CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM City of San Mateo
Legislative Update
Dane Hutchings, Founder + CEO California Public Policy Group Claire Sullivan, Associate Lobbyist
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM 2025 Legislative State-of-Play
23 New Assembly Members (out of 80)
Assemblymember Diane Papan (D, San Mateo, AD 21)
• Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
• Judiciary
• Transportation
• Utilities and Energy
• Water, Parks, and Wildlife (Chair)
12 New State Senators (out of 40)
Senator Josh Becker (D, Menlo Park, SD 13)
• Energy Utilities and Communications (Chair)
• Human Services
• Insurance
• Joint Legislative Audit Committee
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM 2025 Legislative State-of-Play
Primary Narrative That Has Driven Policy This Year…
“Affordability”
Dozens of Measures Seeking To:
• Cap, Delay or Eliminate Local Mitigation and Development Related Fees • New State-Mandated Local Programs Without Offset Funding • Fast-Tracked Timelines That Place Considerable Pressure on Local Agencies • New Requirements Making it Seemingly More Difficult to Utilize Professional Service Contracts and Driving Operational Costs.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM State Policy Priorities
Housing/ Land Use
• Local Accountability
• Development Impact Fees
• Warehousing Clean Up
Natural Resources/ Climate
• Prop 4 Funding Disbursement (Climate Bond)
• Advance Clean Fleet Compliance
Transportation
• Autonomous Vehicles
• SF Bay Area Revenue Funding
• CEQA Exemptions Transit Projects
Governmental Operations
• Restrictions On Local Agency Contracting
• Brown Act
• A.I.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Timing + VLF
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM State Legislative Timeline
Key State Legislative Dates Action
January 10 Governor must present budget proposal to the Legislature.
January 24 Last day to submit bill requests to the Office of LegislativeCounsel.
February 21 Last day for bills to be introduced.
April 10-21 Legislative spring recess.
May 2 Last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscalcommittee’s fiscal bills introduced in their house.
June 15 Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget must be passed by theLegislature.
June 30 Governor must sign Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget.
July 18-August 18 Legislative summer recess.
September 12 Last day for each house to pass bills.
October 12 Governor must take action all measures passed by theLegislature.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM VLF Update
• $114M Claim Pending for San Mateo County (SMC) and its taxing agencies • VLF reimbursement claim not included in Governor’s January budget proposal • Have been working with SMC delegation on coordinated outreach efforts • City of San Mateo has submitted a letter requesting that the Backfill amount be included • Have had productive conversations with Senate Budget Chair and Sub Committee Chair • Working with allies in organized labor—particularly police and fire to highlight importance • CPPG testified in support of restoring the VLF amount in Senate Budget Sub 4 (State Administration) • Highlighted real costs and potential service reductions if backfill amount was not honored Next Steps:
• May Revise
• Collaboration with relevant budget committees in both Chambers • June 15 Budget Passed by the Legislature
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Update on Positioned
Bills
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 60 (Papan)
o This bill, the Musk Reduction Act, would expand that prohibition by adding musk ambrette, musk tibetene, musk moskene, and musk xylene to the list of banned ingredients. The bill would also, beginning January 1, 2027, prohibit the use of musk ketone in cosmetic products in excess of specified amounts, including 1.4% in fine fragrance products, and oral products, as defined. o Status: 4/28/2025 #36 ASM THIRD READING FILE - ASSEMBLY BILLS o Client Position: Support
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 650 (Papan)
• AB 650 strengthens the state’s housing planning process by requiring HCD to develop a standardized reporting format for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) programs. It also moves up the timeline for determining Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA) with Councils of Governments (COGs) to 30 months before housing element deadlines, giving jurisdictions 6 more months for planning. Additionally, the bill mandates that HCD provide clear, detailed guidance to help jurisdictions address noncompliance findings and achieve certification more efficiently.
o Status: 4/30/2025 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 447 ASM LOCAL GOVERNMENT CARRILLO, JUAN, Chair
o Client Position: Support
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Policy +
Platform
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Platform Background and
Purpose
Creates a Helpful Guide for Communicating with Various Stakeholders • Communicates City’s policies, priorities, and positions to the public, and to state and regional governments.
Allows the City to Have a Gameplan
• Allows staff and legislative advocate to quickly triage and assess legislative matters upon introduction and as they advance through the process.
• In 2023-24 legislative session there were 5,564 legislative and budgetary measures introduced. • 2,628 having some level of impact on public agencies at time of introduction.
Examples Include:
• Drafting and resubmitting advocacy letters and modifying advocacy letters based on amendments • Testifying in legislative and budgetary committees
• Attending meetings with state legislative, regulatory and administrative agencies • Negotiating amendments/ comments/ policy on legislative, regulatory or administrative actions. • Seeking funding for key programs and city initiatives • Meeting with stakeholders involved in the state legislative, regulatory and administrative proposal.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Platform Background and
Purpose
Provides Guidance/Direction to City Staff and State Legislative Consultants on How to Engage on Specific Pieces of Legislation—Including Coalition Building • This is especially important during key legislative and budget deadlines. • Helps secure critical amendments early in the process. • Allows immediate engagement on legislation throughout the legislative process. • Enables the City to take the following advocacy positions:
• Sponsor
• Support
• Oppose
• Oppose unless amended
• Neutral
• Watch (Internal)
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Platform
Development
Hybrid Approach with Grants Team
Meetings to be Focused Primarily On The Following:
• Polices that have an impact on departmental operations. • Assessing major issues/projects/initiatives within the City that need to be considered or shared.
• Major policy areas of importance that CPPG should be monitoring more closely. • Critical funding priorities for the City that CPPG should know more about. • How best CPPG can serve as the City’s legislative advocacy firm.
Given The Legislative Timing More Emphasized Focus In The Fall • Goal is to adopt a formal platform in the Fall of 2025
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Policy
• Establishing a legislative policy aims to formalize
how and when the City responds to local, state,
and federal legislation or ballot measures
impacting it.
• Many cities outline a process for addressing
proposed legislation and ballot measures to
clarify City interests and facilitate prompt
responses as necessary.
• Effective March 1, 2025, the City Retained
CPPG for Legislative Advocacy and Grant
Writing Services.
• It is anticipated that the City will broaden its
scope of engagement on local, state and
federal matters of interest.
• Having clear direction through an adopted
policy and platform will be helpful to ensure
clear direction, timely engagement and
sustained success.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Policy
Assessment of San Mateo’s Current Policy
Formalized Legislative Roles:
o Mayor and Deputy Mayor serve as the Legislative Committee. Annual Review of Priorities:
o Legislative Committee may meet annually to draft priorities. Emergency/Expedited Action Allowed:
o The Legislative Committee can act urgently and report back at the next meeting. Communication to Full Council:
o Copy full Council and report under Reports and Announcements.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Legislative Policy
Areas to Potentially Explore Based on Best Practices
Fully Developed Legislative Advocacy Platform:
o Adopt a written legislative platform and reaffirm by the full City Council at least every two years (to conform with legislative Cycle) . Detailed Emergency Authorization Criteria:
o Modify policy to account for emergency or time-sensitive circumstances permitting unilateral action (e.g., protect revenues, local control, legislative committee timing etc.).
Explicit Role for City Staff and Legislative Consultants:
o Modify policy to recognize the involvement that City staff and the legislative consultant in effectively advocating on behalf of the City.
Councilmember Discretion and Caution:
o Clearly state Councilmembers must distinguish personal views from the City’s official position. Formal Procedures for Ballot Measures (optional)
o Create a defined process for Council action on State and Local ballot measures.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Proposed Legislation
for Consideration
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Housing and Land Use
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 358 (Becker)
• This bill would eliminate the exemption in current law that permits a local agency to retain vehicle traffic impact fees at their current rate upon a finding that vehicular traffic trips would not generate fewer automotive trips. Instead, the bill requires that the vehicle traffic impact fees be reduced by 50% for projects within a half mile of an existing or planned transit stop if certain conditions are met. Further, the bill would specify that the housing development provides no more than one onsite parking space for zero- to 2-bedroom units, and 2 onsite parking spaces for 3 or more-bedroom units, regardless of local parking ordinances.
Status: 4/30/2025 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 SEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair Note: Meeting in process with the Author to discuss city-specific concerns CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 647 (Gonzalez)
AB 647 significantly undermines local control by mandating ministerial approval of up to eight-unit housing projects, including on lots currently zoned for single-family use. It forces cities and counties to approve qualifying applications within 60 days or risk automatic approval, burdening already resource-constrained planning departments. The bill strips local governments of the ability to impose key development standards such as parking requirements, height limits, setbacks, and floor area ratios, even in traditionally single-family neighborhoods. By preempting local zoning and linking compliance to state enforcement actions, AB 647 exposes local agencies to greater legal risk while limiting their ability to plan growth in a way that fits community needs. o Status: 4/30/2025 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 447 ASM LOCAL GOVERNMENT CARRILLO, JUAN, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 79 (Weiner)
SB 79 severely limits local control by mandating high-density residential development near transit stops, overriding local zoning, height limits, and planning priorities. It requires cities to ministerially approve qualifying projects without CEQA review, regardless of neighborhood context or infrastructure constraints.
Local governments that deny compliant projects face automatic penalties under the Housing Accountability Act, even in cases where legitimate local concerns exist. This bill not only imposes rigid, one-size-fits-all standards statewide but also dramatically increases legal and administrative risks for cities already working to meet housing goals.
Status: 4/30/2025 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 SEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 306 (Schultz)
o This bill would, from June 1, 2025, until June 1, 2031, inclusive, prohibit a city or county from making changes to residential building standards unless a certain condition is met, including that the commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety.
o Status: 4/23/2025 Re-referred to Coms. on HOUSING and L. GOV. - not yet calendared CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 569 (Blakespear)
Would require the Department of Transportation to coordinate with local governments to address and prevent homeless encampments located on department property and to establish a dedicated liaison office for this purpose. The bill would require the department to develop a joint action plan for each district of the department in which homeless encampments are located on department property in collaboration with local governments located in the district. The bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate funds to support collaborative efforts with local governments to address homeless encampments on department property. The bill would require the department to establish an advisory committee in each district for the purpose of providing advice on the implementation of these provisions. o Status: 5/5/2025 10 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 SEN APPROPRIATIONS CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 1026 (Wilson)
This bill would require an electrical corporation to compile a list of information needed to approve or deny a postentitlement phase permit, to post an example of a complete, approved application and an example of a complete set of postentitlement phase permits for a housing development project, and to make those items available to all applicants for these permits no later than July 1, 2026. The bill would also require an electrical corporation to determine if an application for those permits is complete and provide notice or otherwise provide certain information under a specified procedure. The bill would define various terms for its purposes.
This bill would establish time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant, and whether to approve or deny an application, and would make any failure to meet these time limits a violation of the Housing Accountability Act. o Status: 5/7/2025 Upon adjournment of Governmental Organization Committee - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 ASM UTILITIES AND ENERGY PETRIE-NORRIS, COTTIE, Chair CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 499 (Stern)
o This bill would specify that the public improvements or facilities related to providing fire, public safety, and emergency services for which a local agency may require the earlier payment of fees and charges under the above-described provisions include parkland and recreational facilities when identified in the local agency’s hazard mitigation plan or related general plan element for those uses. o Status: 5/7/2025 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 SEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Governmental
Transparency and Meeting
Access
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 259 (Rubio)
o Current law requires a member to satisfy specified requirements to participate in a meeting remotely. Current law establishes limits on the number of meetings a member may participate in solely by teleconference from a remote location, including prohibiting such participation for more than 2 meetings per year if the legislative body regularly meets once per month or less. This bill would remove the January 1, 2026, date from those provisions, thereby extending the alternative teleconferencing procedures indefinitely.
o Status: 4/28/2025 #61 ASM THIRD READING FILE - ASSEMBLY BILLS CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 239 (Arreguin)
o This bill would authorize a subsidiary body to use alternative teleconferencing provisions and would impose requirements for notice, agenda, and public participation, as prescribed. The bill would require the subsidiary body to post the agenda at the primary physical meeting location. The bill would require the members of the subsidiary body to visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online platform, as specified.
o Status: 5/6/2025 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 SEN JUDICIARY UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 707 (Durazo)
SB 707 significantly expands Brown Act requirements for local governments, mandating two-way telephonic or audiovisual participation, multilingual agenda translations, and expanded definitions of “meetings” to include informal discussions. It imposes a new 4/5ths vote threshold for special closed sessions to evaluate or discipline public employees or officials, severely limiting local flexibility to address urgent personnel matters. Additional mandates, such as disclosing estimated fiscal impacts of closed session actions and stricter teleconferencing standards, will increase legal risk, administrative complexity, and operational costs. Collectively, these changes burden local governments with costly, rigid procedures that undermine effective governance.
Status: 5/5/2025 10 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 SEN APPROPRIATIONS CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Administration and
Fiscal Sustainability
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 456 (Ashby)
o This bill was introduced in response to the Contractors State Licensing Board’s pursuit of compliance actions against muralists for engaging in contracts with municipal and private commissioners of murals in excess of $500. This bill would exempt muralists from the $500/project requirement to obtain contractors’ licenses, so that cities may continue to support community beautification efforts.
o Status: 4/28/2025 #58 SEN SENATE BILLS -THIRD READING FILE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 339 (Ortega)
o This bill would require the governing body of a public agency, and boards and commissions designated by law or by the governing body of a public agency, to give the recognized employee organization no less than 120 days’ written notice before issuing a request for proposals, request for quotes, or renewing or extending an existing contract to perform services that are within the scope of work of the job classifications represented by the recognized employee organization.
The bill would require the notice to include specified information, including the anticipated duration of the contract.
o Status: 4/9/2025 In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 417 (Carrillo)
• This bill would authorize the designation of a proposed enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance capital facilities or other specified projects for the acquisition, construction, or repair of commercial structures by the small business occupant of such structures, as described above, if such acquisition, construction, or repair is for purposes of fostering economic recovery of a community, as specified. • Status: 4/2/2025 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - not yet calendared
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 1109 (Kalra)
o This bill would establish a privilege between a union agent, as defined, and a represented employee or represented former employee to refuse to disclose any confidential communication between the employee or former employee and the union agent made while the union agent was acting in the union agent’s representative capacity, except as specified. The bill would permit a represented employee or represented former employee to prevent another person from disclosing a privileged communication, except as specified. o Status: 4/28/2025 #42 ASM THIRD READING FILE - ASSEMBLY BILLS CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 63 (Weiner)
• SB 63 allows San Mateo County to opt into a new regional Transportation Revenue Measure District by July 31, 2025, subjecting all cities within the county to a regional sales tax if voters approve. While participation could bring significant new funding for transit services like Caltrain and other city-level transportation needs, it would also shift decision-making power over those revenues to a regional board, reducing direct local control. Separately, the bill expands San Mateo County’s authority to pursue its own local transportation taxes in smaller 1/8% increments, offering cities an alternative path to fund critical infrastructure without ceding authority to a regional entity. o Status: 4/23/2025 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (April 22). Re- referred to Com. on REV. & TAX. - not yet calendared.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Sustainability / Safety
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM SB 496 (Hurtado)
o This bill would require the state board to establish the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Appeals Advisory Committee by an unspecified date for purposes of reviewing appeals of denied requests for exemptions from the requirements of the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation.
o Status: 5/5/2025 10 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 SEN APPROPRIATIONS CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM AB 382 (Berman)
Would establish a prima facie speed limit of 20 miles per hour in a school zone, as defined, subject to specified conditions, including, among others, when a school speed limit sign states “children are present” and children are present, as defined, and when a school speed limit sign states specific hours, as specified.
Allows permissive adoption of 20 mph zones prior to January 1, 2029, at which point 20 becomes prima facie speed limit in school zones.
o Status: 4/22/2025 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - not yet calendared.
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM Questions / Thank You!
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP .COM