DATE:
February 24, 2026
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Legislative Platform to guide the City’s regional, state, and federal legislative advocacy efforts for 2026.
BACKGROUND
On February 10, 2026, the City Council held a Study Session to provide input on the proposed Legislative Platform to guide the City’s legislative advocacy during the 2026 legislative session.
The Study Session memo is included as Attachment 1 to the Council Report. The proposed 2026 Platform was based on the adopted 2025 Platform and on feedback from each City department regarding the major issues they are focused on.
ANALYSIS
At the Study Session on February 10, Council discussed the proposed 2026 Regional and State and Federal legislative platforms, approved existing policy statements, and supported developing the following themes into policy statements to add to the platforms:
• Prohousing City flexibility (Regional and State Legislative Platform - C. 33 and C. 35)
• Continued ability to enforce inclusionary housing requirements ( Regional and State Legislative Platform - C. 34)
• Support for stormwater infrastructure (Regional and State Legislative Platform – F. 15)
• Funding for Soft Story Retrofits (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 41)
• Condo liability barriers (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 36)
Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2026
February 24, 2026
• Property Transfer Tax (existing proposed statement in Regional and State Legislative Platform – A.17)
• Community for All (Regional and State Legislative Platform – D. 10 and Federal Legislative Platform – D. 10)
• SB 70 Alternative Plan Timelines (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 42)
• Single Stair reform (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 37)
• Reach Codes (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 40)
• Automated License plate readers (Regional and State Legislative Platform – J. 13)
• Speed camera pilot programs (Regional and State Legislative Platform – K. 23)
• ADA frivolous lawsuits (existing statement in Regional and State Legislative Platform – E.8)
• CEQA Tribal Consults (Regional and State Legislative Platform – F. 13)
• E-Bike Safety without overregulation (existing proposed statement in Regional and State Legislative Platform – K. 20, and added statements K. 21, and K. 22)
• TOD mixed-use (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 38)
• Homelessness in Housing Element (Regional and State Legislative Platform – D. 9)
• Housing as part of Office and Public Storage Use (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 39)
• Office conversions to transitional housing (Regional and State Legislative Platform – C. 39)
Staff have developed legislative policy statements that incorporate the themes summarized above and added them to the 2026 Regional and State Legislative Platform (Attachment 2) and 2026 Federal Legislative Platform (Attachment 3) , as appropriate. New policy statements and Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2026
February 24, 2026
modifications to existing statements are identified in the attachments in bold, red, underlined, and italicized text.
With the incorporation of Council’s feedback, the Regional and State Platform includes 165 policy statements across 11 issue areas. The 2026 Federal Legislative Platform consists of four issue areas and 53 policy statements.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting the Legislative Platform for 2026.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
☒ General policy and legislative actions
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the Legislative Platform for 2026.
2. Modify the Legislative Platform for 2026.
3. Provide other direction.
Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2026
February 24, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Christina Gilmore
Intergovernmental Relations Manager
Approved by:
Arn Andrews
Assistant City Manager
Attachments: 1. February 10, 2026 Study Session Memo
2. Regional and State Legislative Platform for 2026 (Redline)
3. Federal Legislative Platform for 2026 (Redline)