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August 25, 2025
TO:
THROUGH:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Legislative Policy Committee (August 20, 2025)
City Manager's Office
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APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS I FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025 I
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the action proposed in the agenda report is covered by the "Common Sense" exemption set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as CEQAonly applies to projects that may have a significant effect on the environment; and
2. Approve the Federal Legislative Platform and the State Legislative Platform for calendar year 2025.
BACKGROUND:
The City Manager's Office oversees Pasadena's legislative activities and works with departments, City lobbyists, as well as state and federal elected officials to respond to impactful bills.
The Federal and State Legislative Platforms (referred henceforth as the "platforms") are guiding documents that identify City positions on fundamental legislative issues critical to Pasadena, such as safeguarding local decision-making authority. The platforms streamline the position taking process by providing staff and City lobbyists with clear direction to advocate on these matters. The platforms help ensure the City's timely response to support, remain neutral or oppose legislation that might impact the City's ability to operate effectively. The platforms also convey to legislators, policymakers, and the public where the City stands on important policy issues and legislative discussions.
Every year, City lobbyists attend one-on-one meetings with department directors to discuss updates to the platforms. The meetings include a review of the previous year's legislative activities and a discussion of potential bills for the upcoming legislative sessions. From these discussions, staff prepares the platform and incorporates I
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1. MEETING OF 8/25/2025AGENDA ITEM NO.11
2025 FEDERAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS
August 25, 2025
recommended revisions for Legislative Policy Committee review and City Council adoption.
Please note: Importantly, the platforms can be amended at any time. The annual update is intended to capture the bulk of recommended updates known at the time of preparation.
If unanticipated legislative issues arise, the platforms can be revised during the year to add, remove, or modify language as needed.
This year's platforms are being presented to City Council later than usual. Although the annual update to the platforms was prospectively prepared in the fall of 2024, seeking approval of this item was inadvertently missed due to the City's response to the Eaton Fire.
Upon City Council approval, the platforms assist the City Manager's Office, Mayor, City lobbyists, and staff to respond quickly to the rapidly changing nature of legislative proposals throughout the year.
Key legislative issues will continue to focus on affordable housing, public health, and climate change.
Legislative Action Process with the Platforms
Using the Council-approved platforms as a resource, the City Manager's Office works closely with the City lobbyists to continue day-to-day oversight of and response to legislative matters as follows:
Communicate City positions to Pasadena's legislators and other government offices, as needed;
Work with City departments, League of California Cities, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and other local government/professional associations to identify, analyze, and recommend positions on impactful bills; If a recommended position is consistent with the platforms, staff may draft a position letter for the Mayor's signature. If the Mayor is not available, staff may prepare a letter for the Vice Mayor's signature. The City Manager, Assistant City Managers, and department directors may also sign position letters, as needed; Send copies of signed position letters to bill authors, the City's state and federal elected officials, League of California Cities, City lobbyists and other stakeholders, as deemed appropriate;
• Occasionally, the City may choose not to send its own letter but instead include the City's name on a coalition letter of agencies sharing a mutual position on a bill. In this instance, a signature might not be necessary, but staff must still confirm if a position is consistent with the platforms prior to joining a coalition; 2025 FEDERAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS
August 25, 2025
• Communicate matters of legislative importance to the Committee and City Council through periodic updates;
Participate in proposing and drafting bill amendments, as needed; and Participate in and attend legislative briefings and meetings to actively engage and stay apprised of trends and upcoming legislation.
Federal Legislative Platform for 2025
With the Trump Administration in its first year of its second term, staff anticipates frequent and major legislative activity across numerous federal policy issues. Staff have made minor technical changes to the federal platform (Attachment A). While no substantive revisions to City positions have been proposed for the 2025 federal platform, City officials and staff remain updated and engaged on federal legislative activity to respond at the ready, as needed.
State Legislative Platform for 2025
Historically, most legislative proposals occur at the state level. Staff have made minor technical changes to the state platform (Attachment B). There are no substantive revisions to City positions from calendar year 2024. Similarly, City officials and staff remain updated and engaged on state legislative activity to respond at the ready, as needed.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Approval of the subject recommendation represents a continuation of the annual policy/practice of establishing federal and state legislative platforms as the advocacy strategies for regional, legislative, and funding request priorities supported by the City of Pasadena.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed action has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the Common Sense Exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 2025 FEDERAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS
August 25, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendation to approve the 2025 Federal and State Legislative Platforms will have no fiscal impact to the City. Funds for the legislative advocates and lobbyists are included in the City Council's annual operating budget.
Respectfully submitted,
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BRENDA E HARV^A/ILLIAMS
Assistant City Manager
Approved by:
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{^ MIGU^L MAR^UEZ
City Manager
Attachment A - 2025 Federal Legislative Platform (with revisions) Attachment B - 2025 State Legislative Platform (with revisions)