaries and potential cannabis dispensaries, as well as ban dispensaries within City limits 6
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Homelessness
• Support efforts involving county, state and federal governments that would reduce and prevent homelessness, and assist in finding permanent housing and supportive services for those in need
• Support measures that would maximize regional collaboration, partnerships and equitable sharing of costs
• Support legislation that strengthens existing community based organizations and homeless services agencies
• Support increased funding for community based organizations dedicated to ending homelessness and assisting those who are in need
• Oppose efforts that would force the establishment of temporary living facilities or "tent cities" within the City
• Oppose legislation that would mandate the City to establish permanent housing or supportive services
Public Safety
• Support adequate funding for law enforcement, emergency response and other public safety agencies
• Support efforts to improve local law enforcement, fire suppression and prevention, rescue, emergency medical services and disaster preparedness • Support legislation that limits the placement of sex offender homes within City limits • Support efforts to prevent burglaries and burglary tourism • Support legislation and implementation of state programs and policies that promote pedestrian and bicycling safety, including safe use of electronic bicycles (e-bikes) and safe trail use
• Support efforts to reform Proposition 47 approved in 2014 • Oppose legislation that would restrict local law enforcement agencies from collaborating and partnering with federal agencies in responding to requests for notification when a jail or other detention or correction facility houses an individual who might be subject to immigration enforcement action
Sober Living Homes
• Support efforts that provide cities with more control over the establishment and placement of group homes or sober living homes within city limits • Support legislation that ensures residents of sober living homes are provided with a safe and sober home environment that is free of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse • Support legislation that requires sober living homes to be licensed and registered to meet specific standards to preserve the neighborhood value and quality of life Air Traffic Noise
• Support reasonable efforts that would result in the decrease of air traffic noise in the City, lessening the disturbance on residents
7 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Utilities
• Protect the City's ability to manage public rights-of-way, receive compensation for right- of-way use, and zone and plan for the development of telecommunications infrastructure • Protect the City's ability to negotiate fair leases or public benefits for the installation of small cell wireless equipment on public property, lease out publicly owned infrastructure as it sees fit, and make necessary discretionary reviews on all related equipment • Support the ability for cities to manage public rights-of-way and receive compensation for its use
• Support efforts to maintain the ability to retain existing fees and agreements on telecommunications services and for public, educational and governmental channels Environment
• Support legislation that provides increased funding opportunities for City environmental programs and improvements
• Support efforts to improve air quality, energy efficiency, and conservation, while reducing water run-off, and other forms of pollution
• Support changes to CEOA that retain CEOA's foundation of appropriately addressing environmental impacts but ensure that CEOA is not used as a tool for litigation and the delay of important projects
• Support state and federal administrative and legislative efforts aimed at the safe removal, transport, and interim and/or long-term storage of nuclear waste from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
• Oppose measures that would eliminate reasonable local environmental review • Oppose legislation that places undue hardship on cities to implement new environmental regulation
Miscellaneous
• Support regulations and legislation that support the affordability and availability of homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance
8 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
ATTACHMENT B
Legislative Tracking Sheet
I
City of Laguna Niguel - 2025 Legislative Tracker
AB 1
AB 3
Residential Property Insurance: Wildfire Risk Would require the Department of Insurance, on or before January 1, 2030, and every 5 years thereafter, to consider whether or not to update its regulations to include additional building hardening measures for property-level mitigation efforts and communitywide w(ldfJre. mitigation prog~ams ..
Watch
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Facilities: Local Would exempt an alcohol or substance use disorder recovery or treatment facility licensed Watch Regulations on or after January 1, 2026, from being considered a residential use of property for the purposes of local regulation if the facility is located within 300 feet of another recovery or treatment facility, both facilities share the same owner or director or share programs or amenities, and the total number of residents in both facilities is greater than 6.
AB 75 Residential Property Insurance Images AB 75 requires admitted insurers to notify residential property insurance policyholders at Support least 45 days in advance of taking any aerial images of the insured property, and requires AB 226 California Fair Plan Association
AB 261 Fire Safety: Fire Hazard Severity Zones:
State Fire Marshal
insurers to provide any aerial images taken or obtained of the insured property to the policyholder upon request.
Establishes the FAIR Plan Stabilization Act, which authorizes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I Bank), upon the request of the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan (FAIR Plan), to issue bonds to finance the costs of claims, to increase liquidity, and claims-paying capacity of the FAIR Plan, and to refund bonds previously issued for that purp ose._
Watch
This bill would strengthen the accuracy of California's Fire Hazard Severity Zones maps by Support allowing the State Fire Marshal to assess and consider input from public agencies, nonprofits, and other stakeholders about actions that may affect fire hazard severity designations.
Connolly
Dixon
Calderon
Calderon
Quirk-Silva
AB 303 Battery Energy Storage Facilities AB 303 would prohibit the authorization of a development project that includes a battery Support if amended Addis energy storage system capable of storing 200 megawatt-hours or more of energy if the development project is located within 3,200 feet of a sensitive receptor (ex: homes, schools, assisted living facilities) or on an environmentally sensitive site. .. ----- . -- ---- - - -- - - -· - AB 334 Operators of Toll Facilities: Interoperability AB 334 will enable toll operators in California to participate in a national interoperability Support AB 339
Programs: Vehicle Information program, providing toll customers with seamless access to all U.S. tolled facilities using their home toll account. --- ------
Local Public Employee Organizations: Notice Requires the governing body of a public agency, board, and commission to give a Requirements recognized employee organization 60 days written notice regarding contracts to perform services that are within the scope of work of job classifications represented by the ____ re_c_ognized ~~p~~yl:.e __ orga~~zatjo~. _
AB 404 CEQA Exemption: Prescribed Fire, The legislation would indefinitely extend an existing CEQA exemption for prescribed fire, Reforestation, Habitat Restoration, Thinning, thinning, and fuel reduction projects on federal lands that have already been reviewed or Fuel Reduction Projects
AB 423 Alcohol and Drug Recovery or Treatment
Facilities: Discharge and Continuing Care
Planning
under the National Environmental Policy Act.
This bill would require a business-operated recovery residence to register its location with the department.
Watch
Watch
Support
Petrie-Norris
Ortega
Sanchez
Davies
Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted.
Updated : July 8, 2025
12/2/2024 Passed Assembly and ordered to the Senate
Committee on Insurance. Referred to Senate
Appropriations 7 /14
12/2/2024 Two-Year Bill
12/16/2024 Passed Assembly and referred to the Senate
Committee on Insurance 7 /9
1/9/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Business, Professions, and Economic
Development and Senate Committee on
Insurance. Referred to Appropriations 7 /14
1/16/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Governmental
Organizations Committee and the Committee
on Natural Resources and Water. Referred to
the Senate Appropriations Committee
1/23/2025 Two-Year Bill
1/28/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Transportation. Referred to Senate Judiciary
7/15
1/28/2025 Passed Assembly and ordered to the Senate
Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and
Retirement 7 /9
2/4/2025 Two-Year Bill
-
2/5/2025 Two-Year Bill
1 AB 424 Alcohol and other Drug Programs:
Complaints
Requires the DHCS, when it receives a complaint from a member of the public about a licensed adult alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, or a facility alleged to be providing services without a proper license, to provide specified notification to the person who filed the complaint.
Support
AB 434 Construction and Safety Standards: Battery This bill would prohibit, until January 1, 2028, a public agency from authorizing the Watch Storage Facilities
-
AB 465 Local public employees: Memoranda of
Understanding
AB 470 Telephone Corporations: Carrier of Last
Resort
AB 492 Alcohol and Drug Programs: Licensing
AB 538 Public Works Payroll Records
AB 544 Vehicles: Electric Bicycles
AB 545 Electric Bicycles: Required Equipment
IAB 571 ~EQA Exemption Gypsum Canyon Veterans
L Cemetery
Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted .
construction of a battery energy storage facility. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal, on or before January 1, 2028, to adopt guidelines and minimum standards for the construction of a battery energy storage facility to prevent fires and protect nearby communities from any fire hazard posed by the facility.
Requires an MOU between a local public agency and a recognized employee organization Watch (REO) to include, among other things, a provision that provides for a system of progressive discipline that grants due process to an employee when they are disciplined, upon request of the REO.
This bill would provide procedures for telephone corporations to terminate their carrier of last resort obligations only in specified areas that are well-served, and also in areas where the United States Census Bureau reports no population or in areas where telephone corporations provide no basic exchange service to any customer .
Watch
This bill would require DHCS, whenever it issues a license to operate an alcohol or other Support drug recovery or treatment facility, to concurrently provide written notification of the issuance of the license to the city or county in which the facility is located. The bill would require the notice to include the name and mailing address of the licensee and the location of the facility.
Requires the awarding body of a public works project, if a request for a certified copy of payroll records is made by the public through the awarding body and the body is not in possession of the records, to obtain those records from the relevant contractor and make them available to the requesting entity; requires the contractor to comply within 10 days of receiving a written notice from the awarding body requesting the records; and authorizes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) to enforce certain penalties against a subcontractor or contractor if it fails to comply within 10 days. - -------
Requires a person under the age of 18 to take an electric bicycle (e-bike) safety course if they receive a violation for failing to wear a proper helmet, and want the court not to impose a fee. Requires e-bikes to have red reflectors on the bicycle at all hours of the day instead of just at nig_!lt. _ __
Watch
Support
This bill would also prohibit a person from selling an application that can modify the Support speed capability of an electric bicycle.
This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA any activity or approval necessary Support for the completion of the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in the County of Orange. ---- ----- - --- ----- -
Davies
DeMaio
Zbur
McKinnor
Valencia
Berman
Davies
Davies
Quirk-Silva
2/5/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Health. Referred to Appropriations
Committee 7 /14
2/5/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/6/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/6/2025 Passed Assembly and ordered to Senate
2/10/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Health. Referred to Senate Floor
2/11/2025 Passed Assembly and the Senate Committee
on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement .
Placed on the Assembly Appropriations
Suspense File
2/11/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate. Referred to the
Assembly Floor
-2/11/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate. Referred to the
Assembly Floor
2/12/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Environmental Quality and referred to
Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs
7/14
2 AB 588 State Fire Marshal: Lithium Battery Working This bill would require the Office of the State Fire Marshal to convene a lithium battery Watch Group: Membership: Funding
AB 610 Housing Element: Governmental
Constraints: Disclosure Statement
AB 615 Power Facilities: Emergency Response and
Action Plan
AB 623 Fuel Modification and Reduction Projects:
CEQA: Coastal Development Permits:
Exemptions.
AB 647 Housing Development Approvals:
Residential Units
AB 650 Planning and Zoning: Housing Element:
Regional Housing Needs Allocation
working group, composed of specified members selected by the State Fire Marshal, to identify those safety issues associated with lithium batteries and associated charging infrastructure installed or used near or within residential or commercial occupancies that have not already been addressed in the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code, and to recommend potential solutions that will enhance building safety for the State Fire Marshal and other impacted agencies to consider.
This bill requires cities and counties to prepare a disclosure statement identifying potential Watch governmental constraints as a part of their housing element and limits the ability of cities and counties to adopt governmental constraints.
This bill requires energy storage applications submitted to the CEC for opt-in permitting Support to include an emergency response and action plan.
This bill would exempt a fuel modification project to maintain a defensible space of 500 Watch feet from each side and from the front and rear of a building or structure from the requirements of CEQA.
AB 647 forces cities to allow up to eight housing units on any lot with an existing single- Oppose family home.
This bill will be amended to significantly improve the housing element review process by Watch encouraging local jurisdictions to begin planning earlier and providing greater clarity and certainty to a difficult and complex process.
AB 660 Planning and Zoning Law: Post-Entitlement This bill eliminates the ability of local governments to require more than two plan checks Watch Phase Permits: Housing Accountability Act on a building permit application unless the local agency's request for additional reviews is necessary to address a s~ecific, adverse im_pact on public health and safety.
AB 712 Housing Reform Laws: Enforcement Actions: This bill entitles applicants who prevail in an action over a local agency to reasonable Watch Fines and Penalties attorney's fees and subjects local agencies to increased fines for violating housing reform laws unde.!: specified circumstances.
AB 818 Permit Streamlining Act: Local Emergencies Facilitates the rapid rebuilding and repairing of housing affected by natural disasters by Watch AB 841 State Fire Marshal: Personal Protective
Equipment: Battery Fires
AB 846 Endangered Species: Incidental Take:
Wildfire Preparedness Activities
AB 874 Mitigation Fee Act: Waiver of Fees:
Affordable
Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted.
expediting its entitlement and post-entitlement permits and waiving fees.
This bill would require the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the Division of Support Occupational Safety and Health, to develop a working group with specified membership to make recommendations regarding personal protective equipment used in responding ___ to lithium-ion battery fires. __
The measure would create a clear way for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to Watch process vegetation removal and fuel management projects in fire hazard severity zones near urban communities overseen by local governments.
-
This bill would require a local agency to waive fees or charges that are collected by a local Watch agency to fund the construction of public improvements or facilities for residential developments subject to a regulatory agreement with a public entity, that includes certain income and affordability requirements.
Patel
Alvarez
Davies
Dixon
Gonzalez
Papan
Wilson
Wicks
Avila Farias
Patel
Connolly
Farias
2/12/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/13/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Housings. Referred to the Senate Committee
on Local Government 7 /16
2/13/2025 Passed Assembly and the Senate Committee
on Energy, Utilities, and Communications.
Referred to the Senate Appropriations
Committee
3/17/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/13/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/13/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Housing. Referred to Senate Appropriations
Committee 7 /14
2/14/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Local Government. Referred to Committee on
Housing 7 /15
2/14/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Housing. Referred to the Judiciary Committee
7/15
2/19/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Local Government. Ordered to Committee on
Housin~ 7 /15
2/19/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Governmental Organizations. Referred to the
Senate Appropriations Committee
2/19/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Natural Resources and Water. Referred to
Senate Appropriations Committee 7 /14
2/19/2025 Two-Year Bill
3 AB 875 Vehicle Removal
AB 888 California Safe Homes Grant Program
AB 965 Vehicles: Electric Bicycles
This bill authorizes a peace officer to remove and impound a vehicle that 1) has fewer Support than 4 wheels but does not meet the definition of an electric bicycle (e-bike) and meets other criteria, or 2) is a class 3 e-bike, and the operator is under 16 years old, further requires the release of a seized vehicle to the owner, violator, or their agent after a minimum of 48 hours. - . - . . . - - -
This measure would create the California Safe Homes Grant Program which would provide Watch funding to individuals, cities, counties and special districts for roof hardening and home hardening.
This bill would prohibit a person from selling a class 3 electric bicycle to a person under 16 Watch years of age and would make a violation of that prohibition an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.
AB 996 Public Resources: California Coastal Act of This bill would define a clearer review process for the certification for local coastal Watch 1976: California Coastal Planning Fund programs through the Coastal Commission to help local governments update LCPs, including with the latest sea level rise science, planning, and implementation efforts.
AB 1007 Land use: Development Project Review
AB 1022 Parking: Ability to Tow
AB 1090 Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Treatment
Facilities: County of Orange Pilot Program
AB 1131 General Plan: Annual Report: Congregate
Care for the Elderly
AB 1143 State Fire Marshal: Home Hardening
Certification Program
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AB 1206 Single-family and Multifamily Housing
Units: Pre-approved Plans
AB 1267 Consolidated License and Certification
AB 1285 State Fire Marshal: Lithium-Ion Battery
Facilities: Guidance
L~
Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted.
This bill would reduce the timeline for approval or disapproval by a "responsible agency" for residential and mixed-use development projects from 90 days to 45 days of either the lead agency's approval, or the date the agency receives a complete application, whichever is later. -
This measure would severely limit cities' ability to enforce parking regulations, causing a cascade of fiscal damage: lost revenue, increased administrative costs, decreased compliance, harm to local businesses, public safety risks, and overall reduced effectiveness of municipal government operations.
This bill would require the OCHS to establish a pilot program in the County of Orange to locate an investigator within a participating county to investigate complaints against licensed adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities within the county .
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This bill would allow a planning agency, starting with the 7th revision of the housing Watch element and for each subsequent revision, to include in its report the number of units approved for congregate care for the elderly, as defined. This could account for up to 15% of a jurisdiction's regional housing need allocation for any income category.
Requires the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to develop a home hardening certification Watch program that identifies the best appropriate combination of products and construction assemblies and convene and facilitate a workgroup for such purposes, as specified.
Requires each local agency to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and Oppose multifamily residential housing plans for public use.
Requires the DHCS to offer a consolidated license for adult alcohol or other drug (AOD) recovery or treatment facilities (RTFs) and certification for AOD programs that allows the holder to operate more than one facility and more than one facility type within the same geographic location, defined as within 1,000 feet, except for those facilities in area zoned exclusively for residential use. _
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This bill requires the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to develop fire prevention, response, and Support recovery measures for utility grade lithium-ion battery storage facilities.
Muratsuchi
Calderon
Dixon
Pellerin
Rubio
Karla
Davies
Ta
Bennett
Harabedian
Pellerin
2/19/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Public Safety and the Committee on
Transportation. Referred to the Senate
Appropriations Committee
-
2/19/2025 Passed Assembly and order to the Senate
Committee on Insurance 7 /9
2/20/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Transportation. Referred to Senate Floor
2/20/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Natural Resources and Water. Placed on
Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense
File
2/20/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Local Government. Referred to Appropriations
Committee 7 /14
-
2/20/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/20/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/20/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Housing
Committee. Referred to Senate Appropriations
Committee 7 /14
2/20/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Government Organizations and Committee on
Natural Resources and Water. Referred to
Senate Appropr iations Committee
2/21/2025 Passed Assembly and referred to the Senate
Committee on Local Government and referred
to Committee on Housing 7 /15
2/21/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Health. Referred to Senate Appropriations
Committee 7 /14
Ransom 2/21/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on Governmental Organizations. Referred to the
Senat~ Appropriat!ons Committee
4 AB 1294 Planning and Zoning: Housing Development: This bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to create Standardized Application Form a standardized housing entitlement application that all local governments must accept.
AB 1308 Residential Building Permits: Fees:
Inspections
AB 1337 Information Practices Act of 1977
AB 1383 Public Employee's Retirement Benefits
SB 9 Accessory Dwelling Units: Ordinances
Allows an applicant for a small residential building permit to contract with or employ a priva~e professional_ p~_m.iider_to pe_rform inspe~tions if spedfied time periods e_laiJse.
This bill requires each local agency in the state to comply with the Information Practices Act (IPA) and subjects more types of personal information to regulation under the law.
This bill modifies the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) to increase pensionable compensation, defined benefit retirement formulas, and contribution cost sharing.
Specifies that a local ordinance implementing Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Law is null and void if the local agency adopting the ordinance fails to submit a copy of the ordinance to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as required by existing law.
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SB 16 Ending Street Homelessness Act Enacts the Ending Streets Homelessness Act to require applicants for Round 7 of Watch SB 35
SB 38
SB 43
SB 74
SB 79
SB83
SB 92
Alcohol and Drug Programs
Second Chance Program
Substance Use Disorder: Addiction
Treatment Referral Agencies
Summary
Infrastructure Grant Funding
Planning and Zoning: Housing
Development: Transit-Oriented
Development
the Homelessness Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) to identify goals to reach functional zero for homelessness and city and county applicants to submit an MOU describing their roles and responsibilities as it relates to homelessness.
This bill requires the DHCS to take specified action when it determines an entity is providing residential alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment services without a proper license, including initiating and completing investigations within specified timeframes. Requires a county behavioral health agency to investigate these complaints in specified counties upon request by DHCS.
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This bill would require the Second Chance grant program to authorize eligibility for proposals that offer mental health or behavioral health services and drug court or collaborative court programs, including the treatment program under the Treatment Mandated Felony Act.
This bill implements a regulatory regime for the oversight of referral agencies that refer individuals to licensed or certified addiction treatment facilities and programs, to be overseen by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
This measure would establish the "Gap Fund," managed by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), which will offer grants for the remaining 20 percent of project CESt~_to cit_ies and loca! a_gendes.
Makes housing development an allowable use within a ½ mile radius of a major transit stop, and allows transit agencies to adopt objective standards for both residential and commercial developments proposed to be constructed on transit-oriented land owned by the transit agency or on which the transit agency has a permanent operating easement. --- ----- -- -
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State Department of Health Care Services - This bill expands current law to require the DHCS to post on its website an identification Support Substance Abuse Treatment - Disclosures and summary of each violation issued for licensed adult residential alcohol or other drug Housing Development: Density Bonuses
recovery or trea~ment facilities.
Limits the ability of development proponents to apply concessions, incentives, and development waivers under Density Bonus Law (DBL) to nonresidential uses, including hotel uses.
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Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted .
Haney
Hoover
Ward
McKinnor
Arreguin
Blakespear
Umberg
Umberg
Umberg
Seyarto
Wiener
Umberg
Blakespear
2/21/2025 Passed Assembly and Senate Committee on
Housing. Referred to Senate Committee on
Local Government 7 /16
2/21/2025 Passed Assembly. Referred to Committee on
Local Government 7 /15
2/21/2025 Passed Assembly and order to the Senate
Judiciary Committee 7 /15
2/21/2025 Two-Year Bill
12/24/2024 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Housing and Community Development.
Referred to the Assembly Committee on Local
Government 7 /16
12/2/2024 Passed and order to Assembly Committee on
Housing and Community Development 7 /16
12/3/2024 Passed Senate and ordered to Assembly
Committee on Health 7 /15
12/3/2024 Two-Year Bill
Two-Year Bill
-
1/15/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Local Government. Placed on Assembly
Appropriations Committee Suspense File
1/15/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Housing and Community Development.
Referred to the Assembly Committee on Local
Government 7 /16
1/17/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Health. Referred to Appropriations
Committee
1/22/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Housing and Community Development .
Referred to the Assembly Committee on Local
Government 7 /16
5 SB 233 Regional Housing Need: Determination: This bill would require HCD for the 7th revision of the housing element, to meet and Watch Seyarto 1/28/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on Consultation with Councils of Governments consult with each council of governments at least 38 months prior to the scheduled Housing and Community Development. revision. For the 8th and subsequent revision of the housing element, the bill would require Referred to Assembly Committee on Local the department to meet and consult with each council of governments at least 38 months Government 7 /16 prior to the scheduled revision.
SB 283 Battery Energy Storage Systems Senate Bill 283 requires the California Fire Marshal to review and consider incorporating Watch Laird 2/25/2025 Passed Senate and Passed Assembly into the next update of the California Building Standards Code the most recently published Committee on Utilities and Energy. Referred to edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 855 standards regarding BESS. Assembly Committee on Local Government Finally, SB 283 requires the BESS developer to meet and confer with the local fire 7/16 department responsible for fire suppression before submitting an application for that project.
S8329 Alcohol and Drug Recovery or Treatment This bill requires the DHCS, within 10 days of receiving a complaint about a residential Support Blakes pear 2/11/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on Facilities: Investigations alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, assign the complaint to an analyst, Health. Referred to the Assembly Committee and complete an investigation within 60 days of assigning the complaint. on Appropriations - SB 346 Local Agencies: Transient Occupancy Taxes: SB 346 would establish the Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025. It will require each Watch Durazo 2/12/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on Short-term Rental Facilitator short-term rental facilitator to report, upon request from local agencies, the physical Local Government. Referred to the Assembly address, including the nine-digit zip code of each short-term rental during the specified Judiciary Committee 7 /15 reporting period. This bill would also allow local agencies to impose administrative fines or penalties on short-term rental facilitators who fail to report this information. -
SB 354 Insurance Consumer Privacy Protection Act SB 354 addresses Insurance Consumer Privacy Protections by establishing standards for Watch Limon 2/15/2025 Passed Senate and ordered to Assembly of2025 processing consumers' personal information by insurance licensees and their third-party Committee on Insurance providers. Creates a right for consumers to consent to the sharing of their personal information by licensees for various purposes. Provides that consumers have a right to be made aware of the reasons for adverse underwriting decisions relating to insurance cov~r~ge.
SB415 Planning and Zoning: Logistics Use: Truck Makes various changes to AB 98 (Carrillo and Reyes, 2024), which regulates warehouse Watch Carrillo 2/18/2025 Passed and order to Assembly Committee on Routes development. SB 415 providing cities with a population of 50,000 or less additional time Local Government 7 /16 (until January 1, 2035) to complete the Circulation Element update and including a good- faith-enforcement provision for cities and counties to complete the Circulation Element update. Additional amendment are currently bein_!t considered.
SB445 Transportation: Planning: Sustainable SB 445 seeks to impose strict and arbitrary deadlines on municipalities reviewing Oppose Wiener 2/18/2025 Passed Senate and referred to Assembly Transportation Project Delivery Reform Act sustainable transportation projects. SB 445 would grant transit agencies the authority to Committee on Transportation 7 /14 begin construction if those deadlines are not met, undermining the ability of local jurisdictions to thoroughly review projects, assess environmental and community impacts, and ensure that development aligns with local planning needs. ---
SB 432 Serious Felonies: Furnishing Fentanyl to a This bill would include furnishing fentanyl to a minor within the definition of a serious Watch Seyarto 2/18/2025 Two-Year Bill Minor felony, including for purposes of the three ~trikes law. - - SB455 Electric Motorcycles and Electric Bicycles This bill changes the definitions of mopeds and motor-driven cycles, creates a new Watch Blakespear 2/19/2025 Two-Year Bill classification of low-powered moped, and adds labeling and noticing requirements for manufact~rers and retailers of el~ctric bicycles. ---
SB 569 Department of Transportation: Homeless This measure would increase communication between the Department of Transportation Watch Blakespear 2/20/2025 Passed Senate and ordered to Assembly Encampments and local governments to address encampments on state property. Committee on Transportation 7 /14 Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted. 6 SB 629 Wildfires : Fire Hazard Severity Zones: The measure would required the State Fire Marshal to designate a very high fire hazard Watch Defensible Space, Vegetation Management, severity zone and adopt local ordinances for each wildfire burn area that meet specific and Fuel Modification Enforcement state criteria, as well as establish enforcement programs for fire protection standards.
SB 634 Homelessness: Civil and Criminal Penalties This bill would prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting a local ordinance or enforcing an Watch existing ordinance that imposes civil or criminal penalties on a person who is homeless for SB 677 Housing Development: Streamlined
Approvals
SB 741 Coastal Resources: Coastal Development
Permit: Exemption: Los Angeles-San Diego-
San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor
SB 815 Planning and Zoning: Very High Fire Hazard
Areas
Bold indicates an advocacy letter has been submitted.
any act immediately related to homelessness or any act related to basic survival or on a person who is assisting a person who is homeless with any act related to basic survival.
This measure would limit local government 's ability to impose objective standards on SB 9 projects with 1,750 net habitable square feet in the floor area. It would also eliminate local agencies' ability to provide setback requirements, height limits, lot coverage limits, floor area ratios, or any other standard that would limit residential development capacity for these projects. Finally, this measure would prohibit local governments from collecting impact fees for projects less than 1,750 square feet.
This bill expands the existing exemption from specified coastal development permitting processes for certain emergency projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public agency to maintain, repair, or restore existing highways to include certain emergency projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public agency to maintain, repair, or restore an existing railroad track along the Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor .
This bill would require the safety element, upon the next revision of the housing element or the hazard mitigation plan, on or after January 1, 2026, whichever occurs first, to be reviewed and updated as necessary to include a comprehensive retrofit strategy to improve safety and reduce the risk of property loss and damage during wildfires, and would require the planning agency to submit the adopted strategy to the Office of Planning and Research for inclusion into the above-described clearinghouse.
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Durazo
Perez
Wiener
Blakespear
Allen
2/20/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Emergency Management. Referred to the
Assembly Committee on Natural Resources
7/14
2/20/2025 Passed Senate and Assembly Committee on
Local Government. Referred to the Committee
on Housing and Community Development 7 /16
2/21/2025 Two-Year Bill
2/21/2025 Passed Senate and referred to Assembly
Committee on Natural Resources
2/21/2025 Two-Year Bill
7