San Luis Obispo City Council
January 9, 2024

Ordinance No. _____ (2024 Series) Page 4
O ______
SECTION 4. All prior ordinances affecting the provisions herein are superseded to the extent inconsistent herewith but shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Publication. A summary of this ordinance, together with the names of Council members voting for and against, shall be published at least five (5) days prior to its final passage, in The New Times, a newspaper published and circulated in this City.

This ordinance shall go into effect at the expiration of thirty (30) days after its final passage.

SECTION 6. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be considered a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of this Ordinance.

INTRODUCED and ADOPTED on the ____ day of ____, 2024, by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo on the ____ day of ____, 2024, on the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:
___________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
_______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, on _________________________. ___________________________
Teresa Purrington,
City Clerk

Chapter 9.22 San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, Safety Enhancement Zones Page 1 of 3 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1730, passed October 3, 2023.

Chapter 9.22

SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ZONES
Sections:

9.22.010 Designation process.

9.22.020 Safety enhancement zone penalties and violations.

9.22.030 Prosecution criminally or administratively.

9.22.040 City of San Luis Obispo safety enhancement zone.

9.22.010 Designation process.

The city council may by ordinance, or by resolution upon a finding that there is a need to take immediate action to protect the public health, safety and welfare, designate a specific geographical area as a “safety enhancement zone” and specify the date and/or time that the designation is effective upon a finding that the geographical area is subject to unique conditions and circumstances during a specific period of time that create the potential for a significant threat to public health and safety and that the threat would be reduced by enhanced penalties for violations of provisions of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. The ordinance or resolution establishing a safety enhancement zone shall contain the following provisions:

A. A description of the geographical area comprising the safety enhancement zone; and B. The date and time, or other specific description of the time period during which the safety enhancement zone designation is applicable to the geographical area. (Ord. 1469 § 1 (part), 2004)

9.22.020 Safety enhancement zone penalties and violations.

A. Any violation of designated sections of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code that is committed within an area that has been designated by the city council as a safety enhancement zone, and during the time that designation is effective, shall be subject to a fine that is twice the amount of the fine specified for the designated municipal code sections, up to a maximum of one thousand dollars.

B. Safety Enhancement Zone Violations. Fines for violations committed in the safety enhancement zone shall apply to the following provisions: Chapter 9.04 (Possession of Open Containers or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Public Places), Chapter 9.05 (hosting a gathering where underage persons consume alcohol), Chapter 9.12 (Noise Control), Chapter 9.13 (Unruly Gatherings), Chapter 9.16 (dangerous and deadly weapons), and Chapter 9.20 (urination in public).

Violations of Chapter 2.24 (Emergency Services), or of any duly enacted rule or regulation pursuant

Chapter 9.22 San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, Safety Enhancement Zones Page 2 of 3 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1730, passed October 3, 2023. to Chapter 2.24, or of any local (city or county of San Luis Obispo), state of California, or United States emergency or public health emergency measure, order or directive issued pursuant to any declared local, state, or federal emergency applicable within the city shall be subject to enforcement throughout the geographic limits of the city under this section immediately upon declaration of the emergency, and for the duration of the declared emergency, and shall be subject to an immediate one thousand dollar penalty as an immediate threat to public health or safety. A separate offense shall be deemed to have been committed whenever a person repeats the act that constitutes the violation. (Ord. 1692 § 4, 2021; Ord. 1548 § 2, 2010)

9.22.030 Prosecution criminally or administratively.

A violation under this chapter may be prosecuted either criminally or administratively pursuant to Chapter 1.24. (Ord. 1469 § 1 (part), 2004)

9.22.040 City of San Luis Obispo safety enhancement zone.

A. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone during the Mardi Gras period, effective from 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday preceding “Fat Tuesday” until seven a.m. on the Wednesday following “Fat Tuesday.” B. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) until seven a.m. on March 18th of each year.

C. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on October 31st (Halloween) until seven a.m. on November 1st of each year. If Halloween falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the safety enhancement zone period will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday falling on or preceding October 31st until seven a.m. on the Monday following October 31st.

D. The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on the first day of Cal Poly University’s housing move-in day until seven a.m. of the Monday following the first weekend of the fall academic school year. (Ord. 1590 § 2, 2013) The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1730, passed October 3, 2023.

Chapter 9.22 San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, Safety Enhancement Zones Page 3 of 3 The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 1730, passed October 3, 2023.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code.

Users should contact the City Clerk's Office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: www.slocity.org
City Telephone: (805) 781-7100
Hosted by Code Publishing Company, A General Code Company.

Stakeholder Meetings
11/16/2023 - Student Community Liaison Committee
 Concern that students will be contentious
 Concern that more days added would be too much, too long  Understanding of the days being proposed
 Support for intentional messaging
 Concern the Jan. 9th meeting too soon, consider pushing to Jan. 16th 11/27/2023 – Cal Poly Associated Students Incorporated External Affairs  Are the two weekends in March because we don’t know when St. Fratty’s will be? Yes
 Does the SEZ apply to the whole city? Yes
 Has there been a substantial decrease in violations in other SEZs? Yes  Is there an increased police presence? Yes
 How is the SEZ information shared with students? Communication plan includes in-person information sharing at FSL meetings, social media paid and organic posts, posters, and Student Affairs email.
 Last year, why didn’t the police “do anything” when the big crowd gathered? Explained the decision of not creating a contentious situation to keep party people and officers safe.
 Why do double fines during SEZ instead of all the time? Not constitutional.  How to SEZ allow PD to bring in mutual aid? The zones allow PD to plan in advance when to increase staff and request mutual aid.
 Why does PD bring in mutual aid? To help manage incidents and events that may become contentious.
 Concern: a bigger police presence could cause students to react.  Do you anticipate push back from students? Yes, and these stakeholder meetings are part of getting information to residents in advance of the amendments going to Council.
 Additional feedback: use stats on arrests and injuries in SEZ marketing, use injury prevention messaging, partner with the Mustang News to provide info to students, partner with ASI for Instagram “takeover” to share information

11/27/2023 – United Sorority and Fraternity Life (cultural organizations)  What data supports doing the amendment? Arrest and citation data, to be included in the amendment report
 What does “more patrol” mean during a SEZ? The zones are max deployment days where more staff is scheduled, mutual aid may be requested
11/30/2023 – Panhellenic Council (Sororities)
 Can parties be registered during SEZ? Yes, on Fridays and Saturdays.  Does SEZ mean enhanced police presence? Yes, there are more officers scheduled to be able to handle the call volume.
 Is party registration a goal of SEZ? No.
 Concern shared that there are too many restrictions for party registration.  Concern shared that the amendments may have an adverse effect, students will be angry and become more agitated and aggressive towards LE  Concern shared that police only show up when there’s a noise complaint and people should “get over it because this is a college town”  Concern shared the including multiple weekends is absurd, it restricts sororities from recruitment and the ability to hold events
 Feedback provided that communication should include data and fact sheets, provide tips on how folks can avoid citations and arrests  Feedback provided to “look at other strategies to minimize behaviors” - Response from DC Mickel “Yes! Give us suggestions on strategies.”  Feedback provided to include communication on telling residents they can call SLOPD if their event gets out of hand for help. - Response from Wallace, provided example of Halloween and Sigma Nu calling and asking for help, help was provided.
 Concern shared that there is “zero fun” year round and extending the dates aren’t the best idea.
 Feedback provided that consequences of poor behavior are provided clearly, visits to general council meetings for FSL should occur to share information.

12/5/2023 – Inter Fraternal Council (Fraternities)
 Question, why the change? Response, party behaviors are becoming more dangerous
 Are SEZs a deterrent? Yes.
 Is the goal to issue more tickets? No, the goal is safety. The crowd has doubled in size each year since 2021 and behaviors like climbing utility poles and over consumption is very concerning. Ambulance example provided.  Is adding an extra weekend the best idea? Asked the group what suggestions they had instead of adding days, none were provided.
 Does SEZ just mean increased patrol? Yes, and the fines.  Concern: orgs are just all collectively getting double fines.  Concern: with added dates, 6 or 7 weekends of the year will be double fines.

Confirmed - 6 of 35 weekends of 24/25 academic year would be double fines (17%).
 Question: what does PD consider a reasonable party? Wallace: what’s not reasonable is bringing in portal toilets and setting up a full-size DJ stand in a residential backyard.
 Question: can City Council make it [the dates] fluctuate? Yes, council could decide to grant authority to the City Manager or the Police Chief to deem the dates.  Comment: St. Fratty’s is going to happen no matter what and there are satellite houses throughout Hathway.
 Comment: people not invited to particular events come onto properties on Hathway. Organizations aren’t planning the street party.  Off topic question: can the number of people listed in the unruly gathering ordinance be increased up from 20? Provided information that this is a separate ordinance and how to request the change from Council.
12/12/2023 Downtown SLO – Bar Owners/Managers (Zoom)
 Feedback from Ron Meier: problems have been out of downtown because the bars provide supervision and control, bar owners worked in conjunction with the city to end Mardi Gras, desires the City to help businesses drive business back downtown. (Wallace to connect Ron with Molly Cano.)
 James from McClintock's: doesn’t see that an ordinance change would impact downtown greatly, hopes enforcement overall is reinforced on regular weekends.

12/13/2023 - Residents for Quality Neighborhoods
 Will this be also done for Open House? No, data doesn’t show the same behaviors happening. We can always come back to council if those changes  What about the weekend after? Typically, is either finals or spring break  We don’t think the party will happen during the week? No  Comments – student rep at SCLC, if you do this we’re going to do something (that’s not what he said) Impact to the neighborhood is very concerning. Identify the illegal things that were happening in the neighborhoods.
 Financial impact? Max deployment, lots of overtime is incurred  What are we hearing from Cal Poly on this topic? Student groups are not pushing back a lot.
 One tool in the toolbox is higher fines. What else is the dept looking at to curtail the events? Lessons learned; deployment plan will be adjusted.  1
st warning, citation, then landlord. Does the enforcement of noise stay the same? Essentially yes
 Comment - SEZ can be effective, not enough citations are being issued during that time period. It’s not a threat to students if enforcement isn’t happening.  Request – no warnings offered during SEZ
 Noise beyond a certain space, having amplified is a muni code violation, why can’t officers issue a citation for the band/amplified and the noise  What kind of support are we getting from Cal Poly admin? We meet with CP all the time.
 Is CP telling their students to stop the behavior? Not able to speak for them  Is CP supportive of the SEZ amendment? Yes
 CSU PD can be summoned to help in large scale challenging events, essentially CSU mutual aid
 St. Fratty’s 2022 – officers went into the party zone to shut down parties, 2023 officers didn’t go into the party area to shut down parties, dozens of people were climbing poles, why didn’t they go in? Was it for officer safety? Yes. Different approach for 2024. 2023 was management mode.
 From a resource perspective, how many ppl could be held at the PD? Not many.

How many could be taken to the jail if many ppl were arrested? Drain on resources, we would contact the jail to share what’s happening. Lots of evaluation during the 2023 event and
 There are still residents in these neighborhoods, many are senior citizens, very challenging to get an ambulance in to help folks that may need to medical assistance

 Deltopia etc in Goleta, they closed the neighborhoods down. Can the neighborhoods be closed down?
 How do we get CP to put it out to tell their students not to go out there? We partner with CP
 Concern with the party boxes and burritos that are being handed out to students, is mixed messaging. The Frat/Sororities are receiving the approvals from CP to hold their parties
 Can students be prevented from having the early morning gatherings by CP?  Halloweekend parties are happening at satellite houses, concern with the number of satellite houses in AV and MH which is R1 and R2. Concern with the parade of people in the neighborhoods, ppl going from party to party very loud. Fraternity houses in the neighborhoods where they shouldn’t be the problem.  Concern with SNAP enforcement, that SNAP are clearing large parties with NV or a DAC instead of giving the call over to patrol. (??)
 Information on what other groups we’ve met with are saying? Didn’t bring that information with us
 Safety, quality of life, messes in yards, fear of safety, inability to come out of their homes, trapped in the neighborhood, lack of respect, feelings that the neighborhood has been taken over, unsettling
 Equity, that neighborhood should have the same quality of life equity that exists in other neighborhoods in SLO
 It’s not the students that are the problem, it’s the fraternities that are the problem.  San Diego PD – program for chronic party houses, like red tag ordinance that AZ has, auto citation for houses that are on the chronic house list, similar to program in S. Lake Tahoe (?)
 City could provide alternative activities locations
 Poles, lower rungs have been removed by PG&E
 Restorative justice program – citation recipients should be required to go to the neighbors and apologize, the concept should be looked at as an option  Student Success program at CP – believed it really helped, wish it could be reinstated
 Money may or may not be impactful – “nothing happened to me, I just wrote the check” there are limitations to what a basic fine will do  What about Deltopia and Halloween? What tools do they use? Limit access. We have looked at the option, it’s easy to close Isla Vista. Not easy to close AV and MH.
 Need to get out in the neighborhood, have the discussion with houses that have been chronic. One on one to the residents, talk about enforcement and how the house has been a problem in the past

 Is party registration available during SEZ? Yes. Could that be removed? Separate from this amendment presentation. FRED – we love party registration, we know where things are happening, lots more success with reasonable parties being held than out of control ones. More data needed.
 There have been calls to registered parties that have had live bands who have gotten warnings. Please address this.

Proposed Amendments for
St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween
January 9, 2024

Recommendation
Introduce an amendment to section 9.22.040 of the
SLMC regarding Safety Enhancement Zones
include additional city-wide safety enhancement
dates prior to and inclusive of St. Patrick’s Day and
Halloween.

Safety Enhancement Zone
In December 2004 Council enacted Chapter 9.22 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. This created a process to designate the entire City as a safety enhancement zone during specific dates/times to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of San Luis Obispo.

Chapter 9.04 Possession or consumption of alcohol in public Chapter 9.05 Social Host – minors consuming or possessing alcohol Chapter 9.12 Noise Control
Chapter 9.13 Unruly Gathering
Chapter 9.16 Dangerous and Deadly Weapons
Chapter 9.20 Urinating in Public

Background
• Safety Enhancement Zone (SEZ) first adopted in 2004 to help in policing Mardi Gras after the riot occurred in February 2004 • 2010 – Halloween & St. Pats SEZ were added
• 2013 – Start of School SEZ was added
• During a SEZ, fines for public urination, open container, unruly gathering, and noise are doubled.

Fine Structure
Regular Enhancement Zone Fines
• First Offense: $350.00
• Second Offence (in 12 mo. Period): $700.00
• Third and subsequent (in 12 mo. Period): $1000.00
Safety Enhancement Zone Fines
• First Offense: $700.00
• Second Offence (in 12 mo. Period): $1000.00
• Third and subsequent (in 12 mo. Period): $1000.00

Reason for an Ordinance Amendment
• Party behaviors surrounding St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween are becoming dangerous
• Parties are being planned to avoid current Safety Enhancement Zones (St. Fratty’s)
• Public Health and Safety
• Neighborhood Wellness
• Personal responsibility, awareness, and concern

St. Patrick’s Day
• Currently, the St. Patrick’s Day SEZ is:
• The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) until 7:00 a.m. on March 18th of each year.
• Proposed:
• 12:01 a.m. on March 17th until 7:00 a.m. on March 18th AND include the two weekends prior to St. Patrick’s Day, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and ending at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. Should St. Patrick’s Day fall on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the safety enhancement period would begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and end at 7:00 a.m. on Monday.

2024 & 2025 Proposed

Halloween
• Currently, the Halloween SEZ is:
• The entire area within the city limits of San Luis Obispo is designated a safety enhancement zone from 12:01 a.m. on October 31st (Halloween) until 7:00 a.m. on November 1st of each year. If Halloween falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the SEZ will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday falling on or preceding October 31st until 7:00 a.m. on the Monday following October 31st.
• Proposed:
• If Halloween falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the safety enhancement zone period will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on the Thursday falling on or preceding October 31st until 7:00 a.m. on the Monday following October 31st and to include the weekend prior from 12:01 a.m. Friday until 7:00 a.m.

Monday. If Halloween falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, the SEZ will include the previous Thursday at 12:01 a.m. – Monday 7:00 a.m. and 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 31st to 7 a.m. on Nov. 1st.

2024 & 2025 Proposed
Nov. 1 Nov. 2
Nov. 3
Nov. 1
Nov. 2

Questions?

City of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Council Agenda Correspondence
DATE: January 9, 2024
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Natalie Harnett, Program and Policy Manager VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Item 6B – 2023 Legislative Briefing
Staff received the following questions, regarding the 2023 State Legislative Briefing. The questions are below with staff’s response shown in italics. 1) With regard to SB706 and AB400, could you please talk about what these two bills will do and explain “design build” a little more clearly? “Design-build” is a project delivery method in the construction and design industry where both the design and construction phases are handled by a single entity or a team. In traditional project delivery methods, such as design-bid-build, these responsibilities are typically split between different entities – an architect or engineer for the design phase and a contractor for the construction phase. In design-build, the design and construction teams work collaboratively, often under a single contract with the owner/agency. At its most effective, design-build contracting can encourage collaboration and streamline decision-making, reduce risk, and simplify communication via a single responsible contractor, provide better cost-certainty earlier in the project, and introduce a potential for faster delivery through earlier involvement with the construction team. Downsides can include potential conflicts of interest between design and construction teams, resulting in reduction in quality and workmanship for the purpose of cost savings and fast track construction; design-build can also be incompatible with highly complex or specialized projects where a more detailed and phased approach would reduce risk of unforeseen cost increases.

Note that Article IX of the City Charter does not explicitly allow design-build project delivery. Staff plan to bring a study session to Council for consideration in Fall 2024 to determine whether Council would like a work item included in future Financial Plans to amend the City’s Charter to expressly allow for such project delivery alternative.

Below is a synopsis of SB706 and AB400, which are only applicable to agencies with design-build authority.

Item 6B – 2023 Legislative Briefing Page 2
SB 706 - Public contracts: progressive design-build: local agencies Current law, until January 1, 2029, authorizes local agencies, defined as any city, county, city and county, or special district authorized by law to provide for the production, storage, supply, treatment, or distribution of any water from any source, to use the progressive design-build process for up to 15 public works projects in excess of $5,000,000 for each project, similar to the progressive design-build process authorized for use by the Director of General Services. This bill would, until January 1, 2030, provide additional authority for cities, counties, cities and counties, or special districts to use the progressive design-build process for up to 10 public works in excess of $5,000,000, not limited to water-related projects, excluding projects on state-owned or state-operated facilities. The bill would require information to be provided under penalty of perjury and would require similar reports due no later than December 31, 2028.

AB 400 – Local Agency Design-Build Projects: Authorization Current law authorizes a local agency, as defined, with approval of its governing body, to procure design-build contracts for public works projects in excess of $1,000,000, awarding the contract either to the lowest bid or the best value. “Local agency” is defined, in part, for this purpose to include specified local and regional agencies responsible for the construction of transit projects, including any joint powers authority formed to provide transit service. Current law, among other requirements for the design-build procurement process, requires specified information submitted by a design-build entity to be certified under penalty of perjury. These provisions authorizing the use of the design-build procurement process are repealed on January 1, 2025. This bill would delete from the definition of “local agency” any joint powers authority formed to provide transit services and would instead expand that definition to include any joint powers authority responsible for the construction of transit projects, thereby authorizing additional joint powers authorities to use the above-described design-build procurement process. The bill would extend the repeal date to January 1, 2031.
2) AB 1332 – can you say a little more about the pre-approvals this bill requires? I thought that the process for building ADUs was already streamlined and “by right” in most circumstances due to previous legislation (SB 9, and maybe others)?
Several bills in recent years have significantly streamlined the process to construct ADUs.

This bill streamlines the process further by requiring that a City develop a program for the preapproval of ADU plans. These ADU plans may not necessarily be associated with a specific address but would be reviewed by the agency for compliance with required standards. Once “preapproved” by the agency, the plans and contact information for the applicant (assumed to be the architect or designer), would be posted on a website. This would allow property owners to peruse “pre-approved” plans that have already been reviewed and approved by the City. Should a property owner choose to propose to construct an ADU that was preapproved on their property, then the City review of the project would be limited to 30 days (instead of the now-current 60-day timeline). This program would essentially allow designers and architects to request that the City review and approve designs for ADUs that can then be chosen by property owners (thus creating a sort of menu of ADU options that are known to be compliant with City and State

Item 6B – 2023 Legislative Briefing Page 3
standards). This would also reduce building plan check fees as review would only be needed to ensure building placement on the lot is in compliance with Zoning and Building regulations.
3) AB 965 – can you explain more about what this means for broadband permit applications locally?
This bill requires the City to “batch” certain broadband permit applications if they are for substantially similar broadband project sites and are submitted by the same applicant. It also establishes timelines to provide approvals or denials to applicants. The provisions of this bill strain City resources for review of such permits depending on the number of permits that are batched and number of batches that are submitted at a given time. Staff is working on assessing how this bill could impact workflows and determine what work processes need to be adjusted to ensure compliance with this law. 4) AB 935 – with this have an impact of any kind on our local enforcement efforts?
This measure will not have a direct impact on local enforcement efforts, but it is welcomed legislation to help remove access of flavored tobacco to children. It was enacted to address some of the implementation concerns about SB 793 (the state’s restriction on the sales of flavored tobacco products). Specifically, AB 935 notes that the state’s licensing board shall suspend or revoke a state-issued license for a retailer who has violated the flavor ban at least three times. It also expands the language of “retail location” to include vending machines, mobile units, booths, etc. It will have an impact on illegal sales, but not on drawing down local Police resources. It will encourage the City to work closely with the State and our Special Enforcement Team (SET) for scheduled local tobacco enforcement operations.
5) How will AB 1114 impact our local permitting processes? The changes in AB 1114 will not impact our local permitting processes significantly. The City will be required to provide additional information on our website. Existing law already provides timelines for review of housing projects, including timelines for both entitlement permits and “post entitlement phase permits” (which is what AB 1114 addresses) in order to ensure timely review of such projects by agencies. The provisions of this bill amend the definition of post entitlement phase permits, and also state that post entitlement phase permits (such as building permits) cannot be subject to appeal or additional hearing requirements once the agency has determined that the permit is compliant with all applicable standards. This bill closes a loophole that existed in The City/County of San Francisco, where project opponents could appeal post entitlement phase permits (such as building permits). This was a practice unique to San Francisco and not a common practice statewide.

Item 6b
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1001
For Agenda of: 1/9/2024
Placement: Business
Estimated Time: 60 Minutes
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Natalie Harnett, Policy and Project Manager SUBJECT: 2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING

RECOMMENDATION

1. Receive and file a report on the 2023 State Legislative Briefing which summarizes the adopted laws from the 2022-23 regular session of the California State Legislature (December 2022 through October 2023); and

2. Consider appointing an ad-hoc committee of the City Council to review the current legislative platform and suggest changes for the 2024-25 legislative session.

REPORT-IN-BRIEF
As a result of the 2023 regular session of the California State Legislature, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 890 bills into State law. This report highlights incoming laws that will have an impact on the City and its major work efforts. This report has been informed by the 2023 Legislative Report published by the League of California Cities (“CalCities”), which is included as Attachment A.

The incoming State laws will have both direct and indirect impacts on the City and its work efforts. However, staff is prepared to incorporate the adopted legislation into appropriate policies, work items, and in some cases will return to City Council for policy consideration of some newly adopted laws. During calendar year 2023, the City submitted multiple letters on a variety of issues included in the legislative platform. These letters can be found here.

POLICY CONTEXT
This 2023 State Legislative Briefing serves as a tool to promote the understanding of new State laws that will impact the City and to help inform the community and Council about legislative trends of note. It is also used in the development of updates to the Legislative Platform for the ensuing Legislative Calendar Year. The City’s current Legislative Platform was adopted by the City Council on April 4, 2023.

Item 6b

DISCUSSION
Background
During the 2022-23 regular session of the California State Legislature, legislators and committees proposed a total of 2,600 bills and resolutions that either proposed new laws, repealed laws, or amended existing laws. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed 890 new California laws and vetoed 156. Most bills will go into effect on January 1, 2024; however, some measures adopted this legislative session took effect immediately as urgency measures after being signed.

Each year, thousands of bills are introduced. Staff uses legislative tools provided by CalCities to stay abreast of legislation that may impact the City. This year, CalCities published the 2023 Legislative Report which provides an overview of the bills Governor Newsom has signed into law, and the potential impact of those laws on cities throughout California. Staff has reviewed the 2023 Legislative Report and is bringing forward this item to City Council to bring attention to the newly adopted laws that will impact the City.

Included in this report is a summary of State laws that will impact the City and how they relate to the City’s work efforts, departments, and City Council. This staff report cites the CalCities published 2023 Legislative Report and where Council can find the summaries of the highlighted legislation within the report. In no way is this report intended to cover all of the introduced bills or those eventually signed by the Governor. The attached CalCities report provides these details.

Budget and Trailer Bills
After two years of unprecedented General Fund revenue growth, California faced a downturn in revenues driven by a declining stock market, high inflation, rising interest rates, and job losses in high-wage sectors — all of which led to slower revenue growth than previously projected.

The Governor and Legislature were forced to confront an approximate $31 billion deficit and cut a deal to balance the budget through a combination of shifts, cuts, delays, revenue increases, and borrowing. The result was the primary budget bill SB 101, as well as a “Budget Bill Jr.” AB 102, along with four other bills that amended prior year’s budgets AB 100, AB 103, SB 104, and SB 105. Collectively these six bills, along with dozens of trailer bills, balanced the budget while avoiding new significant ongoing commitments and maintained a record $37.8 billion in total reserves. Despite the deficit, the budget still preserves significant investment in most key programs. Notable appropriations, delays, and reductions include:

1. Maintains over $8 billion for behavioral health care.

2. $67.5 million reduction for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and a delay of $345 million previously allocated to HCD’s Foreclosure Intervention Housing Preservation Program.

3. An additional $1 billion in funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant Program.

4. $5.1 billion for public transit, including $1.1 million in zero-emission vehicle funding.

Item 6b

5. Lowering of $8.7 billion in funding for climate, resources, and environmental programs across the budget window of 2021-22 through 2023-24. However, it maintains most of the overall intended funding for key programs – approximately $25 billion across the three years.

6. $401 million in one-time funding for flood management and response activities.

Community Services, Behavioral Health, and Homelessness In California, behavioral health services are funded and delivered through counties, including both mental health and substance use disorder services. Counties receive funding from a mix of both federal and state sources to provide these services. Over the last two financial plans, the City has allocated millions in General Fund money towards homelessness response programs. Like 90% of the cities in California, the City of San Luis Obispo has fiscal concerns about the ability to provide these services in the long term.

Despite several proposals put forward by the Legislature to increase investments in homelessness this year, the 2023-24 State Budget did not include any new ongoing funding for local governments. Rather, the budget deal maintained a one-time $1 billion investment in the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program that was committed previously in the 2022 Budget Act.

To access state homelessness funds, measure AB 129 requires regionally coordinated homelessness action plans. These plans must coordinate all homelessness funding and services across the region, assign specific roles and responsibilities to each party to the plan, and set forth key actions that each party will take to reduce and prevent homelessness. The County of San Luis Obispo will be working on the Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan as required to apply for the HHAP funding.

On the behavioral health side, SB 326 modernized the Mental Health Services Act to include treatment for people with substance use disorder and care for the most seriously mentally ill. It also prioritizes investments in housing interventions for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, by establishing an ongoing funding source for behavioral health beds. AB 531 was a big achievement for cities as it authorized $6.38 billion in general obligation bonds to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate community-based residential care settings. $1.5 billion will be put into a specific pot of funding for local governments to apply so that cities, counties, and tribal entities have a guarantee for at least this amount of the bond. The achievement does come with tradeoffs and it is too soon to understand what the impact will be to our region or to County services.

SB 43 is a measure that updates California's 1967 conservatorship law to better reflect the contemporary realities present in our communities, ensuring that individuals at risk of significant harm receive the help they need. This measure modernizes the definition of “gravely disabled” to include conditions in which individuals experience — as a result of a severe substance use disorder or a co-occurring disorder — an inability to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care.

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Lastly, AB 781 requires all counties and cities with previously adopted emergency plans to update their plans to designate at least one emergency shelter and cooling or warming center to accommodate household pets. This will be included in the City’s next emergency plan update.

While these investments are welcomed, they are largely one -time and do not sufficiently fund long-term planning for cities and counties to address homelessness in their communities. The City will seek out all available for funding for cities and advocate to the County to apply for and make the best use of funding for regional social service entities.

Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 129
(Committee on
Budget)
Housing. 8,114
SB 326 (Eggman) The Behavioral Health Services Act. 14,115 AB 531 (Irwin) The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023
13,115,116
SB 43 (Eggman) Behavioral Health 14,116
AB 781
(Maienschien)
Accessibility to Emergency Information and
Services: Emergency Shelters: Persons with Pets
13 Environmental Quality
California continues to lead the way in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability. The legislature passed a few notable laws that will impact the City.

In the category of Solid Waste and Recycling, the Governor signed AB 1526. This measure will create a mechanism and schedule for plastic producers to remit funds to local governments for costs associated with implementing a landmark single-use plastics law, SB 54.

The state continues to craft new regulations to reduce water usage from 2025 onward.

One of the measures signed in 2023 is AB 1572 which prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, municipal, institutional, and multifamily residential properties. This bill was anticipated and aligns with the City’s existing sustainable goals. In order to ensure compliance with these regulations by January 1, 2027, the City’s Utilities Department added an additional position in FY 2022-23.

Additionally, there will be some fiscal impact to the General Fund as some public spaces would need to be re-landscaped.

In response to recent storms, AB 30 requires the Department of Water Resources to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions. There is no action required from the City for this item, but it may impact future modeling for water supply availability.

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Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 1526 (Committee on Natural
Resources)
Public Resources 33
AB 1572 (Friedman) Potable Water: Nonfunctional Turf 36 AB 30 (Ward) Atmospheric Rivers: Research:

Reservoir Operations 34
Housing, Community and Economic Development
The are many reasons behind California's housing affordability and homelessness crisis— high construction costs, limited financing options, income disparity, a shrinking qualified labor/trades force, climate change, conflicting state priorities, and top-down, unproven state policy. While many cities are making good faith attempts to boost housing production, state officials continue to focus on one issue: local zoning rules. In many cases, these changes only aim to address housing concerns at a statewide level, with no reimbursement required from the state to local agencies.

During the 2023 legislative cycle, the Governor signed into law 80 bills that pertain to housing, community, and economic development. Many of these will impact the City’s development review process or regulations to some degree, in most cases minimally.

Staff has identified 24 bills that pertain to programs, policies, or procedures that are relevant to the City. Seven key bills are described below, and all 24 bills are identified in the table below.

AB 1332 requires every local agency to establish a program for the preapproval of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans by January 1, 2025. The program mandates that local agencies accept plan submissions for preapproval, and they must base their approval or denial on established standards.

AB 821 requires that if a zoning ordinance in a county or city becomes inconsistent with the general plan due to an amendment to the general plan, the local agency must either amend the zoning ordinance to align with the general plan within 180 days of receiving the application or process the development application according to applicable laws.

AB 1114 establishes specific time limits for the review and approval process of post entitlement phase permits such as building and public improvement permits and provides procedures for notifying applicants of incompleteness and noncompliance.

AB 1490 makes 100% affordable housing projects that adaptively reuse existing residential buildings an allowable use, regardless of any inconsistencies between the project and any local plans, zoning, or regulations, and limits local governments from imposing maximum density or floor area ratio requirements, and any requirement to add additional parking or open space.

SB 4 requires that a housing development project be a use by right on any land owned by an independent institution of higher education or religious institution if the development satisfies specified criteria.

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SB 684 streamlines the approval processes for housing development projects of 10 or fewer residential units on urban lots under five acres. It mandates local agencies to consider these projects through a ministerial approval process, eliminating discretionary reviews or hearings.

AB 548 mandates that local enforcement agencies must establish policies and procedures for inspecting multi-unit buildings if an inspector or code enforcement officer finds a unit to be substandard or in violation of the State Housing Law.

Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 1332 (Carrillo,
Juan) Accessory Dwelling Units: Preapproved Plans 51
AB 821 (Grayson) Planning And Zoning: General Plan: Zoning Ordinance: Conflicts. 56
AB 1114 (Haney) Planning And Zoning: Housing Development Projects: Post entitlement Phase Permits 57
AB 1490 (Lee) Affordable Housing Development Projects:

Adaptive Reuse 57
SB 4 (Wiener)
Planning and Zoning: Housing Development:

Higher Education Institutions and Religious
Institutions
58 SB 423 (Wiener) Land Use: Streamlined Housing Approvals:

Multifamily Housing Developments. 58
SB 229 (Umberg) Surplus Land: Disposal of Property: Violations:

Public Meeting 58
SB 684 (Caballero)
Land Use: Streamlined Approval Processes:

Development Projects of 10 or Fewer Residential
Units on Urban Lots Under 5 Acres
58 AB 548 (Boerner) State Housing Law: Inspection. 60
Other Notable Bills: AB 976, AB 1033, AB 480, SB 1287, SB 423, SB 229, SB 713, AB 747, AB 42, AB 323, AB 1620, AB 894, AB 1308, AB 1317, AB 516, AB 1218, AB 1633 Governance, Transparency and Labor Relations
In 2023, the Governor acted on several labor relations bills. The most significant is AB 1484. This bill will require temporary employees, who have been hired to perform the same or similar type of work that is performed by permanent employees to be represented by a recognized employee organization, in the same bargaining unit as permanent employees upon request of the union. This will likely have unintended consequences and raise costs for the City of San Luis Obispo. There are several other labor relations measures signed in 2023 that may minorly impact City operations such as SB 616 which increases the amount of paid sick leave days currently afforded to temporary employees from three to five days per year. The City’s Human Resources department ensures that the City is compliant with the current law.

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On the Governance side, it will be easier for cities to meet remotely the next time there’s a statewide emergency like COVID-19 thanks to AB 557. The bill will eliminate the sunset provisions in AB 361, which allow cities to meet remotely during proclaimed states of emergency under modified Brown Act requirements. The bill will also provide greater flexibility for agencies that meet on a fixed date every month by extending the SB 361 renewal period to 45 days.

Lastly, SB 329 is a measure that allows general law cities to adjust council member salaries for inflation.

Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 1484 (Zbur) Temporary Public Employees 45
AB 557 (Hart) Open Meetings: Local Agencies: Teleconferences 49 SB 329 (Dodd) Cities: City Council Members: Compensation 48 Public Safety
While criminal justice reform was a central theme of the last legislative session, only a few minor amendments were added this session addressing police reform and the enhancement of public safety. New laws focused on curbing the illegal use of Fentanyl and increasing criminal penalties for Human Trafficking.

The Governor signed four key public safety measures: AB 40, AB 33, SB 19, and AB 1448. AB 40 will address a longstanding issue of lengthy ambulance offload times.

Approximately 70,000 Californians wait over an hour to be moved to a hospital bed which can lead to poor care, increased morbidity, and even mortality. This measure requires every local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency, by July 1, 2024, to develop a standard not to exceed 30 minutes, 90% of the time, for ambulance patient offload time and report the standardized time to the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA).

This work will be incorporated into the Local Medical Services Authority (LMSA) and the County’s work to issue an Request for Proposal in the next year for medical transport services.

One big topic during the 2023 legislative session was fentanyl. In March 2023 the State established a Master Plan for tackling the fentanyl and opioid crisis. Building on the 2022 Budget Act opioid response investments, the 2023-2024 State Budget Act included an additional $93 million in Opioid Settlement Funds over four years, beginning in 2023-24, to support youth and fentanyl-focused investments. AB 33 and SB 19 will establish a multisector task force to address fentanyl addiction and overdoses. Several bills such as AB 1166 are designed to make opioid antagonists (such as naloxone) more available and add legal protections to persons who administer them.

On the cannabis side, AB 1448 will incentivize cities to take enforcement actions against illicit cannabis operations by providing a 50/50 split of the statutory penalties recovered in actions brought by local jurisdictions.

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Although not directly applicable to the City, SB 14 is a noteworthy and highly publicized bill that passed which edits existing law to include human trafficking of a minor within the definition of a serious felony for all purposes, including for purposes of the Three Strikes Law.

Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 40 (Rodriguez) Emergency Medical Services 82
AB 33 (Bains), SB
19 (Seyarto)
Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task
Force. 111,112
AB 1166 (Bains) Liability for Opioid Antagonist Administration. 112 AB 1448 (Wallis) Cannabis: Enforcement by Local Jurisdictions 73 SB 14 (Grove) Serious Felonies: Human Trafficking 79
Revenue and Taxation
There were not many significant revenue and taxation bills that made it through the legislature that impact the City directly. In fact, several bills were vetoed that would have negatively impacted the City’s fiscal sustainability. The vetoed bills would have made it harder to access federal grants, enacted a new statewide transient occupancy tax on short-term rentals, and forced costly pension divestments.

Two sales tax laws that passed include AB 28 which imposes an 11% excise tax on retailers and manufacturers for sales of guns or ammunition and AB 1203 which provides a sales and use tax exemption for breast pumps and related supplies. Other bills extended existing sales tax exemptions for certain types of sales. The City’s sales tax revenue will not be significantly impacted by the new laws and extensions to exemptions.

AB 84 was approved with an urgency clause and went into effect immediately (October 2023). This measure expands the low-income housing welfare property tax exemption by authorizing 501(c)(3) bonds as an eligible form of financing, and permits, for five years, a unit in a development that is not financed with low-income housing tax credits to remain eligible for the exemption if the tenant’s income rises no more than 100% of the area medium income.

There was an enactment of several laws that will make it easier for cities to finance and complete infrastructure projects that are outlined in the next section, “Transportation, Communications, and Public Works”.

Transportation, Communications, and Public Works
Cities won some major financing wins with the Governor's signature of SB 706, AB 400, and AB 334 which will make it easier for cities to fund and complete infrastructure projects.

SB 706 and AB 400 will expand the use of design-build and progressive design-build delivery methods for local public work projects. These processes allow earlier and greater collaboration between stakeholders and give contractors greater flexibility, saving cities time and money on critical projects. The City must amend its charter to allow for these bills to be used within the City.

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AB 334 will allow cities to accept bids from independent contractors for subsequent phases of public contracts depending on the scope of their work for the prior phase. State law’s current, unclear language limits the pool of qualified design professionals that cities can accept bids from. Cal Cities’ Public Works Department provided input on the bill’s language.

Although not part of the 2023 legislation, previously approved (November 2022) amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleet regulations will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The rule will impact the City’s fleet purchases. Between 2024 and 2026, half of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles acquired by state or local governments must be zeroemission vehicles (ZEV). In 2027, that mandate increases to 100%. Some vehicles such as emergency vehicles are exempt from this requirement.

On the communications front, there are two notable bills that will impact the City. AB 965 will require cities to undertake a batch broadband permit processing, upon receiving two or more broadband project sites and that are submitted at the same time by the same applicant. Ultimately this could put pressure on staff to approve applications within a more restricted timeframe. AB 1637 does not go into effect until 2029 but will require the City to change its internet domain from a “.org” to a “.gov”. This will ripple into a larger City project that includes changes to branding, public communication, and various forms. Staff already have some pieces in place and will continue to prepare for this transition.

Bill # and Author Title Page #
AB 400 (Rubio,
Blanca) Local Agency Design-Build Projects: Authorization 97 SB 706 (Caballero) Public Contracts: Progressive Design-Build: Local Agencies 99
AB 334 (Rubio,
Blanca) Public Contracts: Conflicts of Interest. 96
AB 965 (Carrillo,
Juan)
Local Government: Broadband Permit
Applications. 102
AB 1637 (Irwin) Local Government: Internet Websites and Email Addresses. 103
Looking Forward to 2024
Calendar year 2024 is the second half of California's two-year legislative cycle and more importantly, an election year. Despite the state budget deficit, there appears to be continued momentum to find real solutions to address the rise in crime at the state level, the lack of affordable housing, growing homelessness rates, and climate change.

CalCities recently adopted their 2024 Advocacy Priorities (Attachment C) which will help guide the City’s legislative platform. Unsurprisingly, the four top priorities (listed below) align well with the City’s Major City Goals:

1. Safeguard local revenues and bolster economic development.

2. Strengthen climate change resilience and disaster preparedness.

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3. Improve public safety in California communities.

4. Expand investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.

One of the most notable state legislature issues is the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act which is a measure brought forward by the California Business Roundtable. The measure would significantly restrict the City’s ability to administer taxes and fees, including retroactively. Stopping this measure has been a top priority for local governments and has the support of most state lawmakers. Their comments were on full display in 2023 when they approved ACA 13. ACA 13, subject to voter approval, requires any state or local initiative measure to conform with any increased voter threshold that it seeks to impose on future ballot measures. For example, if a measure looks to increase the voter threshold of a specific tax measure from a simple majority (50% +1) to a supermajority (two-thirds), the measure would be required to pass by that same supermajority.

Another notable measure is ACA 1 which subject to voter approval, would allow a city, county, or special district, with 55% voter approval, to incur bonded indebtedness or impose specified special taxes to fund projects for affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, or public infrastructure. Specifically, the measure authorizes a local government, in the form of general obligation bonds, approved by 55% of voters, to fund the acquisition or lease of real property, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of public infrastructure, affordable housing, or permanent supportive housing for persons at risk of chronic homelessness.

Legislative Platform
The City’s Legislative Platform states the City’s position on the issues it faces at the County, State, and Federal levels. The Legislative Platform conveys to legislators, policymakers, and the public where the Council stands on important policy positions. A legislative platform also provides a mechanism for staff and council to “be on the same page” and better coordinate execution of council’s policies.

The Legislative Platform allows the City to respond quickly in support of or opposition to issues included in the platform that could impact the City and reach out to legislators or regulators to share the City’s stance on an issue. The City’s Legislative platform is reviewed and amended every year in conjunction with the opening of a new legislative year. This enables the platform to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the City.

Ad-Hoc Committee Process
In recent years, Council has appointed an ad-hoc committee to review and make changes to the Legislative Platform in addition to recommendations from staff. The Committee is made up of no more than two Council Members to ensure compliance with the Brown Act.

The Committee addresses a specific issue or task. In this case the Committee would be established to review the Legislative Platform and make recommendations to the full Council. Once the task is completed, the committee disbands.

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If Council thinks that an ad hoc committee is not necessary, then staff can make updates independently and bring a draft legislative platform back to Council for review and direction.

Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
The last Legislative Briefing before City Council occurred on December 13, 2022. The City Council annually reviews its Legislative Platform, which was last reviewed and approved at the April 4, 2023 City Council meeting.

Public Engagement
This is an educational item for the benefit of City Council, so no outside public engagement was completed. Public comment can be provided to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the meeting and through public testimony at the meeting.

CONCURRENCE
In preparing the 2023 Legislative Briefing to City Council, input was solicited from all City Departments. This report includes an overview of critical bills and the impacts they have on departments and major city goal work efforts.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended action in this report because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378.

FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Not Applicable Budget Year: Not Applicable
Funding Identified: No
Fiscal Analysis:

Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $ $ $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:

Total $ $ $ $
The action before Council does not have a fiscal impact. Any efforts stemming from the Legislative Briefing will be incorporated into the appropriated budget and paid for through the department budget that leads the effort.

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ALTERNATIVES

1. Council could decide not to create an ad-hoc committee and continue with the current legislative platform. This is not recommended as there may be changes in policy landscape that are not addressed in the current platform.

2. Council could decide not to adopt a legislative platform. This is not recommended as the legislative platform allows for the City to move quickly to address legislative issues as they arrive. Without the platform the City would not be able to write letters or reach out to legislators on key issues without coming to Council each time. This would be waste staff time and reduce the impact that the City can have on pending legislation. Adopting a legislative platform is considered a best practice.

ATTACHMENTS
A – 2023 Legislative Report Published by The League of California Cities B – 2023 City of San Luis Obispo’ Legislative Action Platform C – League of California Cities 2024 Advocacy Priorities

Legislative
Report
December 2023
Strengthening California Cities Through Advocacy and EducationPage 449 of 619 League of California Cities
2023 Legislative Report
Copies of the Legislative Report may be purchased for:

City Officials $15.00
Non-city Officials $25.00
Price includes sales tax and shipping
10% discount on orders of five or more copies
Please mail payment to: League of California Cities
Publications Department
1400 K Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
Publications: Phone: (916) 658-8200
Fax: (916) 658-8240
www.calcities.org
This document will be available on the Cal Cities website in December 2023. www.calcities.org/advocacy
About the League of California Cities
Established in 1898, the League of California Cities is a member organization that represents California’s incorporated cities. Cal Cities strives to protect the local authority and autonomy of city government and help California’s cities effectively serve their residents.

In addition to advocating on cities’ behalf at the California State Capitol and Congress, Cal Cities provides its members with professional development programs and information resources, conducts educational conferences and research, and publishes the Cal Cities Advocate weekly newsletter and Western City magazine.

Legislative Report
2023
Please note: Legislation marked with an asterisk (*) has been identified as significant by Cal Cities staff.

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. This publication is the work product of the League of California Cities and is being provided to city officials in its member cities in electronic form to assist their efforts to track legislation. If information is taken from this document and is used by city officials in member cities for informational and other purposes, Cal Cities requests that the information be attributed to the League of California Cities.

This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form by any person not employed by a member city without the express permission of the League of California Cities.

Table of Contents i
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Glossary of Terms........................................................................................................ iii 2023 Legislative Year in Review .................................................................................. 1 I. Budget and Trailer Bills ......................................................................................... 6 A. 2023 Budget Act................................................................................................... 6 B. 2023 Budget Act Trailer Measures ....................................................................... 6 II. Community Services ............................................................................................ 12 A. Aging and Seniors .............................................................................................. 12 B. Animal Services.................................................................................................. 12 C.Behavioral Health and Community Wellness...................................................... 13 D.Children, Child Care, and Youth Programs ........................................................ 15 E. Homelessness.................................................................................................... 17 F. Overdose Prevention.......................................................................................... 18 G.Parks and Recreation......................................................................................... 19 H.Tobacco.............................................................................................................. 19 III. Environmental Quality.......................................................................................... 21 A. Air Quality........................................................................................................... 21 B. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)..................................................... 21 I. California Environmental Species Act (CESA).................................................... 23 J. Climate Change.................................................................................................. 23 K. Coastal ............................................................................................................... 26 L. Energy and Utilities............................................................................................. 28 M.Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................. 30 N.Hazardous Materials and Waste......................................................................... 30 O.Oil....................................................................................................................... 32 P. Pesticides ........................................................................................................... 32 Q.Solid Waste and Recycling................................................................................. 33 R.Water.................................................................................................................. 34 S. Other .................................................................................................................. 38 IV. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations ............................................. 39 A. Elections and Redistricting ................................................................................. 39 B. Employee Relations............................................................................................ 44 C.Government Operations ..................................................................................... 46 D.Political Reform Act of 1974 ............................................................................... 48 E. Public Employee Retirement System ................................................................. 48 F. Public Meetings and Public Records .................................................................. 49 G.Workers’ Compensation ..................................................................................... 50 V. Housing, Community, and Economic Development.......................................... 51 A. Accessory Dwelling Units ................................................................................... 51 B. Housing Finance................................................................................................. 52 C.Economic Development...................................................................................... 54 D.Land Use/Planning ............................................................................................. 55 E. Housing Regulations .......................................................................................... 59 F. Landlord–Tenant ................................................................................................ 61 G.Mobile Homes..................................................................................................... 62

Table of Contents ii
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
H.Parking Regulations ........................................................................................... 62 I. Care Facilities..................................................................................................... 63 J. Regional ............................................................................................................. 63 K. Miscellaneous..................................................................................................... 65 VI. Public Safety ......................................................................................................... 70 A. Alcoholic Beverages ........................................................................................... 70 B. Behavioral Health ............................................................................................... 71 C.Cannabis ............................................................................................................ 72 D.Crime and Sentencing........................................................................................ 74 E. Emergency Services and Preparedness ............................................................ 82 F. Firearms ............................................................................................................. 84 G.Fire Services....................................................................................................... 87 H.Hate Crimes and Bias......................................................................................... 87 I. Victim’s Rights.................................................................................................... 88 J. Miscellaneous..................................................................................................... 89 VII. Revenue and Taxation.......................................................................................... 92 A. Sales and Use Tax ............................................................................................. 92 B. Property Tax....................................................................................................... 93 C.Miscellaneous..................................................................................................... 94 VIII.Transportation, Communications, and Public Works ....................................... 96 A. Alternate Fuels, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, and Vehicle Technology............. 96 B. Contracting and Public Works ............................................................................ 96 C.Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 99 D.Transportation .................................................................................................. 100 E. Telecommunications and Broadband ............................................................... 102 Appendix A - Additional Resources
The Budget Act of 2023 ........................................................................................ 105 Fentanyl Legislation.............................................................................................. 108 Behavioral Health and Homelessness Budget and Legislative Advocacy 2023 ... 113 Notable Ballot Measures – November 2024 ......................................................... 118 Appendix B - Additional Resources
Legislative Staff .................................................................................................... 121 Regional Public Affairs Managers......................................................................... 122 10 Tips for Cities Lobbying the California Legislature........................................... 123 Effective Letter Writing Techniques...................................................................... 124 Index of Chaptered Bills ....................................................................................... 126

Glossary of Terms iii
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
Glossary of Terms
ABC Alcoholic Beverage Control
ADU Accessory Dwelling Units
AED Automated External Defibrillator
BCDC San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission CALFIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CalHFA California Housing Finance Agency
CalPERS California Public Employees Retirements System
CalRecycle California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery CalSTRS California State Teachers Retirement System
CARB California Air Resources Board
CARE Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment
CCAP College and Career Access Pathways
CCC California Coastal Commission
CDCR California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation CDE California Department of Education
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CDSS California Department of Social Services
CEC California Energy Commission
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CESA California Endangered Species Act
CHP California Highway Patrol
CNC Computer Numerical Control
CSM Commission on State Mandates
DCC Department of Cannabis Control
DHCS Department of Health Care Services
DMV Department of Motor Vehicles
DOJ Department of Justice
DOT Department of Transportation
DPH Department of Public Health
DPR Department of Pesticide Regulation
DTSC California Department of Toxic Substances Control
DWR California Department of Water Resources
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EMSA Emergency Medical Services Authority
FAIR Fair Access to Insurance Requirements
GO-Biz Governors Office of Business and Economic Development GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
HCD Department of Housing and Community Development
HHAP Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention
MAUCRSA Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act MCO Managed Care Organization
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
OPR Office of Planning and Research
PERB Public Employment Relations Board

Glossary of Terms iv
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
POST Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training PRA Political Reform Act
PREP Political Reform Education Program
Privacy Agency California Privacy Protection Agency
PTSI Post-Traumatic Stress Injury
PUC Public Utilities Commission
SDWA California Safe Drinking Water Act
SOS Secretary of State
SUD Substance Use Disorder
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
VBM Voice by Mail

LEGISLATIVE YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 Legislative Year in Review 1
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
2023 Legislative Year in Review
If you got into a time machine in 2018 and emerged today outside the state Capitol you might be forgiven for wondering if you traveled forward at all. Lawmakers are pushing piecemeal approaches to the housing crisis, concerns about public safety are abound, and wealthy corporations are trying to hamstring cities’ ability to fund basic services.

Like in 2018 — and every year since 1898 — the League of California Cities is protecting cities’ interests in the Legislature, ballot box, and courts. And this year was a very productive year for cities. Cal Cities supported 51 measures sent to the Governor.

He signed 82% of them. Cal Cities opposed 14 measures sent to the Governor. He vetoed 42% of them — far more than his overall veto rate of 14%.

Cal Cities also teamed up with Legislators to sponsor nine bills, five of which were signed by the Governor — a 55% signature rate. And thanks to your advocacy, we’re much closer to securing a permanent source of funding to address homelessness and increase the production of affordable housing.

Looming over all this was California’s boom-bust economy. No boom was ever bigger than the one we experienced in 2022. The state went from an eye-popping $97.5 billion budget surplus to a $31.5 billion budget deficit. Tax receipts trickled in late this year thanks to back-to-back disasters, meaning the full scope of the deficit is still unknown.

As a result, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised to veto bills without dedicated funding sources. However, lawmakers still introduced over 2,600 measures in the first few months of the session — the most in over a decade. Whenever there’s a budget deficit, there’s a temptation to rob Peter (cities) to pay Paul (the state). Legislators resisted that urge for the most part, perhaps because of their time in local government. This year's Legislature was not just one of the most diverse: Many new members have ties to local government.

Fighting for cities on many fronts
One of the biggest fights for Cal Cities that kicked off this year is the one to oppose the California Business Roundtable’s so-called “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.” The ballot measure, which will be before voters in November 2024, would significantly restrict the ability of local voters and their elected representatives to pass new revenue measures or modify existing ones for vital local services. Our approach is three-pronged: Do everything we can to defeat this harmful measure in the Legislature, the courts, and through grassroots mobilization.

The fight to stop the California Business Roundtable’s ballot measure has the support of the majority of state lawmakers. Their support was on full display this year when they approved ACA 13 (Ward). As the final votes were cast in the closing weeks of the session, Cal Cities members mobilized to ensure that lawmakers understood what was at stake with ACA 13. The 2024 ballot measure would level the playing field for ballot measures seeking to increase voter-approval thresholds by requiring the ballot measure

2023 Legislative Year in Review 2
League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
to be approved by the same higher voter-approval threshold. Legislators noted that city leaders played a key role in getting the measure passed.

Cal Cities members stood up to protect local fiscal sustainability in other big ways.

Members helped stop bills that would have created more red tape for federal grants, enacted a new statewide transient occupancy tax on short-term rentals, and forced costly pension divestments. Two of Cal Cities’ highest-profile wins were Gov. Gavin Newsom’s vetoes of AB 504 (Reyes) and SB 799 (Portantino). The two bills would have made strikes more frequent, which would have disrupted or even halted critical public services. It was a message that resonated with Newsom, who cited Cal Cities’ arguments in his veto messages. This year also saw the enactment of several laws that will make it easier for cities to fund and complete infrastructure projects: AB 400 (Rubio), SB 706 (Caballero), and AB 334 (Rubio).

Housing and homelessness
The reasons behind California's housing affordability and homelessness crisis are many — high construction costs, limited financing options, income disparity, a small labor force, climate change, conflicting state priorities, and top-down, unproven state policy.

While many cities are making good faith attempts to boost housing production, state officials seem content to focus on one issue: local zoning rules.

For the past few years, legislators have introduced a barrage of state-driven, top-down, housing bills. Many of these measures nibble around the edges. The most egregious by-right measures are usually modified or die in committee — thanks in part to Cal Cities’ advocacy. This year was no exception.

Notably, the Governor vetoed AB 309 (Lee), which would have created a state housing program at the expense of local zoning standards. Several other bills seeking to require cities to approve housing projects by right, with no environmental review or public input, stalled before they received a single hearing. In the end, only a couple of particularly consequential bills made it into law. Most significantly, SB 423 (Wiener) will extend a 2017 streamlined permitting law until 2036, give the state new authority over local land use decisions on state-owned or -leased property, and apply the law to some parcels in the coastal zone
.

Many legislators are realizing that a barrage of constant changes and a limited focus will not get us out of this crisis. This year we saw some modest, but pivotal changes signed into law. For example, AB 50 (Wood) will require utility companies to connect new homes and businesses to the electric grid faster.

Others could be much more significant. ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) will ask voters in Nov. 2024 if they want to finance affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and important public infrastructure with a 55% voter threshold, just like schools. While not signed into law, Asm. Sharon Quirk-Silva and a bipartisan group of lawmakers endorsed

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the creation of permanent funding to help cities increase affordable housing and reduce homelessness — a longstanding Cal Cities’ priority.

When it comes to homelessness, Cal Cities and the Legislature are broadly aligned. Cal Cities members played a key role in getting SB 326 (Eggman) and SB 43 (Eggman) signed into law. The two bills will make it easier to provide treatment for people with serious substance use disorders and behavioral health needs. Parts of SB 326, including targeted funding to help cities and counties create new treatment beds and supportive housing, will go on the March 2024 ballot as Proposition 1.

So much more is needed to end homelessness, but this year was a step in the right direction.

Public safety paradox
Policing is at a crossroads in California. Driven in part by the senseless murder of George Floyd in 2020, voters have stepped up their demands for changes to policing practices. This includes holding officers accountable, directing social workers and other professionals to certain emergency calls, and empowering civilian-led police commissions.

On the other hand, more and more Californians are worried about a rise in auto breakins, retail theft, and illicit fentanyl sales. The latter killed thousands of Californians in the past year alone, which has led to calls for more policing. The public safety crisis is so challenging that several cities have resorted to declaring a state of emergency.

And yet, some of the biggest public safety bills this year met an ignominious end. Asm.

Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair, single-handedly blocked several bills that would have taken meaningful steps to reduce the number of senseless fentanyl overdose deaths. Like many city leaders, Asm. Jones-Sawyer was worried about a return to the failed war on drugs and over-criminalization.

Although he relented after sustained pressure from Cal Cities and hundreds of city officials and other stakeholders, only a handful of bills made it into law. Ironically, the bills that made it through increased penalties for large-scale drug dealers. The bills that would have increased access to life-saving treatment or diverted offenders away from the criminal justice system were instead vetoed or stalled out completely.

Still, it wasn’t all bad news in the world of public safety. Cal Cities' member-driven advocacy also blocked bills that would have reduced the number of tools law enforcement agencies have at their disposal, including police canines, facial recognition software, and encrypted communications. Member advocacy also helped ensure that cities can still prohibit cycling on certain sidewalks and enforce parking violations.

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League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
In short, it was a good year
If there was one theme this year it was the importance of city voices. Your advocacy helped secure everything from Brown Act flexibility during proclaimed states of emergencies to the ability of general law cities to adjust council member salaries for inflation — and everything in between.

And of course, Cal Cities’ advocacy doesn’t stop once a bill becomes law. Cal Cities played a pivotal role in several legal cases — including those related to meritless environmental lawsuits, hypodermic needle exchange programs, mitigation fees, encampments, and the ongoing SB 9 (Atkins, 2021) lawsuit. Cal Cities also engaged regulatory agencies on several issues, such as new water conservation rules.

Looking ahead
Next year is the second half of California's two-year legislative cycle and more importantly, an election year. While prognosticating presidential prospects is beyond the scope of this article, some clear trends have already emerged.

First, while Gov. Gavin Newsom isn’t running for president, he also is not not running for president. In a blatant attempt to raise his profile, the Governor is debating Republican candidate Ron DeSantis and has taken high-profile trips to Israel and China. His political ambitions — along with that of other progressive lawmakers running for reelection — may translate into resistance to tackling tougher, politically sensitive issues or spending more money. The crowded ballot box will also no doubt put pressure on legislators to get some of these measures removed from the ballot. There are seven measures already qualified for the November ballot and 34 more pending at the Attorney General’s office or gathering signatures.

Asm. Robert Rivas — the new Assembly speaker— recently appointed new members to his leadership team. Most notably, long-time Cal Cities supporter and former city council member, Asm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry was appointed to serve as majority leader, one of the most influential positions in the Legislature. Rivas also elevated former city council members Asm. Blanca Pacheco and Asm. Lori Wilson to chair two significant committees: the Assembly Rules Committee and the Assembly Committee on Transportation. In the other house, Sen. Mike McGuire is set to take over as president pro tempore in the Senate next year.

Lawmakers have also demonstrated a desire to get tough on crime. Rivas told a new retail theft select committee to “act with focus and urgency.” Beyond that, the Legislature and the Governor have a lot of unfinished business, including the budget deficit. Lawmakers were also unusually quiet on addressing climate change this year and calls for greater accountability for funding to local governments diminished. And of course, many bills that failed to reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, such as a statewide tax on short-term rentals, Brown Act modernization, and more by-right housing approval mandates could be revived.

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League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
Still, as 2024 commences, there is much to celebrate. The Golden State has its share of problems, many made worse by geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions. But it has proven time and time again that it can be a beacon of change. Some of the most innovative solutions often start at the local level here in California. With your support and advocacy, we will move onward to a better future for all Californians.

BUDGET AND TRAILER BILLS

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I. Budget and Trailer Bills
A. 2023 Budget Act
AB 100 (Ting) Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.

Chapter 3, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

AB 102 (Ting) Budget Act of 2023.

Chapter 38, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

AB 103 (Ting) Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.

Chapter 33, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 101 (Skinner) Budget Act of 2023.

Chapter 12, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 104 (Skinner) Budget Acts of 2022 And 2023.

Chapter 189, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 105 (Skinner) Budget Acts of 2022 And 2023.

Chapter 862, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

B. 2023 Budget Act Trailer Measures
AB 110 (Committee on Budget) Early Childcare and Education.

Chapter 4, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure reappropriates one-time federal funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 to provide an additional, temporary rate supplement for all state-subsidized child care and preschool programs and extend the family fee waiver from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023 for all child care programs.

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AB 111 (Committee on Budget) Personal Income Tax Law: Exclusion: Student Loan Debt: Discharge of Fees: Higher Education Emergency Grants.

Chapter 5, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure clarifies that there is no state tax liability from certain higher education loan and fee relief given to Californians as part of the COVID-19 emergency for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2027.

AB 112 (Committee on Budget) Distressed Hospital Loan Program.

Chapter 6, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure establishes the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, until January 1, 2032, which will provide interest free cashflow loans to not-for-profit hospitals and public hospitals in significant financial distress, or to governmental entities representing closed hospitals.

AB 113 (Committee on Budget) Agricultural Labor Relations.

Chapter 7, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure makes the following changes to the collective bargaining process for agricultural workers:
• Eliminates the option to conduct union elections using mail-in ballots; • Retains the option to conduct union elections via the “card-check” system; • Limits the number of card-check elections that result in the certification of a labor organization to 75 certifications; and
• Sunsets on January 1, 2028.

AB 116 (Committee on Budget) Early Childcare and Education.

Chapter 41, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Early Childhood and Education omnibus bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

AB 118 (Committee on Budget) Budget Act Of 2023: Health.

Chapter 42, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Health trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

AB 119 (Committee on Budget) Medi-Cal: Managed Care Organization Provider Tax.

Chapter 13, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure authorizes a new Managed Care Organization Provider Tax through calendar year 2026, which is to be used to balance the budget, increase Medi-Cal provider rates, support distressed and small rural hospitals and make other improvements to the Medi-Cal program.

AB 120 (Committee on Budget) Human Services.

Chapter 43, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Human Services omnibus bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

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AB 121 (Committee on Budget) Developmental Services.

Chapter 44, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Developmental Services omnibus bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

AB 127 (Committee on Budget) State Government.

Chapter 45, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the State Government trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

AB 128 (Committee on Budget) Cannabis: Background Checks and Cannabis Event Organizer License Type.

Chapter 46, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure requires the Department of Cannabis Control (Department) to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and other related information for criminal history information checks of certain employees, prospective employees, contracts and subcontracts; exempts from that requirement an owner who has previously submitted fingerprint images in connection with a valid state license; and prohibits the Department from considering criminal history from a previous check of that owner when considering whether to issue a subsequent state license.

AB 129 (Committee on Budget) Housing.

Chapter 40, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

AB 130 (Committee on Budget) Employment.

Chapter 39, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Employment trailer bill which numerous statutory changes related to Budget Act of 2023.

AB 134 (Committee on Budget) Public Safety Trailer Bill.

Chapter 47, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Public Safety trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 114 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Education Finance: Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill.

Chapter 48, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Education Finance trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

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SB 115 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Arts and Music in Schools— funding Guarantee and Accountability Act: Local Control and Accountability Plan Electronic Template.

Chapter 49, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Arts and Music in Schools trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 117 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Higher Education Trailer Bill.

Chapter 50, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Higher Education trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 122 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Public Resources Trailer Bill.

Chapter 51, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Public Resources trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 123 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Energy.

Chapter 52, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Energy trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 124 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Energy.

Chapter 53, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Energy trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023, including authorizing IBank and the Department of Water Resources to access and utilize federal funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act to finance projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

SB 125 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Transportation Budget Trailer Bill. Chapter 54, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Transportation trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 131 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Taxation.

Chapter 55, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Taxation trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023 including changes to the following:
• Debt interception for Foster Youth Tax Credits;
• The Department of Finance’s tax expenditure report;
• The New Employment Tax Credit;
• Incomplete Gift Nongrantor Trusts; and
• Wildfire settlements tax exemptions.

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SB 132 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Income Taxes: Tax Credits:

Motion Pictures: Occupational Safety: California Film Commission.

Chapter 56, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure extends the authority for the California Film Commission to allocate the California Motion Picture and Television Production Credit for an additional five years, starting in 2025-26, authorized at $330 million per year, and makes the credit refundable.

SB 133 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Courts.

Chapter 34, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Courts trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 135 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Public Safety.

Chapter 190, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Public Safety trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 137 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Health Omnibus Trailer Bill.

Chapter 191, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Health omnibus trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 138 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Human Services.

Chapter 192, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Human Services trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 140 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Early Childcare and Education.

Chapter 193, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Early Childcare and Education trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 141 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Education Finance: Education Omnibus Budget Trailer Bill.

Chapter 194, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Education Finance omnibus trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 142 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Higher Education Trailer Bill.

Chapter 195, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the Higher Education trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

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SB 143 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) State Government.

Chapter 196, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure is the State Government trailer bill which makes numerous statutory changes related to the Budget Act of 2023.

SB 148 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) State Employment: State Bargaining Units: Agreements: Compensation and Benefits.

Chapter 197, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure makes numerous statutory changes to ratify and implement memoranda of understanding (MOU), MOU side letter agreements, and General Salary Increase adjustments.

SB 151 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) State Employment: State Bargaining Unit 6 Agreement.

Chapter 211, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure makes necessary statutory changes to ratify and implement a MOU between the state and Bargaining Unit 6.

SB 152 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) Background Checks and Fingerprinting: State Employment, Licensing, And Contracting.

Chapter 198, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure implements the Budget Act of 2023 and includes technical changes to implement federal criminal history background check provisions for state employees and license applicants.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

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League of California Cities 2023 Legislative Report
II. Community Services
A. Aging and Seniors
AB 48 (Aguiar-Curry) Nursing Facility Resident Informed Consent Protection Act of 2023.

Chapter 794, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes new rights and procedures for obtaining informed consent from skilled nursing facility residents before administering treatments or procedures involving psychotherapeutic drugs. As part of this new process, before treatment is initiated, skilled nursing facilities must verify that a consent form has been completed to ensure that information has been shared with the patient before providing consent. The Department of Public Health (DPH) has until December 31, 2024, to develop and disseminate the standardized consent form, and facilities are not required to comply with these provisions until then.

AB 839 (Addis) Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly: Financing.

Chapter 667, Statutes of 2023
This measure adds residential care facilities for the elderly to the existing list of eligible facilities able to participate in financing and funding programs offered by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.

SB 748 (Roth) Disability Access and Information: Local Government: Notice.

Chapter 76, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a city or county to provide a business license or permit applicant with a statement about the applicant's legal obligations under state and federal disability access laws and information on obtaining a Certified Access Specialist inspection.

SCR 5 (Nguyen) Older Americans Month.

This measure recognizes the month of May 2023 as Older Americans Month. This measure also encourages all Californians to treat all older adults with compassion and respect and to participate in services and activities that contribute to older adults' health, welfare, and happiness.

B. Animal Services
AB 357 (Maienschein) Animal Test Methods: Alternatives.

Chapter 430, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits manufacturers and testing facilities from using traditional animal test methods when an alternative test method or strategy exists. This measure also requires that if an alternative is unavailable, the testing facility use a traditional animal test method according to prescribed standards, including using the fewest animals possible. Additionally, this measure, starting January 1, 2027, requires a manufacturer or testing facility that uses traditional animal test methods to report that information

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annually to the DPH and requires the DPH to make that information publicly available on its website.
*AB 781 (Maienschein) Accessibility to Emergency Information and Services:

Emergency Shelters: Persons with Pets.

Chapter 344, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires all counties and cities with previously adopted emergency plans to update their plans to designate at least one emergency shelter and cooling or warming center to accommodate household pets.

C. Behavioral Health and Community Wellness
AB 289 (Holden) Mental Health Services: Representation.

Chapter 518, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the list of local stakeholders with which each county mental health program must develop three-year program and expenditure plans under the Mental Health Services Act. These stakeholders must provide sufficient participation of individuals representing diverse viewpoints, including representation of youth from historically marginalized communities, representatives from organizations that work with underserved racially and ethnically diverse communities, and representatives from LGBTQ+ communities.

AB 349 (Ramos) Patton State Hospital: Lease: Housing and Mental Health Services for Homeless Individuals.

Chapter 325, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the director of the Department of General Services, with the consent of the Department of State Hospitals, to lease a building at Patton State Hospital to a nonprofit corporation or local government to provide housing to homeless individuals and provide mental health services to those individuals. *AB 531 (Irwin) The Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023.

Chapter 789, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this issue in Appendix A of this document.

AB 665 (W. Carrillo) Minors: Consent to Mental Health Services.

Chapter 338, Statutes of 2023
This measure aligns provisions of state law so that minors who have Medi-Cal coverage will have the same right to consent to mental health services as minors who do not rely upon Medi-Cal.

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AB 712 (W. Carrillo) CalFresh: Hot and Prepared Foods.

Chapter 121, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to seek all available federal waivers and approvals to maximize food choices for CalFresh recipients, including hot and prepared foods ready for immediate consumption.

SB 35 (Umberg) Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.

Chapter 283, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure includes several changes to the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act (Chapter 319, Statutes 2022). Specifically, this measure:
• Authorizes proceedings to be conducted by a superior court judge, a courtappointed commissioner, or other subordinate judicial officer; • Requires no fees for filing a petition or any fees charged by any public officer for services in filing or serving papers or for performing any duty under the CARE Act;
• Authorizes respondents to have an interpreter in all proceedings if necessary for the respondent's full participation;
• Requires county behavioral health agencies to provide health information necessary to support findings in the filings to the court; and • Exempts counties and their employees from civil or criminal liability for disclosure of health information necessary to support findings in the filings to the court. *SB 43 (Eggman) Behavioral Health.

Chapter 637, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 280 (Laird) Review of Conservatorships: Care Plans.

Chapter 705, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a comprehensive care and estate management plan to be filed within 120 days of being appointed as a conservator or at least ten days before a hearing to continue or terminate a conservatorship starting January 1, 2025. *SB 326 (Eggman) The Behavioral Health Services Act.

Chapter 790, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 447 (Atkins) Go-biz: Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gendersupportive Equity Project.

Chapter 199, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure authorizes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to establish the Building and Reinforcing Inclusive, Diverse, Gender-Supportive Equity Project to promote social equity, civil rights, and antidiscrimination through marketing and advertising campaigns.

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SB 462 (Wahab) General Assistance.

Chapter 110, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows personal information from applicants and recipients of general assistance or general relief programs to be shared with multiple counties to allow counties to more easily determine if someone is receiving benefits in more than one county simultaneously.

SB 717 (Stern) County Mental Health Services.

Chapter 883, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the court to notify individuals of their ongoing need for mental health services if they have been found incompetent to stand trial and are not receiving court-directed services. This measure also requires the court to provide the individual with information including the county behavioral health department's name, address, and telephone number.

D. Children, Child Care, and Youth Programs
AB 5 (Zbur) The Safe and Supportive Schools Act.

Chapter 220, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Department of Education (CDE) to develop an online training and curriculum platform to support LGBTQ cultural competency training for teachers and other certificated employees. This measure also requires, from the 2025-26 school year to the 2029-30 school year, each local educational agency serving pupils in grades seven through twelve to use the online platform to provide at least one hour of required training annually to teachers and other certificated employees.

AB 10 (Lowenthal) Pupils: Body Shaming Model Policy and Resources.

Chapter 791, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the CDE to develop and post a model policy and resources about body shaming on its website and encourage school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to inform teachers, staff, parents, and pupils about those resources starting in June 2025.

AB 275 (Ward) School Governance: Governing Boards: Pupil Members:

Compensation.

Chapter 321, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a governing board of a school district, county board of education, and charter school governing board to award a student elective course credit or financial compensation while serving as a pupil board member.

AB 368 (Holden) College and Career Access Pathways Partnerships.

Chapter 521, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the governing board of a community college district participating in a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership to enroll high school pupils in any course that is part of a CCAP partnership offered at a community college

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campus. This measure also requires a community college district to assign priority for enrollment and course registration to a pupil seeking to enroll in a community college course required for the pupil's CCAP partnership program. Finally, this measure clarifies existing sections of the CCAP partnerships by defining "underrepresented in higher education."
AB 373 (Gipson) Intersession Programs: Foster Children and Homeless Youth:

Priority Access.

Chapter 327, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a local educational agency operating an intersession program to grant priority access to homeless and foster children and youth. Intersession programs are expanded learning programs offered on non-school days to provide academic content, including remediation, enrichment, and engaging activities.

AB 393 (L. Rivas) Childcare: Dual Language Learners.

Chapter 435, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the director of the Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop procedures to identify and report data on dual language learners enrolled in a general childcare and development program or migrant childcare and development program. This measure also requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the director of the DSS to coordinate their efforts in implementing these provisions.

AB 1279 (M. Fong) California Conservation Corps: Contracts: Community Conservation Corps.

Chapter 139, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the authorization for the California Conservation Corps to enter into contracts with certified community conservation corps indefinitely. *AB 1467 (Alanis) Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act.

Chapter 24, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a youth sports organization that elects to offer an athletic program to ensure that its athletes have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) during any official practice or match starting January 1, 2027. This measure requires the AED to be administered by a medical professional, coach, or other person designated by the youth sports organization who holds AED certification and complies with any other qualifications required by federal and state law to use an AED.

AB 1701 (Weber) Black Infant Health: California Perinatal Equity Initiative.

Chapter 174, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the definition of local health jurisdictions eligible to apply for the California Perinatal Equity Initiative to include a city or city and county.

ACR 16 (M. Fong) Needs of Opportunity Youth.

Chapter 130, Statutes of 2023
This measure declares the importance of creating pathways to success for California's "opportunity youth," individuals between 16 and 24 years of age who are neither in

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school nor working, and teens and young adults involved with foster care, juvenile justice, and homelessness systems. This measure also declares the need for a comprehensive statewide plan to reduce persistent economic inequities. *SB 321 (Ashby) Literacy: Libraries: Local Public Library Partnership Program.

Chapter 598, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes the Local Public Library Partnership Program, requiring the State Librarian to coordinate with local public libraries to determine the most effective means to provide all students with access to a student success card by third grade.

SB 323 (Portantino) Comprehensive School Safety Plans: Individualized Safety Plans.

Chapter 599, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires individualized education programs for pupils with exceptional needs to include a description of the necessary accommodations to procedures if the plan is insufficient to ensure the pupil's safety in an emergency.

SB 348 (Skinner) Pupil Meals.

Chapter 600, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires:
• Schools to provide students with adequate time to eat following guidelines established by the CDE;
• The CDE to submit a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture to allow for one meal provided during the school day lasting four hours or less to be served in a noncongregate manner; and • The CDE, in partnership with the California School Nutrition Association, to develop guidelines to reduce the sugar and sodium content in school meals if the National School Lunch Program allows more added sugar or sodium than is recommended by the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans at any time in the future.

E. Homelessness
*AB 271 (Quirk-Silva) Homeless Death Review Committees.

Chapter 135, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes counties to establish a homeless death review committee to gather information to identify the root causes of death of homeless individuals and determine strategies to improve the coordination of services for the homeless population.
*AB 1377 (Friedman) Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program.

Chapter 728, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires applications or planning materials for state funding through the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program after July 1, 2024, to include data and a narrative summary of quantifiable steps that the applicant has taken to

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improve the delivery of housing and services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness on transit facilities owned and operated by a transit agency.

F. Overdose Prevention
*AB 33 (Bains) Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force.

Chapter 887, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.
*AB 461 (Ramos) Student Safety: Fentanyl Test Strips.

Chapter 525, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the governing board of each community college district and the trustees of the California State Universities to provide information about the use and location of fentanyl test strips as part of established campus orientations and to notify students of the presence and location of fentanyl test strips. This measure also requires each campus health center to stock and distribute fentanyl test strips. While not required by AB 461, this measure requests that the Regents of the University of California also comply with these requirements.

AB 663 (Haney) Pharmacy: Mobile Units.

Chapter 539, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows certain controlled substances approved for treating opioid use disorder to be carried and dispensed at county-operated mobile pharmacy units and authorizes the operation of multiple mobile units within one jurisdiction.

AB 1462 (J. Patterson) Veteran Overdose Deaths.

Chapter 844, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the DPH to access data within the electronic death registration system to compile a report on veteran drug overdose deaths in California and requires the DPH to annually provide that report to the Legislature and the Department of Veteran Affairs on or before March 15 each year. This measure also requires the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard to reflect overdose deaths by veterans.

SB 10 (Cortese) Pupil Health: Opioid Overdose Prevention and Treatment:

Melanie's Law.

Chapter 856, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes schools to provide emergency opioid antagonists and trained personnel at its school and designate one or more volunteers to receive related training to address an opioid overdose. Additionally, this measure encourages county offices of education to establish a County Working Group on Fentanyl Education in Schools for coordinating outreach, building awareness, and collaborating with local health agencies regarding fentanyl overdoses. This measure also requires the CDE to curate and maintain informational materials on its website containing awareness and safety advice for school staff, pupils, and parents or guardians of pupils on preventing an opioid overdose.

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*SB 19 (Seyarto) Fentanyl Misuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force.

Chapter 857, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 60 (Umberg) Social Media Platforms: Controlled Substances: Order to Remove.

Chapter 698, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a person to seek an order requiring a social media platform to remove content, including an offer to transport, import into this state, sell, furnish, administer, or give away a controlled substance.
*SB 234 (Portantino) Opioid Antagonists: Stadiums, Concert Venues, and Amusement Parks.

Chapter 596, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires stadiums, concert venues, and amusement parks to maintain unexpired doses of naloxone hydrochloride on-site at all times and have at least two employees aware of its location.

G. Parks and Recreation
AB 1150 (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife) Parks, Recreation, and Vessels: Omnibus.

Chapter 831, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into community access agreements to provide interpretive services and visitor services at units of the state parks system to underserved park users through January 1, 2029. This measure also adds Native American tribes as entities eligible for competitive grants from the Recreational Trails Fund. Additionally, this measure decouples the collection of vessel registration fees from zebra and quagga mussel infestation fees, among other technical, noncontroversial changes.

H. Tobacco
AB 935 (Connolly) Tobacco Sales: Flavored Tobacco Ban.

Chapter 351, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the DPH to enforce the flavored tobacco ban through civil penalties.

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SB 626 (Rubio) Smoking Tobacco in the Workplace: Transient Lodging Establishments.

Chapter 182, Statutes of 2023
This measure repeals the exemption to the prohibition of smoking tobacco in the workplace that allows smoking in up to 20% of guestroom accommodations in a hotel, motel, or similar transient lodging establishment.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

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III. Environmental Quality
A. Air Quality
AB 1216 (Muratsuchi) Wastewater Treatment Plants: Monitoring of Air Pollutants.

Chapter 675, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, on or before January 1, 2027, the owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility that is located within 1,500 feet of a residential area and has an original design capacity of 425,000,000 gallons or more per day to develop, install, operate, and maintain a wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system approved by the appropriate air quality management district. This measure requires the wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system to include equipment capable of measuring pollutants of concern emitted into the atmosphere that the appropriate air quality management district deems appropriate for monitoring. This measure provides that it does not alter the responsibility of an owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility to not exceed limits for nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted into the atmosphere established in existing air quality regulations and requires source testing for these pollutants to be conducted pursuant to a protocol approved by the appropriate air quality management district.

SB 800 (Caballero) Advanced Air Mobility, Zero-emission, and Electrification Aviation Advisory Panel.

Chapter 416, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an advisory panel, to be known as the Advanced Air Mobility, Zero-Emission, and Electrification Aviation Advisory Panel, to assess the feasibility and readiness of existing infrastructure, the development of a three-year prioritized work plan, and pathways for promoting equity of access to advanced air mobility infrastructure. This measure provides for the appointment of the membership of the advisory panel. This measure requires DOT to report, not later than January 1, 2025, to the Legislature on the infrastructure feasibility and readiness study and the three-year prioritized work plan.

This measure exempts meetings of the advisory panel from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. This measure repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

B. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
*AB 356 (Mathis) California Environmental Quality Act: Aesthetic Impacts.

Chapter 116, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the provision that a lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project that involves the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2029. This measure requires the lead agency to file a notice with the Office of Planning and Research and the county clerk of the county in which the project is located if the lead agency determines that it is

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not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and determines to approve or carry out that project.

AB 785 (Santiago) California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption: City of Los Angeles: County of Los Angeles: Affordable Housing and Transitional Housing.

Chapter 726, Statutes of 2023
This measure exempts from the requirements of CEQA certain activities undertaken by the City and County of Los Angeles and other eligible public agencies related to affordable housing, low barrier navigation centers, supportive housing, and transitional housing for youth and young adults within the City and County of Los Angeles. This measure defines the Los Angeles County Development Authority as an eligible public agency. This measure requires the lead agency to ensure that those projects meet certain labor requirements in order for the exemption to apply. This measure repeals these provisions on January 1, 2030.

AB 1307 (Wicks) California Environmental Quality Act: Noise Impact: Residential Projects.

Chapter 160, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure specifies that the effects of noise generated by project occupants and their guests on human beings is not a significant effect on the environment for residential projects for purposes of CEQA. This measure specifies that institutions of public higher education, in an environmental impact report for a residential or mixed-use housing project, are not required to consider alternatives to the location of the proposed project if certain requirements are met. This measure declares that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

SB 69 (Cortese) California Environmental Quality Act: Local Agencies: Filing of Notices of Determination or Exemption.

Chapter 860, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires local agencies in charge of CEQA projects to provide additional public notices about the project including submitting documentation to the State Clearinghouse website of the Office of Planning and Research (OPR).

SB 149 (Caballero) California Environmental Quality Act: Administrative and Judicial Procedures: Record of Proceedings: Judicial Streamlining.

Chapter 60, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a public agency, in accordance with CEQA, to deny a request of the plaintiff or petitioner to prepare the record of proceedings, in which case this measure requires the public agency or the real party in interest to bear the costs of preparation and certification of the record of proceedings and prohibits the recovery of those costs from the plaintiff or petitioner. This measure requires the court to schedule a case management conference within 30 days of the filing of an action to review the scope, timing, and cost of the record of proceedings.

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I. California Environmental Species Act (CESA)
AB 606 (Mathis) California Endangered Species Act: Accidental Take: Farms or Ranches.

Chapter 447, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to conduct outreach to raise awareness that the accidental take of a candidate, threatened, or endangered species resulting from an act that occurs on a farm or a ranch in the course of otherwise lawful routine and ongoing agricultural activities is not prohibited by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and requires a person, when an accidental take is known to report the take to the CDFW within 10 days. This measure extends this exception to CESA and the reporting requirement from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2029.

J. Climate Change
AB 43 (Holden) Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Building Materials: Embodied Carbon Trading System.

Chapter 316, Statutes of 2023
This measure eliminates the interim target of 20% net reduction under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Act). This measure requires the statewide greenhouse gas emissions baseline in the Act, of reducing at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030, to be established based on either an industry average of environmental product declarations reported for the 2026 calendar year or on the most relevant, up-todate information available, as determined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This measure requires the established targets to apply no sooner than January 1, 2027, and two years after the baseline is established. This measure deletes the requirement that CARB form and maintain a technical advisory committee and instead requires CARB to consult with experts to advise the state on methods to reduce the carbon intensity of building materials and covered projects.

AB 585 (R. Rivas) Climate Change: Infrastructure and Clean Energy Projects:

Assessments.

Chapter 336, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure requests the California Council on Science and Technology every three years to assess the infrastructure project types, scale, and pace necessary to achieve the state's energy, climate change, and air quality goals, using its discretion. This measure also requires the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC), the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and CARB, to prepare an assessment of the barriers, challenges, and impediments limiting the deployment and development of clean energy projects. This measure requires GO-Biz to submit this assessment to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026. This measure also requires the assessment to be considered and incorporated into the work carried out by the Infrastructure Strike Team

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convened by the Governor. This measure declares that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

AB 1159 (Aguiar-Curry) California Global Warming Solutions Act Of 2006: Natural and Working Lands: Market-based Compliance Mechanisms.

Chapter 358, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires CARB to ensure that all greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals used for any market-based compliance mechanism are in addition to any reductions and removals that would otherwise occur.

AB 1172 (Calderon) Integrated Energy Policy Report: Fusion Energy.

Chapter 360, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the CEC, as part of the 2027 edition of the integrated energy policy report, to include an assessment of the potential for fusion energy to contribute to California’s power supply.

AB 1305 (Gabriel) Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures.

Chapter 365, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a business entity that is marketing or selling voluntary carbon offsets within the state to disclose on the business entity’s internet website specified information about the applicable carbon offset project and details regarding accountability measures if a project is not completed or does not meet the projected emissions reductions or removal benefits. This measure also requires an entity that purchases or uses voluntary carbon offsets that makes claims regarding the achievement of net zero emissions or other, similar claims to disclose on the entity’s internet website specified information. This measure requires an entity that makes these claims to disclose on the entity’s internet website all information documenting how, if at all, a claim was determined to be accurate or actually accomplished, how interim progress toward that goal is being measured, and whether there is independent thirdparty verification of the company data and claims listed. This measure makes a person who violates these provisions subject to a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 per day for each violation, not to exceed a total amount of $500,000, which would be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General or by a district attorney, county counsel, or city attorney in a court of competent jurisdiction. This measure additionally requires that disclosures be updated no less than annually.
*AB 1548 (Hart) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Grant Program: Recycling Infrastructure Projects.

Chapter 693, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the scope of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Waste Diversion and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Financial Assistance Grant Program to include providing financial assistance to promote in-state development of projects to sort and aggregate organic and other recyclable materials or to divert items from disposal through enhanced reuse opportunities. This measure requires the grant program to provide eligible financial assistance for increasing

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opportunities for reuse of materials diverted from landfill disposal and for recyclable material recovery, sorting, or bailing equipment for use at publicly owned facilities. This measure authorizes eligible infrastructure projects for the grant program to include projects undertaken by a local government at publicly owned facilities to improve the recovery, sorting, or baling of recyclable materials to get those materials into the marketplace, the purchase of equipment and construction of facilities to help develop, implement, or expand edible food waste recovery operations, and the establishment of reuse programs to divert items from landfill disposal for reuse by members of the public.

SB 39 (Laird) Sierra Nevada Conservancy: Sierra Nevada Region: Subregions:

Climate Resilience and Equity.

Chapter 70, Statutes of 2023
This measure revises the boundaries of the six subregions of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy within the California Natural Resources Agency. This measure requires the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to support efforts that advance climate resilience and equity.

SB 253 (Wiener) Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act.

Chapter 382, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires CARB, on or before January 1, 2025, to develop and adopt regulations overseeing specified partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities with total annual revenues in excess of $1 billion and that do business in California, defined as “reporting entities,” to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions to the emissions reporting organization starting in 2026 and annually thereafter. This measure requires CARB to review during 2029 and update as necessary on or before January 1, 2030. This measure requires a reporting entity to obtain an assurance engagement, performed by an independent third-party assurance provider, of the entity’s public disclosure. This measure requires CARB, in developing these regulations, to consult with the Attorney General, other government stakeholders, investors, stakeholders representing consumer and environmental justice interests, and reporting entities that have demonstrated leadership in full-scope greenhouse gas emissions accounting and public disclosure, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

This measure further requires CARB to contract with an emissions reporting organization to develop a reporting program to receive and make publicly available the required disclosures. This measure authorizes CARB, starting in 2033 and every five years thereafter, to assess the global greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standards and to adopt an alternative standard if it determines that using the alternative standard would more effectively further the goals of this measure.

SB 256 (Dodd) Parklands: City of Davis.

Chapter 305, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the City of Davis to convey conservation easements, leases, or licenses for projects and activities located on specific parcels acquired by the city with a grant made pursuant to the California Wildlife, Coastal, and Park Land Conservation Act, including:
• Habitat conservation projects;

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• Geologic storage of carbon dioxide in the pore spaces in the geologic reservoir; • Monitoring wells or any other equipment or facilities that are required by law for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide; and
• Agricultural activities that provide wildlife habitat.

This measure requires the City of Davis, in the conveyance of these easements, leases, or licenses, to maintain the scenic, recreational, and wildlife values of the real property.

SB 261 (Stern) Greenhouse Gases: Climate-related Financial Risk.

Chapter 383, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, on or before January 1, 2026, and biennially thereafter, a covered entity to prepare a climate-related financial risk report disclosing the entity’s climate-related financial risk and measures adopted to reduce and adapt to climaterelated financial risk. This measure requires the covered entity to make a copy of the report available to the public on its own internet website.

SB 306 (Caballero) Climate Change: Equitable Building Decarbonization Program:

Extreme Heat Action Plan.

Chapter 387, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the CEC, on or before September 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until the $112 million in the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program have been expended, to submit a report to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature that includes information about the progress of the direct install program, including the selected administrators and implementers and implementation progress.

K. Coastal
AB 72 (Boerner) Coastal Resources: Research: Landslides and Erosion: Early Warning System.

Chapter 80, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego to continue to conduct research at a third site on coastal cliff landslides and erosion in the County of San Diego, including real-time measurements and identification and analysis of those conditions. This measure postpones the deadline for Scripps to complete their research and provide a report to the Legislature with recommendations for developing a coastal cliff landslide and erosion early warning system from March 15, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
*AB 584 (Hart) California Coastal Act Of 1976: Coastal Development: Emergency Waiver.

Chapter 118, Statutes of 2023
This measure increases the value of permanent erected structures from $25,000 to $125,000 for which a waiver exemption does not apply for when a coastal development permit is needed under the California Coastal Act of 1976.

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AB 882 (Davies) Coastal Resources: State Coastal Conservancy: Advance Payments.

Chapter 817, Statutes of 2023
This measure permits the State Coastal Conservancy to authorize advance payments on a contract or grant awarded in accordance with state’s existing advanced payment practices pilot program. This measure repeals this authorization on July 1, 2025, when the current pilot program is repealed.
*SB 272 (Laird) Sea Level Rise: Planning and Adaptation.

Chapter 384, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a local government in the coastal zone or within the San Francisco Bay to submit either a local coastal program or a shoreline resiliency plan that implements sea level rise planning and adaptation by January 1, 2034. This measure requires, on or before December 31, 2024, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), in close coordination with the Ocean Protection Council and the California Sea Level Rise State and Regional Support Collaborative, shall establish guidelines for the preparation of local sea level rise plans. This measure states that the guidelines must recognize and build upon the baseline policies as described in the “Sea Level Rise Working Group:
2021 Work Products” as published by the CCC on December 3, 2021 and the guiding principles of the joint platform as described on page 16 of the “Bay Adapt Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay Joint Platform” adopted by BCDC on October 21, 2021. This measure states that local governments that receive approval by the CCC or BCDC shall be prioritized for funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the implementation of sea level rise adaptation strategies and recommended projects in the local government’s approved sea level rise plan.
*SB 337 (Min) Environmental Protection: Lands and Coastal Waters Conservation Goal.

Chapter 392, Statutes of 2023
This measure provides that it is the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

SB 360 (Blakespear) California Coastal Commission: Member Voting.

Chapter 108, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows any member or employee of the CCC to be a member of a joint powers authority and a member of a local agency formation commission, in addition to an employee of another public agency, a county supervisor or city councilperson, or a member of specified associations or organizations.

SB 704 (Min) Coastal Resources: California Coastal Act Of 1976: Industrial Developments: Oil and Gas Developments: Refineries: Petrochemical Facilities:

Offshore Wind.

Chapter 292, Statutes of 2023
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if they are found to be consistent with all applicable provisions of the California Coastal Act of 1976.

SJR 2 (Gonzalez) Climate Change: Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty.

This measure formally endorses the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, states California’s agreement with the principle of nonproliferation of fossil fuels, and urges the United States government to join in formally developing a Fossil Fuel NonProliferation Treaty.

L. Energy and Utilities
AB 3 (Zbur) Offshore Wind Energy: Reports.

Chapter 314, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the CEC, in consultation with the State Lands Commission, the CCC, and other state agencies to develop a 2nd-phase plan and strategy for seaport readiness that builds upon the recommendations and alternatives in the strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments. This measure requires the CEC to submit a report on its recommendations for a seaport readiness strategy to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2026. This measure requires the CEC, in consultation with the California Workforce Development Board, to conduct a study on the feasibility of achieving 50% and 65% in-state assembly and manufacturing of offshore wind energy projects and specified federal domestic content thresholds for offshore wind energy projects. This measure requires the CEC to submit a report on the study to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 31, 2027. This measure sunsets on January 1, 2031.
*AB 50 (Wood) Public Utilities: Timely Service: Customer Energization.

Chapter 317, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes several interrelated changes to expedite the timely delivery of service by electrical utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This measure seeks to establish clear expectations for how quickly utilities are expected to deliver service to new customers, fulfill requests for increased load from existing customers, and seeks to improve utility planning and information sharing to facilitate systematic reductions in the time it takes to meet requests for new or increased levels of service from customers.

AB 678 (Alvarez) Biomethane Procurement Targets or Goals: Core Transport Agents.

Chapter 339, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the PUC to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each gas corporation and core transport agent. If the PUC adopts the biomethane procurement targets or goals, this measure requires the PUC to authorize a core transport agent to enter into an agreement with a gas corporation for the gas corporation to procure the core transport agent’s proportionate share of biomethane in order to satisfy the biomethane procurement targets or goals. All costs

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paid for by the core transport agent and any environmental attributes allocated by the PUC would need to be in a fair and transparent manner. This measure requires the PUC to initially allocate each core transport agent their proportional share of the existing biomethane procurement targets established by the PUC Decision 22-02-025. *AB 1132 (Friedman) Solar Energy Systems: Permit Fees.

Chapter 357, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the repeal date from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2034 on current law that prescribes and limits permit fees that a city or county may charge for a residential or commercial solar energy system.

SB 355 (Eggman) Multifamily Affordable Housing Solar Roofs Program.

Chapter 393, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the Affordable Housing Solar Roofs Program at the PUC to include properties in which at least 66% of the households have incomes at or below 80% of the area median income, properties owned by a tribe, and rental housing properties owned by public housing agencies or authorities. This measure extends the requirement that the PUC award monetary incentives for those solar energy systems through December 31, 2032. This measure authorizes the PUC to consider authorizing an advance payment loan to an eligible project if there is reasonable evidence to suggest that an advance payment loan would lead to the delivery of a project that would not occur absent the advance payment loan.

SB 605 (Padilla) Wave and Tidal Energy.

Chapter 405, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the CEC, as part of a specified 2024 energy policy review, to evaluate the feasibility, costs, and benefits of using wave energy and tidal energy. This measure requires the CEC, in coordination with the CCC, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Ocean Protection Council, and the State Lands Commission, to work with other state and local agencies and stakeholders to identify suitable sea space for offshore wave energy and tidal energy projects in state and federal waters. This measure requires the CEC to submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 1, 2025, that includes a summary of findings from the evaluation and considerations that may inform legislative and executive actions.

SB 746 (Eggman) Energy Conservation Contracts: Alternate Energy Equipment:

Green Hydrogen: Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

Chapter 410, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, in addition to its authority to enter into contracts, to enter into energy service contracts, facility financing contracts, and contracts for the sale of specified energy resources relating to green electrolytic hydrogen for use by the authority for purposes of financing the construction and operation of passenger rail service through the Altamont Pass Corridor. This measure makes legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

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SBX1 2 (Skinner) Energy: Transportation Fuels: Supply and Pricing: Maximum Gross Gasoline Refining Margin.

Chapter 1, Statutes of 2023-24 First Extraordinary Session This measure authorizes the CEC to establish a maximum gross gasoline refining margin. This measure requires the CEC, if the CEC establishes the maximum gross gasoline refining margin, to establish a penalty for exceeding the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. This measure authorizes the CEC to petition the court to enjoin a refiner from exceeding the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. This measure also authorizes the CEC to impose an administrative civil penalty on a refiner for exceeding the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. This measure requires the CEC to consider a refiner’s request for an exemption from the maximum gross gasoline refining margin. This measure requires a refiner seeking an exemption to file a statement under the penalty of perjury setting forth the basis of the request for exemption.

M. Fish and Wildlife
AB 655 (Petrie-Norris) Fish and Wildlife: Aquatic Invasive Species: Caulerpa.

Chapter 119, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a person from selling, possessing, importing, transporting, transferring, releasing alive in the state, or giving away without consideration all salt water algae of the genus Caulerpa, except possession for bona fide scientific research.

N. Hazardous Materials and Waste
AB 777 (Cervantes) Hazardous Waste: Stringfellow Quarry Class I Hazardous Waste Disposal Site.

Chapter 165, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits any sample or waste generated from a site other than the Stringfellow Quarry from being treated, stored, transferred to, or disposed of at the Stringfellow Quarry Class I Hazardous Waste Disposal Site. This measure requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to provide notice if any material or substance generated from a site other than the Stringfellow Quarry is treated, stored, transferred to, or disposed of at the Stringfellow Class I Hazardous Waste Site. This measure exempts any material or substance necessary to implement the ongoing cleanup of the site from the notice provision.

AB 1059 (Friedman) Product Safety: Consumer Products: Textile Fiberglass and Covered Flame Retardant Chemicals.

Chapter 461, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires that by January 1, 2027 any component of adult mattresses other than foam are prohibited from being sold or distributed that contain covered flame retardant chemicals at specific levels. This measure exempts aramid fabric when used in the interior of a mattress or on a non-sleep surface of a mattress. This measure

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additionally exempts modacrylic fiber without antimony trioxide or other covered flameretardant chemicals. This measure requires the International Sleep Products Association, on or before October 1, 2025, to submit to the Bureau of Household Goods and Services a quantitative health risk assessment of modacrylic fiber without antimony trioxide and requires the Bureau of Household Goods and Services to post the assessment on its internet website.

AB 1115 (Papan) Barry Keene Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Trust Fund Act Of 1989: Brownfields Remediation and Redevelopment.

Chapter 561, Statutes of 2023
This measure postpones the repeal of provisions under the Barry Keene Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Trust Fund Act of 1989 from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2036. By extending the operation of these provisions, this measure imposes a statemandated local program by continuing the operation of certain crimes regarding the furnishing of information under penalty of perjury.

AB 1716 (Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials) Hazardous Wastes and Materials: Certified Unified Program Agencies.

Chapter 207, Statutes of 2023
This measure revises the requirements for the exclusion of a recyclable material from classification by DTSC as a waste by requiring that the material be held in a container, tank, containment building, or waste pile that is labeled, marked, and placarded in accordance with DTSC’s hazardous waste labeling, marking, and placarding requirements applicable to generators.

SB 642 (Cortese) Hazardous Materials: Enforcement: County Counsel.

Chapter 154, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a county counsel, in addition to the city attorney, district attorney, and the Attorney General at the request of DTSC or a unified program agency, to bring an action seeking to enjoin a violation of laws and regulations governing the generation, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials.

SB 740 (Cortese) Hazardous Materials Management: Stationary Sources: Skilled and Trained Workforce.

Chapter 293, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends that workforce requirement to contracts awarded, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, by an owner or operator of a stationary source that is engaged in manufacturing hydrogen, biofuels, or certain specified chemicals, or in capturing, sequestering, or using carbon dioxide in specified conditions.

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O. Oil
AB 631 (Hart) Oil and Gas: Enforcement: Penalties.

Chapter 337, Statutes of 2023
This measure applies existing statute of limitations to oil and gas laws, including that an action for civil penalties or punitive damages related to environmental protection laws must begin within five years after discovery by the agency bringing the action. Such acts include refusing to permit the inspection of a well or willfully hindering or delaying enforcement related to oil and gas laws. This measure increases the fines for committing such acts from $100, to a range of no less than $500 or no more than $5,000.

P. Pesticides
AB 363 (Bauer-Kahan) Pesticides: Neonicotinoids for Nonagricultural Use:

Reevaluation: Control Measures.

Chapter 520, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a person from selling, possessing, or using a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides for any nonagricultural use on nonproduction outdoor or ornamental plants, trees, or turf beginning January 1, 2025.

This measure requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to evaluate the potential impacts of those neonicotinoid pesticide uses on pollinating insects, aquatic ecosystems, and human health, taking into account relevant routes of exposure. This measure requires DPR to issue a determination on those impacts on or before July 1, 2027 and to adopt necessary control measures for the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on or before July 1, 2029.

AB 652 (Lee) Department of Pesticide Regulation Environmental Justice Advisory Committee.

Chapter 662, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the DPR, by January 1, 2026, to establish and convene a DPR Environmental Justice Advisory Committee that would provide prioritized recommendations to DPR on ways to integrate environmental justice considerations into its programs, policies, decision-making, and activities, and on how it can improve its engagement with communities with the most significant exposure to pesticides. This measure requires the Advisory Committee to hold, at a minimum, two public meetings annually and to post, as needed, its recommendations on the DPR internet website.

AB 1322 (Friedman) Pesticides: Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticide:

Diphacinone.

Chapter 836, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the use of diphacinone in a wildlife habitat area and in the state, and any violation is a misdemeanor. This measure requires DPR, in consultation with, and with the concurrence of, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to adopt any additional restrictions that are necessary to ensure a trend of statistically

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significant reductions in the mean concentration values of detectable levels of secondgeneration anticoagulant rodenticides or any of their metabolites in tested tissues of a scientifically representative sample of wildlife.

Q. Solid Waste and Recycling
AB 592 (Wilson) Vehicles: Commercial Nonfranchise Solid Waste Haulers: Pilot Program.

Chapter 202, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano to create a three-year pilot program, until January 1, 2028, to regulate the transport of solid waste by commercial nonfranchise solid waste haulers on public roads in unincorporated areas of the county.
*AB 1526 (Committee on Natural Resources) Public Resources.

Chapter 848, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a Producer Responsibility Organization under SB 54 (Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022) to schedule and remit funds owed to local governments to cover the cost of the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Responsibility Act Program.

This measure makes other non-substantive changes to Public Resources Code.

SB 353 (Dodd) Beverage Containers: Recycling.

Chapter 868, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure expands the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act to include any size container of 100% fruit juice and any size container of vegetable juice, beginning January 1, 2024. Since the additional payments for these beverage containers would be deposited in a continuously appropriated fund, this measure makes an appropriation. This measure declares that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

SB 568 (Newman) Electronic Waste: Export.

Chapter 308, Statutes of 2023
This measure adds to the requirements of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 for export of covered electronic waste or a covered electronic device that the person demonstrate they attempted to locate an in-state covered electronic waste recycler and that the waste or device could not be managed by an in-state covered electronic waste recycler.
*SB 613 (Seyarto) Organic Waste: Reduction Goals: Local Jurisdictions: Lowpopulation Waiver.

Chapter 878, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a local jurisdiction to receive a waiver by CalRecycle from the requirements and regulations of SB 1383 (Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) and the comprehensive short-lived climate pollutant strategy until December 1, 2028, if the local

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jurisdiction does not qualify for an existing waiver, disposed of fewer than 5,000 tons of solid waste in 2014, and has fewer than 7,500 people.

SB 806 (Archuleta) Trash Receptacles and Storage Containers: Reflective Markings: Enforcement.

Chapter 722, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires any trash receptacle or storage container placed on a roadway or curb to be emptied or picked up to include reflectors on each side. This measure reduces the size of the required reflectors, changes the required placement of the reflectors, and expands the types of reflectors that meet the requirement.

R. Water
*AB 30 (Ward) Atmospheric Rivers: Research: Reservoir Operations.

Chapter 134, Statutes of 2023
This measure renames the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) program to the Atmospheric Rivers Research and Forecast Improvement Program: Enabling Climate Adaptation Through Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations and Hazard Resiliency Program. This measure requires DWR to research, develop, and implement new observations, prediction models, novel forecasting methods, and tailored decision support systems to improve predictions of atmospheric rivers and their impacts on water supply, flooding, post-wildfire debris flows, and environmental conditions.

AB 345 (Wilson) Habitat Restoration: Flood Control: Advance Payments.

Chapter 647, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes DWR or the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to provide advance payments to local agencies for projects that restore habitat for threatened and endangered species under state or federal law or improve flood protection. This measure prohibits the amount of funds advanced by DWR or the SWRCB to the local agency at any one time from exceeding 25% of the entire amount authorized to be provided under a funding agreement. This measure requires the project proponent to demonstrate a need for an advance payment and that the project proponent is sufficiently qualified to manage the project and the project's finances. This measure requires the funds to be spent within six months and would require the recipient to provide an accountability report to DWR or the SWRCB on a quarterly basis.

AB 399 (Boerner) Water Ratepayers Protections Act of 2023: County Water Authority Act: Exclusion of Territory: Procedure.

Chapter 802, Statutes of 2023
This measure, named the Water Ratepayers Protections Act of 2023, requires a public entity whose corporate area is part of a county water authority to submit any proposition of excluding the public agency's corporate area from the county water authority to the electors within the territory of the county water authority, in addition to submitting the exclusion of the area to the electors with the public agency at any general or special election. This measure requires the two elections to be separate; however, this measure

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authorizes both elections to run concurrently. This measure requires the ballot materials to include a fiscal impact statement.

AB 541 (Wood) California Safe Drinking Water Act: Wildfire Aftermath: Benzene Testing.

Chapter 530, Statutes of 2023
This measure directs the SWRCB to require a public water system that has experienced a wildfire event to perform sample collection and analysis of its source waters, treatment facilities, conveyance facilities, distribution systems, or a combination thereof, for the presence of benzene as soon as it is safe to do so. This measure authorizes the SWRCB to require a public water system response that includes if a public water system conducts sampling and finds detectable concentrations of benzene.

AB 664 (Lee) California Safe Drinking Water Act.

Chapter 810, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the SWRCB to issue a citation to any person, not just a public water system, if the SWRCB determines that the person is in violation of the California Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), or any regulation, permit, standard, or order issued or adopted under the SDWA. This measure also requires persons, not just public water systems, to reimburse the SWRCB for actual costs incurred by the SWRCB for specified enforcement activities related to that person.

AB 682 (Mathis) State Water Resources Control Board: Online Search Tool:

Funding Applications.

Chapter 340, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, by January 1, 2025, the SWRCB to update its online search tool for funding applications to include a description of the additional information the SWRCB needs from a water system to continue processing the water system’s application and a description of the typical steps that must be completed before a funding agreement can be executed after receipt of a complete application.

AB 755 (Papan) Water: Public Entity: Water Usage Demand Analysis.

Chapter 542, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a public entity to conduct a water usage demand analysis, prior to completing, or as part of, a cost-of-service analysis conducted to set fees and charges for water service. This measure requires a public entity to identify within the water usage demand analysis the costs of water service for the highest users incurred by the public entity and the average annual volume of water delivered to high water users.

AB 759 (Grayson) Sanitary Districts.

Chapter 19, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows sanitary districts to authorize funds to be withdrawn by a district treasurer or expended by a treasurer upon approval by the local board, signed by the president and secretary. Current law generally authorizes the district to expend money only upon written order of the board.

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AB 779 (Wilson) Groundwater: Adjudication.

Chapter 665, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a civil court, in an adjudication action for a groundwater basin required to have a groundwater sustainability plan, to appoint one party to forward all case management orders, judgments, and interlocutory orders to the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) within 10 business days of issuance. This measure requires the court to allocate payment of the costs incurred by the party appointed to forward all case management orders, judgments, and interlocutory orders to the groundwater sustainability agency among the parties in an amount and a manner that the court deems equitable. This measure requires the GSA to post the documents on its internet website in the interest of transparency and accessibility within 20 business days of receipt from a party. This measure authorizes the court to refer the matter to the SWRCB for investigation and report in order to assist the court in making findings pursuant to these provisions and authorizes a party to request that the court refer the matter to the SWRCB. This measure requires the court to consider the water use of, and accessibility of, water for small farmers and disadvantaged communities before entering a judgment.
*AB 1572 (Friedman) Potable Water: Nonfunctional Turf.

Chapter 849, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, municipal, institutional, and multifamily residential properties. This measure takes effect through a phase-in of this ban for specified property types beginning January 1, 2027.

AB 1736 (Carrillo, Juan) Water Replenishment Districts: Competitive Bidding.

Chapter 592, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the Water Replenishment District of Southern California board to negotiate a contract for work if no bids are received.

SB 389 (Allen) State Water Resources Control Board: Investigation of Water Right.

Chapter 486, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the SWRCB to investigate and ascertain whether or not a water right is valid. This measure authorizes the SWRCB to issue an information order in furtherance of an investigation, as executed by the SWRCB Executive Director. This measure authorizes a diversion or use of water ascertained to be unauthorized to be enforced as a trespass.

SB 659 (Ashby) California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023.

Chapter 624, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes the California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023 to require DWR, as part of the California Water Plan Update 2028, and each subsequent update thereafter, to provide actionable recommendations to develop additional groundwater recharge opportunities that increase the recharge of the state’s groundwater basins.

This measure requires DWR to consult with the SWRCB, the nine regional water quality

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control boards, and the Water Plan Advisory Committee. This measure requires the recommendations to identify immediate opportunities and potential long-term solutions to increase the state’s groundwater supply, and include, among other things, best practices to advance all benefits of groundwater recharge. *SB 676 (Allen) Local Ordinances and Regulations: Drought-tolerant Landscaping.

Chapter 498, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a city, including a charter city, county, or city and county from enacting or enforcing any ordinance or regulation that prohibits the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property. This measure specifies that drought-tolerant landscaping does not include the installation of synthetic grass or artificial turf.

SB 753 (Caballero) Cannabis: Water Resources.

Chapter 504, Statutes of 2023
This measure amends the Adult Use of Marijuana Act by adding the planting, cultivating, harvesting, drying, or processing marijuana that results in substantial environmental harm to surface or groundwater for a person 18 years of age or older may be charged with a felony, including when the offense causes substantial environmental harm to public lands or other public resources.

SB 756 (Laird) Water: Inspection: Administrative Procedure: Notice: Service.

Chapter 158, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the SWRCB, in conducting an investigation or proceeding related to streams, lakes, or other bodies of water, to inspect the property or facilities of any person or entity to ensure the prevention of waste, unreasonable use, or unreasonable method of use or diversion of water is in compliance. This measure authorizes the SWRCB, if consent is denied for an inspection, to obtain an inspection warrant or in the event of an emergency affecting public health and safety pertaining to the site under which the inspection is being sought, to conduct an inspection without consent or a warrant. This measure authorizes the SWRCB to participate in an inspection of an unlicensed cannabis cultivation site.

SB 836 (Dahle) Landowner: Water Right Holder: Jointly Used Conduits: County of Siskiyou.

Chapter 889, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a landowner, in the County of Siskiyou, where a conduit is constructed across or buried beneath the lands of two or more landowners, and the conduit is not under the control or management of any public agency or authority, to modify or replace the conduit on or beneath their land if the modification or replacement is made in a manner that does not impede the flow of the water to any other water right holder receiving a benefit of the conduit.

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S. Other
AB 496 (Friedman) Cosmetic Safety.

Chapter 441, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits, starting January 1, 2027, a person or entity from manufacturing, selling, delivering, holding, or offering for sale any cosmetic product that contains any intentionally added ingredients or banned ingredients.

SB 833 (McGuire) Cannabis Licensing: Cultivation Licenses: Changing License Type: Inactive Status.

Chapter 886, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Department of Cannabis Control, beginning no later than March 1, 2024, to allow a cultivation licensee to change the type of size of a cultivation license or to place a cultivation license in inactive status. This measure authorizes a licensee, at the license renewal, to change an existing cultivation license to a type with a smaller maximum canopy size, and at each subsequent license renewal, to restore the original type, maintain the type that the license was changed to at the license renewal, or change to a different type with a maximum canopy size smaller than the original type. This measure prohibits a licensee who holds a license in inactive status from engaging in the cultivation of cannabis, requires a license in inactive status to remain in inactive status until the license is next renewed, and requires a licensee who holds a license in inactive status to pay a reduced license fee.

GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY,

AND LABOR RELATIONS

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IV. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations
A. Elections and Redistricting
AB 34 (Valencia) Elections: County of Orange Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Chapter 315, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Orange, which is charged with adjusting the boundary lines of the districts of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Orange.

AB 63 (Cervantes) Canvass of the Vote: Reporting Results.

Chapter 514, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the elections official, beginning no later than the Thursday following the election until submission of a certified statement of the results, to post updated information regarding the election on their internet website at least once per week. The measure also requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to inform the Legislature if a candidate who was elected to the Legislature was not continuously registered to vote in the district in which the candidate was running between the date that the candidate filed for office and the date on which the SOS notifies the Legislature that the person was elected.

AB 292 (Pellerin) Primary Elections: Ballots.

Chapter 646, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, for any nonpartisan ballot provided to a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference for use in a presidential primary election, that the ballot provide information regarding how a voter may request and vote on a partisan ballot.

AB 398 (Pellerin) Voting: Replacement Ballots.

Chapter 650, Statutes of 2023
This measure removes the requirement that the voter provide a statement under penalty of perjury that the voter has failed to receive, lost, or destroyed their original ballot in order to be provided a replacement vote by mail ballot from an elections official. The measure requires the elections official, prior to issuing the replacement ballot, to advise the requester that a request for a replacement ballot made by a person other than the registered voter is a criminal offense.

AB 399 (Boerner) Water Ratepayers Protections Act of 2023: County Water Authority Act: Exclusion of Territory: Procedure.

Chapter 802, Statutes of 2023
This measure, named the Water Ratepayers Protections Act of 2023, requires a public entity whose corporate area is part of a county water authority to submit any proposition of excluding the public agency's corporate area from the county water authority to the electors within the territory of the county water authority, in addition to submitting the exclusion of the area to the electors with the public agency at any general or special

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election. This measure requires the two elections to be separate; however, this measure authorizes both elections to run concurrently. This measure requires the ballot materials to include a fiscal impact statement.
*AB 421 (Bryan) Elections: Referendum Measures.

Chapter 162, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure requires for a state referendum that voters be asked to choose between the options "Keep the law" or "Overturn the law" rather than being asked to vote "Yes" or "No." This measure also requires the top campaign funders of an effort to qualify a state referendum to be listed in the state voter information guide. *AB 545 (Pellerin) Elections: Access for Voters with Disabilities.

Chapter 658, Statutes of 2023
This measure:
• Permits a voter with a disability to vote by regular ballot outside any polling place (also referred to as “curbside” voting) and eliminates provisions of law that require a voter to declare under oath that they are unable to mark their ballot in order to receive assistance marking their ballot;
• Requires a county elections official to provide information on the county elections official’s internet website informing a voter with a disability that they may vote a regular ballot outside any polling place;
• Requires signage to be posted outside a polling place indicating that the option to curbside vote is available for a voter with a disability to vote there; and • Requires a polling place to establish a method for a voter with a disability to contact a precinct board member in order to vote outside the polling place, such as a posted phone number, doorbell device, or the stationing of a precinct board member outside the polling place.

AB 626 (Pellerin) Voting: Returning Vote by Mail Ballots in Person.

Chapter 661, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a voter to return their vote by mail (VBM) ballot to an in-person voting location without placing the ballot into a ballot identification envelope if the following conditions are met:
• The precinct board or vote center election board has real-time access to the county elections official’s election management system; • The precinct board or vote center election board verifies that the voter has not returned a vote by mail ballot for that election; and
• The precinct board or vote center election board changes the status of the voter in the election management system from a VBM voter to an in person voter; • The voter provides their name and address and signs the roster for the voting location after the voter’s status has been changed; and • The county elections official has established procedures to ensure that a voter who casts a ballot pursuant to this subdivision does not submit more than one vote by mail ballot without the identification envelope.

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*AB 764 (Bryan) Local Redistricting.

Chapter 343, Statutes of 2023
This measure standardizes the criteria to be used for drawing districts in local jurisdictions by requiring cities, counties, county boards of education, school districts, community college districts, and special districts, if the governing body of these local jurisdictions is elected by districts, to comply with uniform requirements related to redistricting. The measure also increases the public hearing and outreach requirements that apply to all local jurisdictions as part of the process for adopting or adjusting boundaries. This additionally requires the SOS to publish documents, tools, and information pertaining to redistricting.

AB 773 (Pellerin) Elections: Filings.

Chapter 664, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure establishes a lead county for the purposes of district or school district elections when the boundaries of the district or school district encompass more than one county. The measure also requires authors of arguments for or against district or school district measures, and related rebuttal arguments, to submit the arguments to the elections official of the lead county. The elections official of the lead county must work with the other counties within the district bounds to establish deadlines for receipt of the arguments. The elections official of the lead county must select the arguments for publication in the county voter information guide, and transmit copies of the selected arguments to elections officials in the other counties within the district or school district. *AB 969 (Pellerin) Elections: Voting Systems.

Chapter 300, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure prohibits an elections official from performing a manual vote count in an election held on an established election date if there are more than 1,000 eligible registered voters, or an election held on a date other than an established election date if there are more than 5,000 eligible registered voters. The elections official or any jurisdiction that administers elections must use a certified voting system for accessible voting and to tabulate votes and prohibits a jurisdiction from terminating a contract for an existing certified voting system, unless the jurisdiction has a plan to transition to a new voting system and has signed a new contract for a certified voting system. *AB 1037 (Berman) Vote by Mail Ballots: Signature Verification.

Chapter 673, Statutes of 2023
This measure permits a voter who has a missing signature or a mismatched signature on their vote by mail ballot identification envelope to return a completed signature verification statement or unsigned identification envelope statement by electronic means. The measure additionally requires the instructions sent to voters to state that they may submit a signature verification statement or unsigned identification envelope statement by other electronic means made available by the local elections official. Local election officials who offer other electronic means for submission must establish appropriate privacy and security protocols so that the information transmitted is received by the elections official and is only used to verify the signature on the voter’s ballot.

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AB 1219 (Berman) Elections: Ballots.

Chapter 676, Statutes of 2023
This measure deletes, revises, and recasts ballot design requirements to make ballot instructions and wording more voter friendly. The measure specifies the font and location of certain text and revises the ballot instructions provided to voters.

AB 1227 (Low) Elections: County of Santa Clara.

Chapter 362, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara to adopt, and a voter of that county to propose by initiative, an ordinance to elect county officers by ranked choice voting.

AB 1539 (Berman) Elections: Double Voting.

Chapter 692, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes it a misdemeanor for any person to vote or to attempt to vote both in an election held in this state and in an election held in another state on the same date.

AB 1762 (Committee on Elections) Elections Omnibus Bill.

Chapter 479, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes various minor and technical changes to the Elections Code.

SB 25 (Skinner) Declaration of Candidacy: Notary.

Chapter 26, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a candidate who will not be in the State of California during the entire nomination period to appear before a notary public of another state to complete the declaration of candidacy.

SB 77 (Umberg) Voting: Signature Verification: Notice.

Chapter 701, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires an election official to notify a voter by telephone, text message, or email of the opportunity for a voter to verify their signature if the voter’s signature did not compare to the signature on file, or to provide a signature if the voter’s signature was missing. This only applies if the elections official has a telephone number or email address for the voter on file.
*SB 297 (Allen) Elections: Initiatives and Referenda: Withdrawal.

Chapter 483, Statutes of 2023
This measure permits the proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum to withdraw the measure contingent on the enactment of a particular legislative measure. The measure also reduces, from all to a majority of the proponents, the number of proponents of a statewide initiative or referendum who must agree to withdraw the measure after the petitions for that measure have been filed.

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SB 314 (Ashby) County of Sacramento Redistricting Commission.

Chapter 389, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes the Citizens Redistricting Commission in the County of Sacramento, which would be charged with adjusting the boundary lines of the districts of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sacramento. *SB 386 (Newman) Elections.

Chapter 870, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends signature verification periods within which the election officials must complete their determination of the number of qualified signatures on various state and local petitions. This measure also requires city election officials to publish a public notice with specified city election information no later than three days before the deadline for nomination papers. The notice containing specific city election information may be posted on the city’s website.
*SB 485 (Becker) Elections: Election Worker Protections.

Chapter 611, Statutes of 2023
This measure provides that “officers holding an election or conducting a canvass,” for the purposes of the existing statute prohibiting election interference, includes, but are not limited to, the following:
• The SOS as the chief elections officer, and their staff, as it relates to performance of any of their duties related to administering the provisions of the Elections Code; and
• Elections officials and their staff, including temporary workers, poll workers, and members of a precinct board in their performance of any duty related to assisting with holding an election or conducting a canvass.

SB 678 (Umberg) Elections: Disclosures.

Chapter 156, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a person who is paid by a committee to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure on an internet website, web application, or digital application, to include a disclaimer stating that they were paid by the committee in connection with the post. The measure also requires a committee to notify the person posting the content of the disclaimer requirement. Under this bill, if a person fails to post the disclaimer, they would not be subject to administrative penalties, but the Political Reform Commission would be authorized to seek injunctive relief to compel disclosure.

SB 789 (Allen) Elections: Senate Constitutional Amendment 2 of the 2021–22 Regular Session and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 of the 2023–24 Regular Session.

Chapter 787, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure calls a special election to be consolidated with the statewide general election scheduled for November 5, 2024, and requires the submission of SCA 2 and ACA 5 to the voters at that election. The measure also requires the submission of ACA 1 to the voters at that election.

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SB 798 (Glazer) Elections: Local Bond Measures: Tax Rate Statement.

Chapter 720, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the tax rate statement that is required to be included in the sample ballot for local bond measures to include a tax rate per $100,000 of assessed valuation on all property to be taxed to fund a bond issue, instead of a tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation on all property to be taxed to fund the bond.

B. Employee Relations
AB 96 (Kalra) Public Employment: Local Public Transit Agencies: Autonomous Transit Vehicle Technology.

Chapter 419, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires public transit districts to notify, in writing, their employees’ unions of the district’s intention to begin any procurement process to acquire or deploy any autonomous transit vehicle technology for public transit services that would eliminate job functions or jobs of the workforce at least 10 months before beginning that procurement process. The measure also vests the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) with jurisdiction to process unfair practice charges alleging violations of these provisions, but only as to transit district employers where PERB has jurisdiction to process unfair practice charges.
*AB 520 (Santiago) Employment: Public Entities.

Chapter 656, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends existing labor law provisions applicable to the private sector to make a "public entity" jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages when the public entity contracts for services in the property or long-term care industries and where the public entity has been provided notice of such liability by the Labor Commissioner. This measure defines, for purposes of this measure, public entities as a city, county, city and county, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.
*AB 594 (Maienschein) Labor Code: Alternative Enforcement.

Chapter 659, Statutes of 2023
This measure, until January 1, 2029, authorizes public prosecutors to sue for certain violations of the Labor Code independently of the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement and nullifies any agreements that limit an employee's right to file in court on behalf of themselves or in a representative action.

AB 1355 (Valencia) Employment: Benefits: Electronic Notice and Documents.

Chapter 277, Statutes of 2023
This measure, until January 1, 2029, allows employers to provide information to their employees regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Unemployment Insurance Program via email to an email account of the employee's choosing, if the employee affirmatively, and in writing or by electronic acknowledgment, opts into receipt of electronic statements or materials.

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*AB 1484 (Zbur) Temporary Public Employees.

Chapter 691, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires temporary employees to be automatically included in the same bargaining unit as the permanent employees upon the request of the recognized employee organization.
*SB 428 (Blakespear) Temporary Restraining Orders and Protective Orders:

Employee Harassment.

Chapter 286, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes any employer whose employee has suffered harassment to seek a temporary restraining order and an injunction on behalf of the employee and other employees upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that an employee has suffered harassment, that great or irreparable harm would result to an employee, and that the respondent’s course of conduct served no legitimate purpose. *SB 497 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Protected Employee Conduct.

Chapter 612, Statutes of 2023
This measure creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of an employee's retaliation claim if an employer engages in any disciplinary behavior, within 90 days of an employee engaging in protected activity and directs recovery of civil penalties for a violation of whistleblower protections to the affected employee. In addition to other remedies available, an employer is liable for a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000 per employee for each violation of whistleblower protections. *SB 525 (Durazo) Minimum Wages: Health Care Workers.

Chapter 890, Statutes of 2023
This measure enacts a phased in multi-tiered statewide minimum wage schedule for health care workers employed by covered healthcare facilities. A covered health care facility does not include the Department of State Hospitals or tribal clinics. A covered health care employee does not include waste collection work at a covered health facility or medical transportation services.
*SB 553 (Cortese) Occupational Safety: Workplace Violence: Restraining Orders and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan.

Chapter 289, Statutes of 2023
This measure, commencing January 1, 2025, authorizes a collective bargaining representative of an employee to seek a temporary restraining order and an order after hearing on behalf of the employee and other employees at the workplace. An employer or collective bargaining representative of an employee must, before filing such a petition, provide the employee who has suffered unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence from any individual an opportunity to decline to be named in the temporary restraining order.

The measure also requires employers to establish, implement and maintain an effective workplace violence prevention plan that includes, among other elements, requirements

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to maintain incident logs, provide specified trainings, and conduct periodic reviews of the plan.
*SB 616 (Gonzalez) Sick Days: Paid Sick Days Accrual and Use.

Chapter 309, Statutes of 2023
This measure increases the three days of paid sick leave currently afforded to employees under existing law to five days. This measure also increases the cap that employers can place on paid sick days from six to 10 days and 48 to 80 hours and increases the number of paid sick days an employee can roll over to the next year from three to five days.
*SB 700 (Bradford) Employment Discrimination: Cannabis Use.

Chapter 408, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes it unlawful for an employer to request information from an applicant for employment relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. Information about a person’s prior cannabis use obtained from the person’s criminal history would be exempt.
*SB 848 (Rubio) Employment: Leave for Reproductive Loss.

Chapter 724, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to refuse to grant a request by an eligible employee to take up to five days of reproductive loss leave following a reproductive loss event. If an employee experiences more than one reproductive loss event within a 12-month period, the employer is not obligated to grant a total amount of reproductive loss leave time in excess of 20 days within a 12-month period.

C. Government Operations
AB 338 (Aguiar-Curry) Fuel Reduction Work.

Chapter 428, Statutes of 2023
This measure would, commencing July 1, 2026, require fuel reduction work, done under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of public funds to meet several standards, including that all workers performing work within an apprenticeable occupation in the building and construction trades be paid at least the general prevailing rate of per diem wages.
*AB 452 (Addis) Childhood Sexual Assault: Statute of Limitations.

Chapter 655, Statutes of 2023
This measure eliminates the time limit for the commencement of actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual assault for civil actions that arise on or after the date when the bill takes effect. Changes made by this bill apply to any claim in which the childhood sexual assault occurred on or after January 1, 2024, and claims made for conduct that occurred on or before December 31, 2023, may only be

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commenced pursuant to the applicable statute of limitations set forth in existing law as it read on December 31, 2023.

AB 536 (Wilson) Bay Area Air Quality Management Advisory Council:

Compensation.

Chapter 16, Statutes of 2023
This measure repeals the current prohibition on Bay Area Air Quality Management District Advisory Council to receive compensation. The measure authorizes each council member to receive compensation to be determined by the bay district board.

AB 569 (Garcia) California State University: Cybersecurity Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships Pilot Program.

Chapter 117, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, on or before July 1, 2028, the California State University Chancellor’s Office to submit a comprehensive report on the Cybersecurity Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships Pilot Program to the Legislature. *AB 1637 (Irwin) Local Government: Internet Websites and Email Addresses.

Chapter 586, Statutes of 2023
This measure would, no later than January 1, 2029:
• Require a local agency that maintains an internet website for use by the public to secure and utilize a “.gov” top-level domain or a “.ca.gov” second-level domain; • Require a local agency that maintains an internet website that is noncompliant with that requirement to redirect that internet website to a domain name that does utilize a “.gov” or “.ca.gov” domain; and
• Require a local agency that maintains public email addresses to ensure that each email address provided to its employees utilizes a “.gov” domain name or a “.ca.gov” domain name.
*AB 1638 (Fong, Mike) Local Government: Emergency Response Services: Use of Languages Other than English.

Chapter 587, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires, commencing January 1, 2025, that local agencies provide information related to an emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by the 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well.” This applies when the emergency is within the jurisdiction of a local agency, that provides emergency response services and that serves a population within which 5% or more of the people speak English less than “very well” according to American Community Survey data and jointly speak a language other than English. *ACR 54 (Pacheco) Cities Week.

Chapter 61, Statutes of 2023
This measure proclaims the week of April 9, 2023 to April 14, 2023, to be Cities Week, and encourages all Californians to be involved in their communities and be civically engaged with their local government.

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*SB 329 (Dodd) Cities: City Council Members: Compensation.

Chapter 27, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows general law cities to adjust council member salaries for inflation.

SB 362 (Becker) Data Broker Registration: Accessible Deletion Mechanism.

Chapter 709, Statutes of 2023
This measure transfers Data Broker Registration Law enforcement authority and data broker registration from the Attorney General to the California Privacy Protection Agency (Privacy Agency).This measure also requires by January 1, 2026, the Privacy Agency to establish an accessible deletion mechanism that allows a consumer, through a single verifiable request, to request that all or selected data brokers delete personal information related to that consumer. The measure exempts a data broker from deleting a consumer's personal information under many of the same exemptions provided under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

SB 882 (Committee on Governance and Finance) Local Government Omnibus Act of 2023.

Chapter 187, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes several minor changes to state laws governing local governments’ powers and duties, including updating qualifications for Treasurer-Tax Collectors, Ecertification of vital records, and eligible local agency investments.

D. Political Reform Act of 1974
*SB 29 (Glazer) The Political Reform Act of 1974: Fair Political Practices Commission: Political Reform Education Program.

Chapter 696, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure codifies the Political Reform Education Program (PREP) into the Political Reform Act of 1974 (PRA) for low-level violations of the PRA as an alternative to an administrative proceeding. The measure states if a person completes PREP, then the person is not subject to administrative, civil, or criminal penalties under the PRA.

SB 681 (Allen) Political Reform Act of 1974: Amendments.

Chapter 499, Statutes of 2023
This measure reduces the time from twelve to eight days that legislation amending the Political Reform Act be in final form before passage in each house of the Legislature.

E. Public Employee Retirement System
AB 658 (Fong, Mike) Public Employment: Retirement: Benefits.

Chapter 538, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the City of San Gabriel to enter into an agreement with specified employees hired, and elected officials who first served, on or after January 1, 2023, to provide employer contributions for postretirement health care coverage to

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employees with at least five years of credited service with the City of San Gabriel.

Provisions for postretirement health benefits apply to employees who retire on or after the date that a memorandum of understanding that authorizes this benefit becomes effective. The City of San Gabriel must provide notice of the agreement and any additional information necessary to implement these benefits.

AB 1020 (Grayson) County Employees Retirement Law Of 1937: Disability Retirement: Medical Conditions: Employment-related Presumption.

Chapter 554, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the scope of rebuttable presumptions to include the following additional injuries: post-traumatic stress disorder, tuberculosis, skin cancer, lower back impairments, Lyme disease, and meningitis, for purposes of qualifying for a disability retirement under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937.

SB 548 (Niello) Public Employees’ Retirement: Joint County and Trial Court Contracts.

Chapter 307, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a county and the trial court located within the county to jointly elect to separate their joint California Public Employees Retirements System (CalPERS) contract into individual contracts if the county and the trial court both make that election voluntarily. This measure makes the separation of a joint contract irrevocable and makes a county and trial court ineligible to reestablish a joint contract.

SB 885 (Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement) Public Employees’ Retirement.

Chapter 159, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes noncontroversial, technical, conforming, and minor changes to the Education and Government codes necessary for the efficient administration of retirement laws by public employee retirement systems. This bill is the annual omnibus bill for statutes regulating CalPERS, California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS), and county retirement systems.

F. Public Meetings and Public Records
*AB 557 (Hart) Open Meetings: Local Agencies: Teleconferences.

Chapter 534, Statutes of 2023
This measure eliminates the sunset date on provisions of law allowing local agencies to use teleconferencing without complying with specified Ralph. M Brown Act requirements during a proclaimed state of emergency. This measure also provides greater flexibility for agencies that meet on a fixed date every month by extending the AB 361 (Rivas, Statutes of 2021) renewal period to 45 days. *SB 411 (Portantino) Open Meetings: Teleconferences: Neighborhood Councils.

Chapter 605, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure, until Jan. 1, 2026, authorizes a neighborhood council within a charter city

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with a population of more than three million people to use alternate teleconferencing provisions related to notice, agenda, and public participation, subject to certain requirements and restrictions, if the city council has adopted an authorizing resolution and two-thirds of an eligible legislative body votes to use the alternate teleconferencing provisions.

The measure requires that at least a quorum of the members of the neighborhood council participate from locations within the boundaries of the city in which the neighborhood council is established and that, at least once per year, at least a quorum of the members of the eligible legislative body participate in person from a singular physical location that is open to the public and within the boundaries of the eligible legislative body.
*SB 790 (Padilla) Public Records: Contracts for Goods and Services.

Chapter 77, Statutes of 2023
This measure specifies that a government contract for goods or services is a public record subject to disclosure under the PRA unless the contract is exempt from disclosure under state or federal law. A provision in a written agreement that states that a government contract is exempt from public disclosure is void and unenforceable.

G. Workers’ Compensation
AB 489 (Calderon) Workers’ Compensation: Disability Payments.

Chapter 63, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends an existing pilot program by one year to allow workers’ compensation temporary and permanent disability indemnity payments to continue to be made using prepaid cards until January 1, 2025.

AB 621 (Irwin) Workers’ Compensation: Special Death Benefit.

Chapter 448, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows the spouse and children of state safety members, peace officers, and firefighters for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) who are members of Bargaining Unit 8 who are killed in the line of duty to receive both the workers' compensation death benefit and the Public Employees' Retirement System special death benefit. This measure applies retroactively to January 1, 2019, for injuries not previously claimed or resolved.
*SB 623 (Laird) Workers’ Compensation: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Chapter 621, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends, to Jan. 1, 2029, the presumption for specified public safety personnel that a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is occupational, and therefore covered by workers’ compensation. This measure also requires the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation to submit two reports to the Legislature regarding PTSI.

HOUSING, COMMUNITY, AND

ECONOMC DEVELOPMENT

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V. Housing, Community, and Economic Development
A. Accessory Dwelling Units
AB 671 (Ward) Calhome Program: Accessory Dwelling Units.

Chapter 746, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADU) or junior ADUs in home ownership development projects funded by the Calhome program without preventing these units from being separately conveyed to separate lower income households on separate parcels. Additionally, it requires units in such projects to be initially sold to lower income households and subject to recorded covenants, including resale restrictions, for at least 30 years.

AB 932 (Ting) Accessory Dwelling Units: Accessory Dwelling Unit Program:

Reports.

Chapter 169, Statutes of 2023
This measure mandates that the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) conduct an evaluation of the ADU Program, which aims to assist homeowners in obtaining loans for constructing ADUs on their properties. This measure requires CalHFA to report its findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2025 to establish the program’s effectiveness. *AB 976 (Ting) Accessory Dwelling Units: Owner-occupancy Requirements.

Chapter 751, Statutes of 2023
This measure grants local agencies the authority to require rental terms for ADUs that are 30 days or longer, instead of only longer than 30 days. Moreover, it eliminates the ability of local agencies to impose owner-occupancy requirements on any ADUs, regardless of when they were permitted, as opposed to allowing such requirements after January 1, 2025.

AB 1033 (Ting) Accessory Dwelling Units: Local Ordinances: Separate Sale Or Conveyance.

Chapter 752, Statutes of 2023
*This measure amends the Planning and Zoning Law by allowing local agencies to adopt ordinances permitting the separate sale or conveyance of primary dwelling units and ADUs as condominiums. It also sets conditions for such separations and makes corresponding adjustments to the law. This measure imposes new duties on local governments related to ADU approval, constituting a state-mandated local program, but does not require state reimbursement for associated costs. *AB 1332 (Carrillo, Juan) Accessory Dwelling Units: Preapproved Plans.

Chapter 759, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires every local agency to establish a program for the preapproval of ADU plans by January 1, 2025. The program mandates that local agencies accept plan submissions for preapproval, and they must base their approval or denial on established standards. They are allowed to charge fees for preapproval and are required to post

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preapproved plans on their website along with the contact information of the plan applicant. Additionally, local agencies must expedite the approval process for detached ADUs using preapproved plans or plans identical to those previously approved within a specific building standards code cycle. This measure applies to all cities, including charter cities, and aims to address housing concerns at a statewide level, with no reimbursement required from the state to local agencies.

B. Housing Finance
*AB 519 (Schiavo) Affordable Housing Finance Workgroup: Affordable Housing:

Consolidated Application and Coordinated Review Process.

Chapter 742, Statutes of 2023
This measure creates an Affordable Housing Finance Workgroup (workgroup) to create a consolidated application for affordable housing developers to use to access state housing funding programs and a coordinated review process for the application. This measure also requires the workgroup, on or before July 1, 2026, to report recommendations on implementing a coordinated review process.

AB 529 (Gabriel) Adaptive Reuse Projects.

Chapter 743, Statutes of 2023
This measure grants additional points or preferences for resource allocations for various housing and infrastructure programs to jurisdictions that comply with specific housing regulations. Notably, it introduces the concept of "adaptive reuse" to convert commercial properties into housing by reducing associated barriers. Additionally, this measure mandates the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) establish a working group to identify challenges and opportunities for adaptive reuse residential projects and recommend any necessary amendments to state building standards.

AB 1097 (Rivas, Luz) Use Tax: Registration: Qualified Purchaser.

Chapter 355, Statutes of 2023
This measure changes the definition of a "qualified purchaser" in California’s sales and use tax law until January 1, 2029. It eliminates the requirement that a qualified purchaser needs at least $100,000 in annual gross receipts. It also introduces a new condition that the person must make over $10,000 in untaxed purchases per year from retailers. It mandates qualified purchasers to register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for tax collection purposes. This measure also lays out rules for filing tax returns and making payments. Vehicle, vessel, or aircraft purchases are excluded from these changes.

AB 1285 (Wicks) Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program and Encampment Resolution Funding Program.

Chapter 727, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires that the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program and the Encampment Resolution Funding program should include evidence and

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explanations of collaboration between continuums of care and local jurisdictions using state funding to address place-based encampment resolution.

AB 1439 (Garcia) Low-income Housing Tax Credit: Farmworker Housing.

Chapter 369, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure amends the California Revenue and Taxation Code by requiring the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to consider changes to the regulatory scoring system for low-income housing tax credits. Specifically, it would add provisions to award maximum points to farmworker housing projects under the housing needs category and grant initial points for site amenities beyond the required thresholds.

AB 1528 (Gipson) Housing Authorities: Property Taxation.

Chapter 766, Statutes of 2023
This measure specifies that property held by a nonprofit public benefit corporation controlled by a housing authority will be exempt from taxation, and any outstanding property taxes, interest, or penalties on housing authority property meeting these criteria will be canceled, with refunds for payments made prior to January 1, 2024. This measure also addresses state reimbursement for mandated costs and property tax revenues lost by local agencies, stating that no appropriations will be made for such reimbursements.

SB 20 (Rubio) Joint Powers Agreements: Regional Housing Trusts.

Chapter 147, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes two or more local agencies and, if desired, federally recognized tribal governments, to form a regional housing trust through a joint powers agreement under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act. The purpose of these regional housing trusts is to secure funding for housing initiatives targeting homeless populations and individuals and families with very low, extremely low, and low incomes within their respective jurisdictions. The trust is authorized to finance housing planning, construction, and acquisition, receive public and private funds, and issue bonds.

SB 240 (Ochoa Bogh) Surplus State Real Property: Affordable Housing and Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals.

Chapter 775, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows local agencies and nonprofit affordable housing sponsors to be considered as priority buyers of surplus state real property for the purpose of providing housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. It further designates the development of surplus state real property for affordable housing projects by these entities as a ministerial process, exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.

SB 267 (Eggman) Credit History of Persons Receiving Government Rent Subsidies.

Chapter 776, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes it unlawful for housing providers to use a person's credit history as part of the application process for rental housing accommodations when there is a

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government rent subsidy. Exempt from this are housing providers who offer the applicant the option to provide lawful, verifiable alternative evidence of their ability to pay rent, such as government benefit payments or pay records. If the applicant chooses to provide such alternative evidence, the housing provider must reasonably consider it instead of the person's credit history in deciding whether to offer the rental accommodation.

SB 406 (Cortese) California Environmental Quality Act: Exemption: Financial Assistance: Residential Housing.

Chapter 150, Statutes of 2023
This measure gives actions taken by a local agency, that is not acting as the lead agency certifying the completion of an environmental impact report on a housing project, exemptions under CEQA. Similarly, to the exemptions for actions taken by HCD and CalHFA. The exemption pertains to providing financial assistance or insurance for the development and construction of residential housing for low- or moderate-income individuals and families, as long as the project will undergo review by another public agency under CEQA.

SB 469 (Allen) Housing: Publicly Funded Low-rent Housing Projects.

Chapter 179, Statutes of 2023
This measure redefines "low-rent housing projects" for the purpose of voter approval requirements. It would exclude developments that receive funding from various federal and state sources, including low-income housing tax credits and specific housing and COVID-19 relief funds, from the constitutional provision requiring voter approval for such projects.

SB 482 (Blakespear) Multifamily Housing Program: Supportive Housing:

Capitalized Operating Reserves.

Chapter 780, Statutes of 2023
This measure enables the HCD to use capitalized operating reserves for eligible projects. The bill also provides criteria for determining project eligibility for these reserves, taking into account factors such as the availability of funds and the financial needs of the project. Furthermore, it requires that at least 40% of units in supportive housing projects are targeted to populations experiencing chronic homelessness, homeless youth, or individuals exiting institutional settings. *SB 555 (Wahab) Stable Affordable Housing Act Of 2023.

Chapter 402, Statutes of 2023
This measure, known as the Stable Affordable Housing Act of 2023, requires HCD to complete a comprehensive California Social Housing Study by December 31, 2026. The study will analyze opportunities, resources, obstacles, and recommendations for creating affordable and social housing at scale to meet the state's housing needs.

C. Economic Development

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AB 258 (Reyes) Economic Development: Small Businesses: Small Business Information Act: Internet Web Portal.

Chapter 423, Statutes of 2023
This measure, known as the Small Business Information Act, requires the Small Business Advocate to establish an internet web portal on the GO-Biz or Advocate's website, which will include links and information related to procurement opportunities offered by the state government, financial resources, and business incentives available to small businesses. The Department of General Services is directed to create a web page with links to certified businesses — including small businesses, disabled veteran business enterprises, minority business enterprises, and others — to help meet the state's goal of 25% procurement participation for small businesses.

AB 1658 (Santiago) Tribal Gaming: Compact Amendment Ratification.

Chapter 852, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure ratifies amendments to tribal-state gaming compacts between the State of California and numerous Indian tribes, extending the terms of these compacts. It also specifies that certain actions related to these amended compacts are not subject to CEQA
SB 736 (McGuire) Tribal Gaming: Compact Ratification.
(Urgency)
This measure modifies existing tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California to extend the terms of the compact. It also ratifies a new tribal-state gaming compact with the same tribe. In addition, this measure specifies certain activities associated with these compacts, will not be treated as "projects" under CEQA, thus exempting them from certain environmental impact assessment requirements.

D. Land Use/Planning
AB 281 (Grayson) Planning and Zoning: Housing: Postentitlement Phase Permits.

Chapter 735, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires special districts to provide written notice to housing development applicants, indicating the next steps in the review process, including any additional information necessary for service or approval of housing development projects. This measure sets specific timelines for this notice, requiring written notice within 30 business days for housing developments with 25 units or fewer, and 60 business days for those with 26 units or more. This measure does not mandate special districts to approve applications within a specific time frame. Additionally, if the Commission on State Mandates (CSM) determines that this measure imposes state-mandated costs, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts will be made in accordance with statutory provisions.

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AB 358 (Addis) Community College Districts: Student Housing.

Chapter 83, Statutes of 2023
This measure excludes buildings used as residential housing for students attending a community college campus from certain approval requirements unless requested by the community college district.
*AB 480 (Ting) Surplus Land.

Chapter 788, Statutes of 2023
This measure redefines surplus land disposal procedures to include the sale or lease of surplus property for more than 15 years, establishes exemptions for certain types of surplus land, and requires that certain land transfers meet specific conditions. It also requires the maintenance of lists of interested entities on HCD's website, updates affordability requirements for housing developments, and outlines penalties for violations of surplus land disposal procedures.

AB 572 (Haney) Common Interest Developments: Imposition of Assessments.

Chapter 745, Statutes of 2023
This measure restricts common interest developments, established after January 1, 2025. This measure limits how much an association can increase regular assessments for owners of deed-restricted affordable housing units, capping the increase at 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, not to exceed 10% greater than the previous regular assessment. It also allows lower assessments for affordable housing unit owners and provides exceptions for certain types of developments.

AB 812 (Boerner) Housing Development Approvals: Reserving Affordable Units in or Near a Cultural District For Artists.

Chapter 747, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows local agencies to reserve up to 10% of required affordable housing units for artists, provided that these units are located within or near state-designated or locally designated cultural districts. Local agencies must adopt an ordinance that includes certain provisions, such as adherence to affordable housing laws and artist status verification. If there is a lack of artist applicants for these units, they may be offered to the general public. Additionally, it states that this measure applies to all cities, including charter cities, as it addresses a matter of statewide concern.

AB 821 (Grayson) Planning And Zoning: General Plan: Zoning Ordinance:

Conflicts.

Chapter 748, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires that if a zoning ordinance in a county or city becomes inconsistent with the general plan due to an amendment to the general plan, the local agency must either amend the zoning ordinance to align with the general plan within 180 days of receiving the application or process the development application according to applicable laws. If the local agency fails to amend the zoning ordinance within the specified time, it must process the development application. This measure also allows residents or property owners to take legal action to enforce compliance with these provisions within 90 days of a local agency's failure to comply.

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AB 1114 (Haney) Planning And Zoning: Housing Development Projects:

Postentitlement Phase Permits.

Chapter 753, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the definition of "postentitlement phase permit" to include all building permits and other permits issued for construction, demolition, or alteration of buildings, whether discretionary or nondiscretionary. This measure establishes specific time limits for the review and approval process of these permits and provides procedures for notifying applicants of incompleteness and noncompliance (between 30 and 60 days depending on project size). It also allows for appeals by applicants and addresses time limits for providing final written determinations (between 60 and 90 days depending on project size).
*AB 1287 (Alvarez) Density Bonus Law: Maximum Allowable Residential Density:

Additional Density Bonus and Incentives or Concessions.

Chapter 755, Statutes of 2023
This measure redefines "maximum allowable residential density" as the greatest number of units allowed under local zoning ordinances, specific plans, or general plan land use elements for a housing development project. It mandates the granting of an additional density bonus and increased incentives or concessions by local governments when developers adhere to specific requirements, construct affordable units for very low income and moderate-income households, and meet specified criteria.

AB 1449 (Alvarez) Affordable Housing: California Environmental Quality Act:

Exemption.

Chapter 761, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes exemptions from the CEQA for specific actions related to affordable housing projects until January 1, 2033. The exemptions include entitlement issuance, land leasing, rezoning, and financial assistance, as long as the affordable housing projects meet specific conditions, such as regulatory agreements and environmental assessments. It mandates the lead agency to file a notice of exemption with the Office of Planning and Research and county clerk if they approve or carry out an exempted activity.
*AB 1490 (Lee) Affordable Housing Development Projects: Adaptive Reuse.

Chapter 764, Statutes of 2023
This measure will make 100% affordable housing projects that adaptively reuse existing residential buildings an allowable use, regardless of any inconsistencies between the project and any local plans, zoning, or regulations, and limits local governments from imposing maximum density or floor area ratio requirements, and any requirement to add additional parking or open space.

AB 1734 (Jones-Sawyer) Local Government: Surplus Land Act: Exemptions.

Chapter 769, Statutes of 2023
This measure exempts cities with populations exceeding 2,500,000 from certain surplus land disposal requirements until January 1, 2034. These requirements relate to the disposal of land for specific purposes — including low barrier navigation centers,

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supportive housing, transitional housing for youth and young adults, or affordable housing — provided that the city complies with housing element and prohousing requirements. This measure also requires cities to include information on land development in their annual reports and allows HCD to request additional information from cities.
*SB 4 (Wiener) Planning and Zoning: Housing Development: Higher Education Institutions and Religious Institutions.

Chapter 771, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires that a housing development project be a use by right on any land owned by an independent institution of higher education or religious institution if the development satisfies specified criteria. Specified criteria: 1) Must comply with all objective development standards of the city that are not in conflict with the measure. 2) Can’t be located on farmland, wetlands, important habitat, very high fire hazard severity zones, hazardous waste site, flood zones, etc. 3) Limitations on demolishing existing residential housing. 4) Must contain 100% affordable units, except 20% can be moderate income. 5) Allows for greater density and height in some zones. 6) Limits parking requirements.
*SB 229 (Umberg) Surplus Land: Disposal of Property: Violations: Public Meeting.

Chapter 774, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires that if a local agency is disposing of surplus land and has been notified by HCD of a violation, the agency must hold an open and public meeting to review the violation notice. The agency is required to provide notice of this meeting in specific ways and cannot take final action to ratify or approve the land disposal until this meeting has been conducted. It also offers an exemption if a local agency stops disposing of surplus land after receiving a violation notice from HCD. *SB 423 (Wiener) Land Use: Streamlined Housing Approvals: Multifamily Housing Developments.

Chapter 778, Statutes of 2023
This measure modifies and expands SB 35 provisions that allow certain multifamily housing developments to take advantage of a streamlined, ministerial approval process.

Specifically, this measure: 1) Extends the Jan. 1, 2026 sunset to Jan. 1, 2036. 2) Applies SB 35 provisions to the Coastal Zone. 3) Allows the State to approve housing developments on property they own or lease. 4) Prohibits a city from enforcing its inclusionary housing ordinance if the income limits are higher than those in SB 35.

SB 684 (Caballero) Land Use: Streamlined Approval Processes: Development Projects of 10 or Fewer Residential Units on Urban Lots Under 5 Acres.

Chapter 783, Statutes of 2023
This measure will streamline the approval processes for housing development projects of 10 or fewer residential units on urban lots under five acres. It mandates local agencies to consider these projects through a ministerial approval process, eliminating discretionary reviews or hearings. This measure sets specific criteria for projects — including parcel size, density, and zoning — and imposes time limits for local agencies

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to approve or deny applications. Additionally, it allows local agencies to impose certain zoning and design standards while prohibiting others. This measure excludes singlefamily residential horsekeeping zones and grants local agencies the discretion to permit urban lot splits and ADUs in such zones.

SB 713 (Padilla) Planning and Zoning: Density Bonuses: Development Standard.

Chapter 784, Statutes of 2023
This measure broadens the definition of "development standard" to include standards adopted by local governments or enacted by the local electorate through local initiatives or referendums, regardless of the source of their power. This measure also extends its provisions to all cities, including charter cities.
*SB 747 (Caballero) Land Use: Surplus Land.

Chapter 786, Statutes of 2023
This measure redefines "dispose" and expands the scope of "agency's use" to include logistics, broadband, and waste disposal sites. This measure also revises provisions related to exempt surplus land, adding new categories of exempt land, and requiring document evidence for valid legal restrictions. It clarifies that local agencies are not obligated to dispose of surplus land, specifies actions not considered as negotiating for disposal, and mandates HCD to maintain lists of interested entities. Additionally, it modifies the affordable housing requirements and penalties for violations.

E. Housing Regulations
AB 42 (Ramos) Tiny Homes: Temporary Sleeping Cabins: Fire Sprinkler Requirements.

Chapter 725, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits local agencies from requiring fire sprinklers in temporary sleeping cabins on sites with 50 or fewer cabins until January 1, 2027. Temporary sleeping cabins are non-permanent structures intended for housing people experiencing homelessness. Instead of fire sprinklers, this measure requires alternative fire and life safety standards, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and other safety measures.

AB 225 (Grayson) Real Property: Environmental Hazards Booklet.

Chapter 420, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires updates to the Homeowners' Guide to Environmental Hazards to include three new sections on wildfires, climate change, and sea level rise, provided existing or private resources permit. The Department of Toxic Substances Control will collaborate with departments within the Natural Resources Agency for this purpose.

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AB 323 (Holden) Density Bonus Law: Purchase of Density Bonus Units by Nonprofit Housing Organizations: Civil Actions.

Chapter 738, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires developers and local agencies to ensure that housing units granted density bonuses are initially sold and occupied by individuals or families meeting specified income requirements. If eligible buyers are unable to purchase these units within 180 days of being ready for occupancy, nonprofit housing organizations in California —focused on affordable homeownership and holding tax-exempt status — can buy them with certain affordability restrictions in place. This measure also prohibits developers from selling certain units intended for owner-occupancy to ineligible buyers, imposing civil penalties for violations, and extends its applicability to all cities, including charter cities.
*AB 434 (Grayson) Housing Element: Notice of Violation.

Chapter 740, Statutes of 2023
This measure enacts several changes related to housing element reviews and violations by requiring HCD to report its findings on adopted housing elements or amendments within 60 days instead of 90 days. Additionally, it grants the department the authority to notify local governments and the Attorney General of violations related to various housing regulations and standards. This measure also outlines a process for addressing non-compliance, which may include fines and court-ordered remedies.

AB 548 (Boerner) State Housing Law: Inspection.

Chapter 744, Statutes of 2023
This measure mandates that local enforcement agencies must establish policies and procedures for inspecting multi-unit buildings if an inspector or code enforcement officer finds a unit to be substandard or in violation of the State Housing Law. These policies and procedures must consider various factors, require inspections of adjacent units, and, potentially require inspections of all units in the building. Property owners must be notified of violations and required corrective actions, with follow-up inspections to verify compliance. If CSM determines that this bill imposes costs on local agencies, reimbursement shall be provided in accordance with established procedures.

AB 1280 (Maienschein) Fire Hazard Severity Zones: Disclosures.

Chapter 99, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires sellers of single-family residential properties located within fire hazard severity zones to specify whether the property is in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone in their natural hazard disclosure statement. Additionally, it clarifies that the disclosure should cover high fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility areas, very high fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility areas, and very high fire hazard severity zones in local responsibility areas.

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F. Landlord–Tenant
AB 12 (Haney) Tenancy: Security Deposits.

Chapter 733, Statutes of 2023
This measure limits landlords from demanding security deposits exceeding one month's rent for residential properties, effective from July 1, 2024, regardless of furnishing. An exception applies to service members, allowing up to two months' rent as security deposits under specific conditions.

AB 1386 (Gabriel) Veterans Housing: Tenant Referrals.

Chapter 760, Statutes of 2023
This measure grants authority for entities responsible for referring housing units to extremely low-income households, to request approval to lease those units to secondary tenants if a qualified tenant cannot be found within 60 days of the unit's availability. It mandates good faith efforts to match extremely low-income tenants and requires the creation of a standardized petition submission form. Additionally, it authorizes entities to match veterans experiencing homelessness with units based on their income, and after 12 months, ensures the next available comparable unit is offered to qualified tenants at 30% of the median income.
*AB 1620 (Zbur) Costa-hawkins Rental Housing Act: Permanent Disabilities:

Comparable or Smaller Units.

Chapter 767, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows jurisdictions to require owners of residential real properties subject to rent control ordinances or charter provisions, to permit tenants with permanent mobility-related disabilities to move to available comparable or smaller units located on accessible floors within the same property. If certain conditions are met, owners must allow these tenants to retain their existing lease at the same rental rate and terms.

SB 567 (Durazo) Termination of Tenancy: No-fault Just Causes: Gross Rental Rate Increases.

Chapter 290, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires an owner or their family members to occupy a rental property for at least 12 months as their primary residence before evicting a tenant for the intent to occupy the property. Furthermore, this measure establishes new enforcement mechanisms, allowing tenants to seek damages in cases of non-compliance.

Additionally, this measure tightens restrictions on rent increases, limiting owners from raising rents beyond a certain threshold and imposing penalties for violations. These provisions take effect on April 1, 2024.

SB 712 (Portantino) Tenancy: Personal Micromobility Devices.

Chapter 630, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits landlords from preventing tenants from owning personal micromobility devices and further allows tenants to store and recharge up to one personal micromobility device in their dwelling unit for each person living there. This measure also allows landlords to impose reasonable restrictions, such as complying

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with fire codes and safety guidelines for lithium-ion batteries but does not require them to modify rental units for device storage. Exceptions are made for disabled occupants who require personal micromobility device accommodations. This measure does not affect the rights and remedies available to disabled persons under federal or state law.

G. Mobile Homes
AB 318 (Addis) Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Act.

Chapter 736, Statutes of 2023
This measure removes the requirement for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to select the most severe alleged violations when handling homeowner complaints. It eliminates the obligation for parties to negotiate in good faith to resolve complaints within 25 days. Additionally, it allows the department to adopt emergency regulations to implement the program without the need for detailed justification. This measure extends the repeal date of the Act from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2027.

AB 319 (Connolly) Mobilehome Parks Act: Inspectors: Conflict of Interest:

Enforcement Actions: Sunset.

Chapter 737, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends certain provisions of the Mobilehome Parks Act in California. It extends the authority of enforcement agencies to inspect mobilehome parks and issue violation notices until January 1, 2025, instead of the previous deadline of January 1, 2024. This measure also mandates HCD to establish policies to review inspectors' potential conflicts of interest and handle complaints against inspectors.

AB 604 (Lee) Mobilehome Parks: Water Utility Charges.

Chapter 807, Statutes of 2023
This measure exempts a person or entity maintaining a mobilehome park or a multiple unit residential complex from being regulated as a public utility by the Public Utilities Commission, provided that management complies with specific limitations on charges and fees outlined in the Mobilehome Residency Law. These limitations would apply to all management that chooses to separately bill water utility service to homeowners, even if the water purveyor or mobilehome park is under the jurisdiction, control, or regulation of the commission.

H. Parking Regulations
*AB 894 (Friedman) Parking Requirements: Shared Parking.

Chapter 749, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires local agencies to permit entities with underutilized parking spaces to share them with the public, local agencies, or other entities, provided they submit a shared parking agreement and demonstrate the benefits of such an arrangement. It also mandates that local agencies consider shared parking agreements

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for replacing new parking construction or limiting parking spaces when using state or public funds for development projects, but this does not apply to state-owned land. *AB 1308 (Quirk-Silva) Planning and Zoning Law: Single-family Residences:

Parking Requirements.

Chapter 756, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits public agencies from increasing the minimum parking requirements for single-family residences during the approval of remodeling, renovation, or additions to such residences, as long as the project does not cause the residence to exceed any maximum size limits set by applicable zoning regulations. This measure clarifies that this provision does not allow local agencies to impose stricter parking restrictions when a single-family residence is on the same lot as an ADU. This measure is deemed a matter of statewide concern and applies to all cities, including charter cities, without requiring state reimbursement for its implementation.

AB 1317 (Carrillo, Wendy) Unbundled Parking.

Chapter 757, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires owners of qualifying residential properties with 16 or more units in specific California counties to unbundle parking costs from rent, allowing tenants to lease parking separately. Tenants of such properties would have a right of first refusal for parking spaces associated with their unit, and the failure to pay parking fees would not result in eviction. This measure exempts certain properties with individual garages, affordable housing, or those receiving specific financial incentives.

I. Care Facilities
AB 426 (Jackson) Unlicensed Residential Foster Care Facilities: Temporary Placement Management.

Chapter 438, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows for increased civil penalties on individuals providing unlicensed residential care to children. It allows the Department of Social Services to assess civil penalties of $1,000 per day for those providing residential care to children in violation of licensing requirements. It also expands the procedures for addressing county noncompliance with relevant regulations and requires written notices to county authorities in case of non-compliance.

J. Regional
AB 1270 (Dixon) Redevelopment: Successor Agency: City of Lake Forest.

Chapter 301, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Orange County Auditor Controller — upon receipt of the final resolution of dissolution for the successor agency to the former Orange County Development Agency — to allocate property tax revenues attributable to the El Toro Project Area to the Fund established for the former Lake Forest Redevelopment

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Agency. By revising the duties of local government officials, this measure would impose a state-mandated local program.

AB 1319 (Wicks) Bay Area Housing Finance Authority: Housing Revenue.

Chapter 758, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes several changes related to the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority's operations and funding. It requires the formation of an advisory committee with expertise in affordable housing finance, construction workforce, tenant protection, and housing preservation. This measure limits the authority to placing one ballot measure per election. This measure also authorizes the authority to deploy financing to nonprofit corporations for affordable housing development. It also exempts the authority from CEQA if the authority were to raise, administer, or allocate funding for tenant protection, affordable housing preservation, or new affordable housing production or provide technical assistance consistent with the authority’s purpose. Additionally, it expands the permitted use of proceeds from a commercial linkage fee to include administrative costs, revises the definition of "authority revenues," and requires the publication of financial statements.

AB 1607 (Carrillo, Wendy) Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency.

Chapter 730, Statutes of 2023
This measure permits the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to allocate a portion of the revenue generated from a tax measure to the County of Los Angeles for programs combating homelessness, excluding these funds from the agency's annual expenditure plan. Additionally, it adjusts certain funding requirements and expenditures related to affordable housing creation, preservation, renter protection, and administrative expenses.

AB 1649 (Kalra) Local Agency Public Construction Act: Change Orders: County of Santa Clara.

Chapter 281, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the County of Santa Clara to implement change orders of up to $400,000 for contracts with an original cost exceeding $25,000,000, and up to $750,000 for contracts with an original cost exceeding $50,000,000, with these limits adjusted annually according to the California Consumer Price Index. The County of Santa Clara would be limited to modifying no more than 7 contracts under these provisions and would need to provide a review report to relevant legislative committees by July 1, 2026.

SB 34 (Umberg) Surplus Land Disposal: Violations: County Of Orange.

Chapter 772, Statutes of 2023
This measure mandates that if HCD notifies the County or any of its cities that their intended disposal of surplus land violates existing laws, they have 60 days to rectify the violation. Failure to do so would prohibit the disposal of the land until compliance is achieved. Additionally, local agencies may provide a statement describing their efforts

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to correct the violation within 60 days of receiving a notice. HCD must assess these statements and provide determinations within 30 days.

SB 273 (Wiener) Tidelands and Submerged Lands: City and County Of San Francisco: Piers 30-32: Mixed-use Development.

Chapter 385, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the State Lands Commission to approve a mixed-use development at Piers 30-32 on the San Francisco waterfront — including general office use — provided that certain conditions are met.

SB 593 (Wiener) Redevelopment: Successor Agency Debt: City and County Of San Francisco.

Chapter 782, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the authority of the successor agency to the former Redevelopment Agency of San Francisco, allowing it to issue bonds and incur debt to finance the development, construction, and maintenance of affordable housing for lower-income households. These affordable units must remain affordable for at least 55 years for rental units and 45 years for owner-occupied units, subject to specified conditions and authorizations.

SB 835 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy:

Watershed and Open-space Plan: Report.

Chapter 78, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the deadline for the Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy to provide a report on its proposed watershed and open-space plan for improvements in the conservancy territory from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026.

The conservancy's core objectives include managing public lands within the Baldwin Hills, southern Ballona Creek Watershed, and Upper Dominguez Channel area, with a focus on climate resilience, recreational, and natural resource values, as well as creating expanded opportunities for recreation, aesthetic improvement, and wildlife habitat.

K. Miscellaneous
*AB 516 (Ramos) Mitigation Fee Act: Fees for Improvements: Reports and Audits.

Chapter 741, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes changes to the Mitigation Fee Act by requiring local agencies to provide annual reports on development fees, including details on public improvement projects, any delays, and refund recipients. This measure also expands the scope of fee audits to assess fee reasonableness, revenue expenditure timing, and project completion schedules. It mandates that local agencies inform fee payers of their audit rights and provide easy access to fee-related information online.

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AB 911 (Schiavo) Unlawfully Restrictive Covenants: Affordable Housing.

Chapter 750, Statutes of 2023
This measure establishes a process for modifying or removing restrictive covenants on real property to facilitate affordable housing developments. Owners of such developments would be allowed to submit a modification document to the county recorder, subject to review by the county counsel. This measure introduces provisions for notifying relevant parties about the modification and sets a time frame for legal challenges. It also clarifies that standard recording fees may be charged by the county recorder. Additionally, the bill specifies that this amendment does not affect existing laws related to affordable and fair housing, local building codes, and other regulations.

AB 968 (Grayson) Single-family Residential Property: Disclosures.

Chapter 95, Statutes of 2023
This measure mandates that sellers of single-family residential properties — who accept an offer within 18 months of obtaining the property's title — disclose information regarding any room additions, structural modifications, alterations, or repairs made to the property by a contractor and the names of those contractors. Alternatively, sellers can fulfill this requirement by providing a list of these modifications and repairs. Sellers must also provide a copy of any permits for these alterations, or if they contracted with a third party who holds the permits, they should inform the buyer of how to obtain permit information from that third party. These provisions will apply to property sales on or after July 1, 2024.

AB 1175 (Quirk-Silva) Outdoor Advertising Displays: Redevelopment Agency Project Areas.

Chapter 361, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the classification of certain off-premises advertising displays within the boundaries of a redevelopment agency project, originally set to expire on January 1, 2023, as on-premises displays until January 1, 2026. It removes the provision for granting extensions for good cause, eliminates specific requirements regarding advertising copy, and no longer mandates the removal of these displays without compensation to the owner or operator. This measure places the responsibility for ensuring compliance with display regulations on the applicable city, county, or city and county, and requires them to provide a public benefit.

AB 1218 (Lowenthal) Development Projects: Demolition of Residential Dwelling Units.

Chapter 754, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands prohibitions on the demolition of residential dwelling units, particularly in cases involving occupied or vacant protected units. It introduces stricter requirements for the replacement of such units and mandates that replacement housing must be developed alongside the new project. Additionally, this measure requires that developers must offer a right of first refusal for comparable units to existing occupants of protected units, particularly those from lower-income households. This measure eliminates the provision for HCD to notify and involve the Attorney General in cases of violations of state law related to housing element compliance.

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*AB 1307 (Wicks) California Environmental Quality Act: Noise Impact: Residential Projects.

Chapter 160, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure adds two new sections to the Public Resources Code in California. The first section specifies that noise generated by occupants and guests of residential projects is not considered a significant environmental impact under CEQA. The second section relates to institutions of public higher education, and exempts them from considering alternative locations for residential or mixed-use housing projects in their environmental impact reports if the project meets specific criteria, such as being on a site of five acres or less and substantially surrounded by qualified urban uses.

AB 1458 (Ta) Common Interest Developments: Association Governance: Member Election.

Chapter 303, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows common interest development associations to adjourn membership meetings in the absence of a quorum to a date at least 20 days later, where a quorum would then be set at 20% of the voting members present in person, by proxy, or by secret written ballot. This measure also mandates providing general notice for membership meetings, including information on quorum determination, and allows associations to call subsequent meetings if the quorum is not reached for director elections.

AB 1474 (Reyes) California Statewide Housing Plan.

Chapter 762, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the California Statewide Housing Plan by including veterans in the list of population groups for which housing assistance strategies must be developed.

This measure requires consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs in formulating these strategies. This measure also outlines periodic updates and revisions to the housing plan, including an emphasis on data collection and analysis for housingrelated policymaking. *AB 1485 (Haney) Housing Element: Enforcement: Attorney General.

Chapter 763, Statutes of 2023
This measure grants both HCD and the office of the Attorney General the unconditional right to intervene in legal actions addressing violations of specified housing laws, including the Housing Accountability Act, the Density Bonus Law, and the Housing Crisis Act of 2019.

AB 1508 (Ramos) Department of Housing and Community Development:

California Statewide Housing Plan.

Chapter 765, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires updates and revisions to the California Statewide Housing Plan, starting from January 1, 2023, to include an inventory of affordable housing units needed, technical updates, and recommendations for modernizing statutory and regulatory terms. Additionally, this measure requires the incorporation of an analysis of first-time home buyer assistance policies, goals, and objectives, suggestions for

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enhancing homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers. The measure also requires an evaluation of demographic disparities in homeownership in California, including factors like race, ethnicity, income, household size, age, and disability status. *AB 1633 (Ting) Housing Accountability Act: Disapprovals: California Environmental Quality Act.

Chapter 768, Statutes of 2023
This measure amends the existing Housing Accountability Act by redefining "disapprove the housing development project,” If a local agency is unable to decide on whether a housing project is exempt from CEQA or commits an abuse of discretion, it will be considered a rejection. It will also consider a local agency's failure to adopt or certify certain environmental documents as a final decision. These changes are in effect until January 1, 2031, and apply to qualifying housing projects in urbanized areas meeting specified criteria.

AB 1753 (Cmte. on Local Government) Local Government: Reorganization.

Chapter 25, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the executive officer from accepting or issuing a certificate of filing for an application for a change of organization or reorganization unless an agreement for the exchange of property tax revenues has been adopted. *AB 1764 (Cmte. on Housing and Community Development) Housing Omnibus.

Chapter 770, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the entities (limited-equity housing cooperatives, workforce housing cooperatives, housing authorities, and community development commissions) exempt from certain subdivided lands requirements to include housing authorities and community development commissions, allowing them to directly finance or subsidize construction or development costs. It introduces changes in the qualifications and disqualifications of board nominees in common interest developments. It updates provisions related to affordable housing, manufactured home pricing, and financial assistance for homebuyers and mobilehome parks.

SB 341 (Becker) Housing Development.

Chapter 777, Statutes of 2023
This measure, with respect to the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019, specifies that additional points or preference should be awarded only to the qualifying infill area portion of the program. It also includes the qualifying infill area and catalytic qualifying infill area portions as one of the specified state programs eligible for additional points or preference.

SB 439 (Skinner) Special Motions to Strike: Priority Housing Development Projects.

Chapter 779, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows defendants in civil actions challenging the approval of priority housing development projects to file a special motion to strike all or part of a plaintiff's pleading, with the court denying the motion only if it finds that the plaintiff is likely to

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succeed in their claim. The special motion to strike must be filed within 60 days of serving the complaint, and if the administrative record is needed, it can be filed within 60 days of serving the administrative record. Successful defendants are entitled to recover attorney's fees and costs.

SB 505 (Rubio) Property Insurance.

Chapter 180, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan Association to establish a clearinghouse program for commercial insurance policies on or after July 1, 2024. This measure also mandates that the association complies with privacy statutes and regulations in handling policyholders' personal information in connection with these clearinghouse programs.

PUBLIC SAFETY

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VI. Public Safety
A. Alcoholic Beverages
AB 546 (Villapudua) Alcoholic Beverages: Advertising and Brandy Tastings.

Chapter 532, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows a brandy manufacturer licensee to provide tastings in the form of a cocktail or a mixed drink.

AB 840 (Addis) Tied-house Exceptions: Advertising.

Chapter 346, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the exception to tied-house restrictions that allows for the purchase of advertising by applying it to various facilities that are situated on California State University campuses located in the counties of San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Sacramento, Monterey, Orange, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles, and on the campus of St. Mary's College of California located in County of Contra Costa. This measure also expands the exception applicable to a motorsports entertainment complex located in the County of San Bernardino, by reducing the minimum fixed seating capacity from 50,000 to 25,000.

AB 1668 (Patterson, Joe) Alcoholic Beverages: Licenses: County of Placer.

Chapter 282, Statutes of 2023
This measure provides an exception to the limitation on licenses by authorizing the issuance of up to 10 additional new, original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of Placer. This measure also prohibits the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) from issuing more than four of these licenses per year.

SB 76 (Wiener) Alcoholic Beverages: Music Venue License: Entertainment Zones:

Consumption.

This measure authorizes a licensee under a music venue license to apply to the ABC for a duplicate license or licenses. The measure also authorizes a music venue licensee to sell, serve, and permit consumption of alcoholic beverages during private events or private functions not open to the general public within any hours of operation permitted by its license, regardless of whether any live performance occurs.

SB 269 (Laird) Alcoholic Beverages: Licensed Premises: Retail Sales and Consumption.

Chapter 176, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the owner of a craft distilled spirits manufacturer’s license or brandy manufacturer’s license, to have any authorized alcoholic beverages throughout the premises at the same time and maintain a designated area upon the premises where retail sales and consumption may occur, if they hold the appropriate licenses.

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SB 498 (Gonzalez) Alcoholic Beverage Control: Violations.

Chapter 613, Statutes of 2023
This measure modifies the guidelines for calculating the applicable amount of the offer in compromise the ABC may make to a licensee in lieu of license suspension. This measure also authorizes ABC to consider as a factor, in determining the level of discipline whether there is a subsequent death or great bodily injury to the individual provided the alcoholic beverage.

SB 787 (Dahle) Number of Licensed Premises: County of Nevada.

Chapter 113, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows up to 10 additional new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of Nevada. The bill would prohibit the ABC from issuing more than four of these licenses per year.

SB 844 (Jones) Alcoholic Beverage Control: Retail License Transfers and Beer Returns.

Chapter 295, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure provides that an alcohol licensee who transfers an alcoholic beverage license to a premise that is under construction, must follow certain notification requirements unless the construction is taking place on the premise of the existing license. Additionally, this measure revises the definition of “season brand of beer” in the ABC Act to also mean a brand of beer that is brewed by a manufacturer to recognize a season or holiday.

B. Behavioral Health
AB 988 (Mathis) Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act: Veteran and Military Data Reporting.

Chapter 460, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires an entity receiving funds from the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund to report on the number of individuals served who identified as veterans or active military personnel.

AB 1130 (Berman) Substance Use Disorder.

Chapter 21, Statutes of 2023
This measure revises the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act and deletes the reference to an “addict,” and instead replaces it with the term “a person with substance use disorder.”
AB 1233 (Waldron) Substance Abuse: Naloxone Distribution Project: Tribal Governments.

Chapter 570, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the State Department of Health Care Services to conduct outreach to each of the tribal governments in California for the purpose of advising them of the availability of naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist through the

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Naloxone Distribution Project. This measure would repeal these provisions on March 31, 2027.
*AB 1360 (McCarty) Hope California: Secured Residential Treatment Pilot Program.

Chapter 685, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this measure in Appendix A of this document.

SB 46 (Roth) Controlled Substances: Treatment.

Chapter 481, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a person convicted of a drug offense, and who is granted probation, to successfully complete a controlled substance education or treatment program while on probation. This measure also outlines standards for these programs and adds requirements for drug diversion education and counseling.

SB 67 (Seyarto) Controlled Substances: Overdose Reporting.

Chapter 859, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires a coroner or medical examiner who evaluates an individual who died — in the coroner or medical examiner's expert opinion — as the result of an overdose, to report the data gathered pursuant to the bill to the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program managed by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. This measure also requires the coroner or medical examiner to make the overdose report as soon as possible, but no later than 120 hours after examining the individual. This measure requires, if the cause of death is still preliminary and pending toxicology screens, the coroner or medical examiner to report the overdose as a preliminary report, and to update the report when the cause of death is confirmed.

C. Cannabis
AB 623 (Chen) Cannabis: THC Testing Variances.

Chapter 267, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to establish regulations to adjust testing variances for edible cannabis products that include less than five milligrams of THC in total.

AB 993 (Rubio, Blanca) Cannabis Task Force.

Chapter 822, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the task force on regulation of commercial cannabis activity to include representatives from the Civil Rights Department and the Department of Industrial Relations.

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AB 1126 (Lackey) Cannabis: Citation and Fine.

Chapter 563, Statutes of 2023
This measure makes the possession of the universal symbol in connection with a commercial activity a violation, and makes each individual package, label, advertisement, or other object bearing the universal symbol a separate violation. This measure requires a person using or possessing the universal symbol in connection with a commercial activity, to maintain and produce records that the use or possession is in connection with licensed commercial activity. This measure also makes a package, label, advertisement, or other document or object of any kind bearing the universal symbol contraband and require it to be seized and summarily forfeited. This measure expands the places and items authorized for certain employees of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration or a peace officer to inspect and seize to include any place where any package, label, advertisement, or other document or object of any kind bearing the universal symbol are sold or stored.

AB 1171 (Rubio, Blanca) Cannabis: Private Right of Action.

Chapter 467, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a licensee under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) to bring an action in superior court against a person engaging in commercial cannabis activity without a license. This measure would require the licensee to demonstrate actual harm resulting from the unlicensed commercial cannabis activity. This measure also allows a licensee prevailing in that action to their reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and either actual damages or statutory damages not to exceed $75,000.
*AB 1448 (Wallis) Cannabis: Enforcement by Local Jurisdictions.

Chapter 843, Statutes of 2023
This measure incentivizes local jurisdictions to use the statutory penalties for unlicensed cannabis activities by revising existing law to allow a 50/50 state-local split of the statutory penalties recovered in actions brought by local jurisdictions. Revenues from these actions will provide funds to adequately cover the costs of enforcement actions and reinvest in illicit cannabis enforcement.

AB 1684 (Maienschein) Local Ordinances: Fines and Penalties: Cannabis.

Chapter 477, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the authorization for an ordinance providing for the immediate imposition of administrative fines or penalties to include all unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, including cultivation, manufacturing, processing, distribution, or retail sale of cannabis. This measure also authorizes the ordinance to declare unlicensed commercial cannabis activity a public nuisance. This measure prohibits the ordinance from imposing an administrative fine or penalty exceeding $1,000 per violation or $10,000 per day.

SB 51 (Bradford) Cannabis Provisional Licenses: Local Equity Applicants.

Chapter 593, Statutes of 2023
This measure, until January 1, 2031, authorizes the DCC — in its sole discretion — to issue a provisional license for a local equity applicant for retailer activities if the

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applicant meets specified requirements. This measure also allows the DCC to renew a provisional license for a local equity applicant for retailer activities until it issues or denies the provisional licensee’s annual license, or until five years from the date the provisional license was originally issued — whichever is earlier.

SB 302 (Stern) Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act.

Chapter 484, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act and allows access to a patient who is over 65 years of age with a chronic disease. This measure expands the definition of health care facility to also include a home health agency.

SB 622 (Allen) Cannabis Regulation: Plant Identification Program: Unique Identifier.

Chapter 496, Statutes of 2023
This measure provides that the unique plant identifier for cannabis products be determined by the DCC in regulations and removes the requirement that the unique plant identifier be at the base of every plant.

D. Crime and Sentencing
AB 256 (Dixon) Vehicles: Registration.

Chapter 297, Statutes of 2023
This measure, commencing July 1, 2024, and until January 1, 2030, prohibits law enforcement from towing a vehicle for expired vehicle registration before the second month after the month of expiration of the vehicle’s registration — including lacking a registration tab — unless the vehicle was stopped for any other violation of the vehicle code.

AB 301 (Bauer-Kahan) Gun Violence Restraining Orders: Body Armor.

Chapter 234, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the court to consider evidence of acquisition of body armor when determining whether grounds for a gun violence restraining order exist.

AB 413 (Lee) Vehicles: Stopping, Standing, and Parking.

Chapter 652, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any unmarked or marked crosswalk or 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present. This measure would also —, prior to January 1, 2025 — authorize jurisdictions to only issue a warning for a violation, and prohibits them from issuing a citation for a violation, unless the violation occurs in an area marked using paint or a sign.

AB 436 (Alvarez) Vehicles.

Chapter 803, Statutes of 2023
This measure removes the authorization for a local authority to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or regulation regarding cruising.

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AB 443 (Jackson) Peace Officers: Determination of Bias.

Chapter 439, Statutes of 2023
This measure, commencing January 1, 2026, requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to establish a definition of “biased conduct,” and requires law enforcement agencies to use that definition in any investigation into a biasrelated complaint or an incident that involves possible indications of officer bias, and to determine if any racial profiling occurred. This measure also requires POST to develop guidance for local law enforcement departments on performing effective internet and social media screenings of officer applicants.

AB 466 (Gipson) Vehicles: Violations.

Chapter 85, Statutes of 2023
This measure removes the provision which makes the failure to attend traffic violator school a misdemeanor and provides that failing to attend traffic violator school is not a punishable offense.

AB 508 (Petrie-Norris) Probation: Environmental Crimes.

Chapter 264, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the maximum allowable period of probation for certain environmental crimes to five years for those entities with more than 10 employees. The environmental crimes include dumping in waterways, pesticides, oil dumping and spills, waste management and animal cruelty.

AB 567 (Ting) Criminal Records: Relief.

Chapter 444, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the current program at the Department of Justice (DOJ) which provides automatic conviction record relief to certain conviction and apply that to misdemeanor convictions where the sentence has been successfully completed following a revocation of probation. This measure begins on July 1, 2024.

AB 600 (Ting) Criminal Procedure: Resentencing.

Chapter 446, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the court to recall a sentence, on its own motion, at any time if the applicable sentencing laws at the time of original sentencing are subsequently changed due to new statutory or case law authority. This measure specifies that recall and resentencing under these provisions may be initiated by the original sentencing judge, a judge designated by the presiding judge, or any judge with jurisdiction in the case. This measure eliminates the requirement that the district attorney or Attorney General concur with the resentencing court’s decision to vacate the defendant’s conviction and resentence the defendant to a reduced term of imprisonment. This measure prohibits a court that has recalled the sentence on its own motion from imposing a judgment on a necessarily included lesser offense or lesser related offense without the concurrence of both the defendant and the prosecutor if the conviction was the result of a plea bargain.

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*AB 641 (Fong, Vince) Automobile Dismantlers: Catalytic Converters.

Chapter 537, Statutes of 2023
This measure revises the definition of an automobile dismantler to include a person who keeps or maintains on property owned by the person, or under their possession or control, for any of the above-described purposes nine or more used catalytic converters that have been cut from a motor vehicle using a sharp implement. This measure makes the first violation of acting as an automobile dismantler due to possessing nine or more catalytic converters as described above punishable as an infraction, and subsequent violations punishable as a misdemeanor.
*AB 701 (Villapudua) Controlled Substances: Fentanyl.

Chapter 540, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this issue in Appendix A of this document.

AB 709 (McKinnor) Criminal History Information.

Chapter 453, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes a public prosecutor to provide a list containing only the names of the peace officer and defendant and the corresponding case number to a public defender’s office, an alternative public defender’s office, or a licensed attorney of record in a criminal case. This will facilitate and expedite notifying counsel representing other criminal defendants whose cases may involve testimony by that peace officer of exculpatory evidence, or impeachment evidence involving that peace officer.

AB 751 (Schiavo) Elder Abuse.

Chapter 18, Statutes of 2023
This measure clarifies that a law enforcement agency that adopts or revises, or has adopted or revised a policy since April 13, 2021, must also revise procedures for investigating elder abuse in their policy.

AB 791 (Ramos) Postconviction Bail.

Chapter 545, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a person convicted of an offense punishable by life without the possibility of parole from being released on bail.

AB 806 (Maienschein) Criminal Procedure: Crimes in Multiple Jurisdictions.

Chapter 666, Statutes of 2023
This measure expands the definition of domestic violence offenses that may be consolidated in a single trial in any county where at least one of the offenses occurred if the defendant and the victim are the same for all offenses.

AB 818 (Petrie-Norris) Protective Orders.

Chapter 242, Statutes of 2023. T
This measure requires service of protective orders issued after a hearing. This measure also authorizes these orders to be served by a law enforcement officer who receives a request from the petitioner to provide service of the order, but would exclude service by specified peace officers, including a parole officer of the California Department of

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Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) or a probation officer. The measure prohibits a fee from being charged to the petitioner for service of those orders. This measure also requires specified peace officers to take into temporary custody any firearm or deadly weapon in plain sight or discovered pursuant to a consensual or otherwise lawful search for the protection of peace officers or other persons present when those officers are at the scene of a domestic violence incident involving a threat to human life or physical assault, serving a protective order pursuant to the above provisions, or serving a gun violence restraining order.

AB 829 (Waldron) Crime: Animal Abuse.

Chapter 546, Statutes of 2023.

This measure deletes the requirement that a defendant granted probation complete counseling. This measure requires the court to order a defendant convicted of specified offenses against animals and granted probation to successfully complete counseling designed to evaluate and treat behavior or conduct disorders. This measure also requires the court to consider whether to order the defendant to undergo a mental health evaluation by an evaluator chosen by the court. Upon evaluation, if the evaluating mental health professional deems a higher level of treatment is necessary, the defendant must complete such treatment as directed by the court. *AB 890 (Patterson, Joe) Controlled Substances: Probation.

Chapter 818, Statutes of 2023
This measure requires the court to order a person granted probation for a violation of specified laws involving any amount of fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or any analog thereof, to successfully complete a fentanyl and synthetic opiate education program if one is available. This measure prohibits a defendant from being charged a fee for enrollment in that education program. This measure also requires a court ordering a defendant to complete those courses to only order the defendant to participate in programs that include, among other things, information regarding the nature and addictive elements of fentanyl and other synthetic opiates and their danger to a person's life and health.

AB 925 (Ta) Vehicle Removal: Expired Registration.

Chapter 92, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a vehicle from being removed if it has a current registration on file with the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) or if the officer or employee does not have immediate access to the DMV’s records.

AB 933 (Aguiar-Curry) Privileged Communications: Incident of Sexual Assault, Harassment, or Discrimination.

Chapter 670, Statutes of 2023
This measure includes among those privileged communications a communication made by an individual, without malice, regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination, and specifies the attorney’s fees and damages available to a prevailing defendant in any defamation action brought against that defendant for making that communication.

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AB 1104 (Bonta) Corrections and Rehabilitation: Sentencing.

Chapter 560, Statutes of 2023
The measure provides that when a sentence includes incarceration, the deprivation of liberty in and of itself satisfies the punishment aspect of sentencing, and that the purpose of incarceration is rehabilitation and successful community reintegration through education, treatment, and restorative treatment programs.

AB 1109 (Connolly) Product Sales: Sodium Nitrite.

Chapter 462, Statutes of 2023
This measure, on or after July 1, 2014, prohibits a person, retailer, or online marketplace from selling sodium nitrite to a person under 18 years of age and sodium nitrite in concentrations greater than 10% to a person 18 years of age or older. This measure establishes a defense to the former prohibition if the purchaser acknowledged before purchase they were at least 18 years of age through an effective system, and the person, retailer, or online marketplace took all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to ensure the product would be sold and delivered to a person at least 18 years of age, or the purchaser acknowledged before purchase they were at least 18 years of age.

AB 1125 (Hart) Vehicle Code: Infractions.

Chapter 356, Statutes of 2023.

This measure eliminates the court’s authorization to impound a person’s driver’s license or limit the person’s driving when the person fails to pay bail in installments. *AB 1166 (Bains) Liability for Opioid Antagonist Administration.

Chapter 97, Statutes of 2023
Cal Cities has prepared a comprehensive summary of this issue in Appendix A of this document.

AB 1210 (Kalra) Sodium Nitrite.

Chapter 469, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the sale or offering for sale in the state of sodium nitrite at a purity level that exceeds 10% without a specified label on the immediate container and shipping package of sodium nitrite. This measure makes a violation of this provision subject to a civil penalty.

AB 1325 (Waldron) Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations.

Chapter 101, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure requires the food preparation to be limited to no more than 90 individual meals, or the approximate equivalent of meal components when sold separately, per week. The measure allows a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation to have no more than $100,000 in verifiable gross annual sales, adjusted for inflation.

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AB 1371 (Low) Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor.

Chapter 838, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits a person convicted of this crime who is granted probation from completing community service at a school or location where children congregate.

AB 1394 (Wicks) Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Child Sexual Abuse Material:

Civil Actions.

Chapter 579, Statutes of 2023
This measure, beginning January 1, 2025, prohibits a social media platform from knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation. This measure requires a court to award statutory damages not exceeding $4,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 for each act of commercial sexual exploitation facilitated, aided, or abetted by the social media platform. This measure defines “facilitate, aid, or abet” to mean to deploy a system, design, feature, or affordance that is a substantial factor in causing minor users to be victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

AB 1403 (Garcia) Public Safety: Fireworks: Enforcement: Funding.

Chapter 368, Statutes of 2023
This measure increases the amounts of the fines to be imposed for violating the State Fireworks Law or related regulation, increases the amount of certain fines for possessing specified amounts of dangerous fireworks, and increases the amount of certain fines for selling, giving, or delivering dangerous fireworks to any person under 18 years of age.
*AB 1519 (Bains) Vehicles: Catalytic Converters.

Chapter 847, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits any person, except as exempted, from removing, altering, or obfuscating the vehicle identification number that has been added to a catalytic converter, or from knowingly possessing three or more catalytic converters that have been altered.
*SB 14 (Grove) Serious Felonies: Human Trafficking.

Chapter 230, Statutes of 2023
This measure includes human trafficking of a minor within the definition of a serious felony for all purposes, including for purposes of the Three Strikes Law.

SB 55 (Umberg) Vehicles: Catalytic Converters.

Chapter 858, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows a core recycler to accept payment for a catalytic converter by credit card or any other form of traceable payment other than cash.

SB 78 (Glazer) Criminal Procedure: Factual Innocence.

Chapter 702, Statutes of 2023
This measure allows a person to petition a court for a finding that they are entitled to wrongful conviction compensation, if the court has granted a writ of habeas corpus or vacated a judgment, and the charges against the person were dismissed or the person was acquitted on retrial.

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SB 97 (Wiener) Criminal Procedure: Writ of Habeas Corpus.

Chapter 381, Statutes of 2023.

This measure allows for prosecution of a writ of habeas corpus to be prosecuted on the additional basis of the discovery of new evidence that has not been previously presented and heard at trial and has been discovered after trial. This measure allows a petitioner who is incarcerated in state prison to not appear at an evidentiary hearing if there is a waiver of the right to appear on record, or to appear using remote technology unless counsel indicates that the defendant’s presence is needed. This measure requires a presumption in favor of granting relief in a habeas petition if the district attorney or the Attorney General concede or stipulate to a factual or legal basis for the relief.

SB 250 (Umberg) Controlled Substances: Punishment.

Chapter 106, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits the use of a statement made by a person who is immune from prosecution for being under the influence of a controlled substance or in possession of a controlled substance as evidence in a criminal proceeding against the person for being under the influence of or possessing for personal use of a controlled substance. This measure also provides that it is not a crime for a person to possess for personal use a controlled substance, controlled substance analog, or drug paraphernalia, if specified conditions are satisfied.

SB 281 (McGuire) Crimes: Aggravated Arson.

Chapter 706, Statutes of 2023
This measure increases the threshold property damage and losses amount for aggravated arson from $8.3 million in property damages and other losses required to be an aggravating factor to $10.1 million. This measure extends the operation of the former aggravated arson offense until Jan. 1, 2029.

SB 365 (Wiener) Civil Procedure: Arbitration.

Chapter 710, Statutes of 2023
This measure provides that trial court proceedings are not automatically stayed during the pendency of an appeal of an order dismissing or denying a petition to compel arbitration.
*SB 374 (Ashby) Vehicles: Specialized License Plates.

Chapter 602, Statutes of 2023
This measure increases the fee from $35 to $40 for a renewal of a California firefighter specialized license plate.

SB 412 (Archuleta) Parole Hearings.

Chapter 712, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits CDCR and the Board of Parole from requiring a victim, victim’s next of kin, members of the victim’s family, and victim support persons to give more than 15 days’ notice of their intention to attend a parole hearing.

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SB 514 (Archuleta) Wiretapping: Authorization.

Chapter 488, Statutes of 2023
This measure extends the authorization for wiretapping operations until January 1, 2030.

SB 558 (Rubio) Civil Actions: Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Chapter 877, Statutes of 2023
This measure specifies that the time frame for commencing actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual assault applies only to those instances of childhood sexual assault that occur before January 1, 2024. This measure also expands the definition of childhood sexual assault to include acts involving a child being depicted in an obscene matter.

SB 727 (Limón) Human Trafficking: Civil Actions.

Chapter 632, Statutes of 2023
This measure authorizes the plaintiff to seek from the court a finding that specific debts attributed to the plaintiff were incurred as a result of trafficking and without the consent of the plaintiff. This measure authorizes the court to base its finding upon evidence that a debt attributed to the plaintiff was incurred as the result of any illegal act in which the plaintiff was the victim. This measure provides that the finding would not affect the priority of any lien or other security interest.

SB 741 (Min) Domestic Violence Restraining Orders: Prehearing Discovery.

Chapter 503, Statutes of 2023
This measure prohibits discovery pursuant to the Civil Discovery Act for purposes of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act except when a court grants a request for discovery upon a showing of good cause by the party making the request. The measure requires a court determining whether to permit discovery to consider, among other things, the importance and relevance of, and need for, the information sought to be obtained. This measure authorizes a court to continue commencement of the hearing or commence the hearing to receive evidence and then continue the hearing to permit one or more methods of discovery if a court finds good cause and grants a request for discovery.

SB 749 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Criminal Procedure: Sentencing.

Chapter 633, Statutes of 2023 (Urgency)
This measure removes the deadline to file petitions for relief for persons seeking reduction of prior felony convictions to misdemeanors as authorized by Proposition 47 (2014).

SB 852 (Rubio) Searches: Supervised Persons.

Chapter 218, Statutes of 2023
This measure clarifies that a search of a person who is granted probation or mandatory supervision and subject to search or seizure must be performed only by a probation officer or other peace officer.