San Jose City Council
January 13, 2026

City Manager’s Office of
Administration, Policy, and
Intergovernmental Relations
Item 3.5: 2025 Fall Intergovernmental Relations Report
Item 3.6: 2026 Legislative Program and Priorities
San José City Council 01.13.26
Presenters:

Emily Lam, Director, City Manager’s Office of
Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental
Relations (IGR)
Han Kang, Chief IGR Officer
Steve Stamos, Senior Executive Analyst, IGR
Nicholas Ochoa, Senior Executive Analyst, IGR
Lobbyist Support:

Steve Cruz, Cruz Strategies
2025
Fall
IGR
Report
 IGR Impact
 Federal Highlights
Federal Advocacy
2026 Federal Preview
 State Highlights
State Advocacy
2026 State Preview
IGR: Intergovernmental Relations
IGR Impact
 Advocated for $7.5 million in federal earmark funding  $2M - Seismic Resilience Financing Program (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development)  $2M - Yerba Buena Bridge Construction (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development)  $1M - Guadalupe River Trail Reconstruction (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development)  $500K - Sideshow Deterrence (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development)  $1M - Copper Theft Surveillance System (Commerce, Justice, Science)  $1M - Overfelt Gardens Park project (Interior and Environment)  Legislative Achievements:
 SB 753, a City-sponsored bill addressing abandoned shopping carts  AB 476, a City-sponsored bill addressing copper theft  AB 382, a City-supported bill addressing speeding in school zones  SB 63, a City-supported bill authorizing a regional transportation measure for the Nov. 2026 ballot  SB 158, A City-supported bill accelerating timing of HHAP Round 7 funding  Two Legislative Advocacy Trips to Sacramento
In addition to dozens of meetings with legislators and agency staff to advocate for San José's priorities
3 2025 Federal Advocacy
 Funding Advocacy:
 FY 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks)
 Federal government shutdown – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  Surface Transportation Reauthorization
 Major sporting events – Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding opportunities  Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy:
 Executive Orders on immigration, artificial intelligence, federal funding, etc.  Local control on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed rulemaking regarding wireline deployment
 Supported Housing for the 21st Century Act / Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act
 Supported Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies (REUSE) Act
4 2026 Federal Preview
5  Funding Advocacy:
 FY 2026 Budget – Continuing Resolution through January 30  Potential impacts to SJC Airport operations
 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding  BART Silicon Valley Phase II Full Funding Grant Agreement – targeting submission by end of 2026
 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization  FY 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks)
 Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy:
 Federal immigration actions
 Continued advocacy for Housing for the 21st Century Act / ROAD to Housing Act
 FEMA reform – restructures agency function and shifts responsibilities  Potential federal preemption – artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles 2025 State Advocacy
 Funding Advocacy:
 Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (with Big City Mayors)  BART Silicon Valley Phase II California Transportation Commission funding award  Cap-and-Trade reauthorization
 Funding for public safety for FIFA World Cup games
 Continued efforts to protect revenues generated by the City's cardrooms  Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy:
 Sponsored bills: abandoned shopping carts (SB 753) and copper theft (AB 476)  Protected City's Measure E and Construction & Conveyance revenues from proposed legislation
 Advocated for immigration protection bills
 Activated the City's delegation to engage on regional transportation revenue measure  Preservation of local control (land use, local procurement, Brown Act reform)  Enabled the City's Family Camp at Yosemite to remain operational through construction issues 6
2026 State Preview
 Funding Advocacy:
 Governor's Proposed FY 2026-2027 Budget
 Projected deficit of $3 billion
 Accountability of housing and homelessness funding
 Affordable Housing Bond
 Protecting transit funding (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program)  Climate Bond funding opportunities
 Taxpayer Protection Act November 2026 ballot measure
 Legislative/Regulatory Advocacy:
 Cost of living and affordability (utilities, housing, groceries, education, etc.)  Expansion of artificial intelligence
 Development of data centers
7 8
2026
Legislative
Program &
Priorities
 Proposed Legislative Priorities
 Legislative Program Development
 Potential Sponsored Legislation
 Roadmap to Success
Proposed 2026 Legislative Priorities
Pending City Council Adoption
 Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness, Support Unhoused Residents, and Increase Opportunities for Affordable Housing
 Enhance Community Safety Initiatives and Realize Vision Zero  Advocate for Educational and Employment Opportunities that Foster Equitable Outcomes for San José Families
 Drive Downtown Revitalization and Cultivate Equitable Investment in our Neighborhoods
 Pursue Funding for Equitable, Sustainable, and Resilient Infrastructure and Accelerate San José's Climate Smart Goals
9 Key Changes to Legislative Program
Key Changes to Funding Needs:
 Homelessness Funding – restoration of HHAP in state budget  Transportation Infrastructure Funding – funding to advance rail projects  Sporting Event Safety Funding – state and federal funding for the safety of events and activations Key Changes to State and Federal Policy Positions:
 Economic Stability and Mobility – supporting access to food and housing assistance, childcare, and healthcare
 Advanced Air Mobility – regulations of drones and advanced air mobility technologies  Youth Workforce Development – expansion of youth workforce development programs  Paramedic Resources – expanding access to and addressing shortage of paramedics  Rideshare Safety and Accountability – prioritizing rider and traffic safety while promoting innovation  Data Centers – promoting development of data centers
 Protecting City Revenue – opposing limits on the City's ability to expand or protect revenue sources  Recycling Infrastructure (Federal) - promoting federal guidelines on the reuse and recycling of hazardous waste 10
Potential Sponsored Legislation
11  Additional legislation is being contemplated on data centers, safe and affordable housing construction, energy affordability, and affordable childcare, where IGR will have an active role (pending decisions from State representatives).

Towing
Abandoned
Recreational
Vehicles
Condominium
Development
Deposit
Reform
Diridon Station
Infrastructure
CEQA
Exemption
Local Agencies:

Automated
Decision
Systems
Preservation of
Local Control
Roadmap to Success
12  Leveraging California coalitions:
 Big City Mayors, League of California Cities, California Community Choice Aggregators, California City Transportation Initiative, Bay Area Council, Cities Association of Santa Clara County
 Participating in nationwide coalitions:
 U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities
 Collaborating with Local Partners:
 Civil Prosecutors Coalition, County of Santa Clara, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Silicon Valley Clean Energy
 Engaging Elected Officials:
 Mayor and City Councilmembers
 State and Federal Delegations
Presenters:

Emily Lam, Director, City Manager’s Office of
Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental
Relations (IGR)
Han Kang, Chief IGR Officer
Steve Stamos, Senior Executive Analyst, IGR
Nicholas Ochoa, Senior Executive Analyst, IGR
Lobbyist Support:

Steve Cruz, Cruz Strategies
Council
Actions
San José City Council 01.13.26
Item 3.5: 2025 Fall Intergovernmental Relations
Report
 Accept the 2025 Fall IGR Report
 Reaffirm City positions in Federal Legislative Log
 Reaffirm City positions in State Legislative Log
Item 3.6: 2026 Legislative Program and Priorities
 Adopt the 2026 Legislative Program
and Legislative Priorities