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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 1 Section Name: NEW BUSINESS Account Number: File ID: 26-11044 TO: City Council Legislative Committee
FROM: Zachary Reda
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: April 01, 2026
SUBJECT:
April 1, 2026, State Legislative Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the 2026 Legislative Update presented by the City's legislative consultant, California Public Policy Group (CPPG), and provide direction to staff on any legislative positions for bills identified herein.
BACKGROUND:
On March 2, 2026, the City Council formally adopted the 2026 City of San Mateo Legislative Platform. The Platform was developed through a coordinated, cross-departmental process led by the City Manager's Office in partnership with CPPG, the City's state legislative consultant. The Platform reflects input from multiple City departments including Community Development, Planning and Housing, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development and Sustainability, the Police Department and Homelessness Services, and the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department. Additionally, elements of key City-guiding documents including the City's Housing Element, Strategic Plan, General Plan 2040, adopted equity and inclusion policies, and prior City Council resolutions were also included.
The 2026 Legislative Platform is organized around major policy subject areas, including Community Development and Housing; Transportation and Public Works; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services; Governmental Transparency and Public Meeting Access; Utilities, Infrastructure, and Climate Adaptation; Administration and Fiscal Sustainability; Public Safety and Homelessness Services; and Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Each section contains guiding principles intended to preserve local authority, promote fiscal sustainability, advance equity and inclusivity, protect public safety, and support the City's ability to deliver essential services to the community.
The Platform is intended to function as a living document, reviewed and updated periodically to reflect evolving City priorities, changes in state policy, and emerging legislative issues. Adoption does not limit the City Council's authority to act on matters outside the Platform; rather, it provides an organizing framework that supports consistent, timely, and informed engagement with state legislative and regulatory developments.
The City Council Legislative Subcommittee meets periodically throughout the legislative year to review and provide direction on active state legislation affecting San Mateo.
Legislative Calendar Context
The Legislature is currently in session, with Spring Recess beginning upon adjournment on March 25, 2026. The Legislature reconvenes on April 6, 2026. Key upcoming milestones include the Governor's May Revision of the state budget (mid- May), the Legislature's deadline to pass the primary budget bill (June 15), the Governor's deadline to sign the primary budget bill (June 30), and the start of Summer Recess on July 2, 2026.
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Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Restoration
CPPG continues to advance work with San Mateo County in a multi-pronged legislative, legal, and political strategy to restore VLF revenues to the County and its local taxing agencies. Efforts include building a coalition of labor organizations and public agencies, engaging a grassroots communications consultant, and submitting a VLF letter request to the appropriate legislative principals.
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Initiative: Impact on Local Tax Authority The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) has submitted a statewide ballot initiative (AG File No. 25-0006) that, if approved by voters, would significantly curtail local tax authority in California. HJTA has claimed submission of over one million signatures, with 886,000 valid signatures required to qualify. The Secretary of State is expected to announce qualification status in mid-April 2026. If the measure qualifies, the Legislature is expected to engage HJTA in negotiations toward a legislative resolution, likely through the state budget process.
The initiative would affect local tax authority in the following ways:
Transfer Tax Authority: Under current law, charter cities may set their own transfer tax rates above the standard documentary tax rate. For example, the City of San Mateo currently assesses rates of 0.5% and 1.5%. Under the initiative, charter city transfer taxes would be permanently eliminated, leaving only the standard documentary split of 0.055%.
Special Tax Vote Threshold: Under current law, a simple majority through citizen initiative is sufficient to enact a special tax, as upheld by recent court rulings. Under the initiative, a two-thirds supermajority would be required for all special taxes, with no exceptions.
Existing Parcel Taxes: Parcel taxes currently valid under prior court decisions approving simple majority votes would be invalidated on December 31 of the second year following statewide passage, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately $300 million annually statewide.
Local Democratic Control: The initiative would override locally voter-approved measures. As an example, San Mateo's Measure CC was approved by 71.8% of voters but could be invalidated under the initiative's provisions.
LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS — DEFINITIONS
Support: A Support position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that the City is in favor of the proposed legislation in question.
Sponsor: A Sponsor position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that the City is not only in strong support of the legislation in question but is publicly leading the advocacy effort. This position is only used when a Member of the Legislature has agreed to author a specific legislative proposal on behalf of the City.
Oppose Unless Amended: An Oppose Unless Amended position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that the City is against the proposed legislation in question, unless requested changes are adopted to address the City's policy-based concerns.
Oppose: An Oppose position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that the City is against the proposed legislation in question. This position is often used only when amendments or other policy compromises cannot be reached.
Neutral: A Neutral position indicates to the Legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders that the City has formally removed a prior adopted position due to changes made to the legislation or proposal. A Neutral position therefore indicates that the City is impartial on the legislation in question.
Watch: A Watch position is an internal designation indicating that the City is closely monitoring and evaluating the legislation in question. Should factors change, the City reserves the right to adopt a formal external position.
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BILL SUMMARIES, RECOMMENDED POSITIONS, AND SUPPORTING PLATFORM STATEMENTS
TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
AB 2111 (Papan) — Electricity: Transmission Planning and Transmission Facilities: This bill requires the portfolios of public utilities to maintain ratepayer affordability across diverse future scenarios. The ISO, a nonprofit, manages the transmission grid. The bill proposes that guidance to the ISO should include infrastructure enhancements to support resource competition and procurement, increasing interconnection capacity based on resource availability.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation that strengthens the City's ability to maintain and enhance local utilities and infrastructure.
SB 922 (Laird) — Vehicles: Local Agency Charges: Use of Streets or Highways: As amended March 11, 2026, this bill would clarify the decision in Rogers v. City of Redlands (2025), in which the Court of Appeal held that embedding road repair costs into solid waste rates violated the Vehicle Code's prohibition on local charges for the privilege of using streets or highways. SB 922 would clarify that this prohibition applies specifically to weight-based charges, and would explicitly affirm that local agencies may impose fees, charges, or surcharges to recover the costs of street maintenance and repair, as well as other related public service costs, without such charges being characterized as prohibited taxes or charges for the use of streets. The bill also removes outdated statutory references and makes technical corrections.
Status: Senate Floor
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation and ballot measures that protect the City's fiscal health, responsibilities, legal authority, and operations; uphold existing City policies, prior actions, or current City Council strategic priorities; and enhance programs, services, or infrastructure that benefit San Mateo residents.
HOUSING AND LAND USE
AB 1820 (Schiavo) — Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Permit Fees: This bill would regulate the development of EV charging stations through 2036, capping permit fees at $100 plus additional per-kilowatt charges for residential installations, and $500 plus per-kilowatt charges for commercial installations. Fees may not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service unless justified by documented evidence. The bill declares itself a matter of statewide concern and applies to all cities, including charter cities. No state reimbursement to local agencies is required for new obligations imposed by its provisions.
Status: Assembly Committee on Local Government
Recommended Position: Oppose (pending applicability/impact) Platform Statement: Oppose legislation and ballot measures that threaten the City's financial stability, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; conflict with existing City policies, prior actions, or current City Council strategic priorities; or diminish programs, services, or infrastructure serving the San Mateo community.
SB 1117 (Cervantes) — Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units: This bill would require that any impact fees charged by a city on an ADU be calculated only on the basis of interior livable space in excess of 750 square feet. By modifying the duties of local agencies with regard to calculating fees for ADUs, the bill would impose a state-
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mandated local program.
Status: Senate Committee on Housing
Recommended Position: Oppose (pending applicability/impact) Platform Statement: Oppose legislation that restricts or caps local development fees associated with housing projects at any income level.
SB 1014 (Grayson) — Development Projects: Onsite and Offsite Improvements: This bill would require a city, county, or city and county to provide an applicant for a housing development project with a list of required onsite and offsite improvements, along with a cost estimate for those improvements, within 30 days of receipt of a preliminary application — or, where no preliminary application is submitted, within 30 days of receipt of the primary project application.
Status: Senate Committee on Local Government
Recommended Position: Oppose Unless Amended to provide flexibility around unforeseen critical infrastructure improvements
Platform Statement: Oppose legislation that restricts or caps local development fees associated with housing projects at any income level.
AB 1903 (Wicks) — Construction Defects: This bill would establish an alternative process for certified buildings. A builder could obtain certified building status by undergoing private inspection, repair, and reinspection during construction by a licensed private architect, engineer, or general contractor. Once certified, the building's status could not be challenged.
The bill would authorize the builder of a certified building to establish its own process for handling post-construction claims.
Status: Assembly Committee on Judiciary
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation that expands affordable homeownership opportunities to foster economic mobility.
AB 2433 (Alvarez) — Housing Development: Affordable Homes Bonus (As Amended 3/26/26): As amended, this bill would make several substantive modifications to existing law, including automatically applying the bonus program whenever an applicant proposes a qualifying housing development rather than requiring the applicant to affirmatively seek it; requiring local agencies to notify applicants of their eligibility; clarifying that density bonuses, concessions, incentives, and waivers of development standards shall not be discretionary and shall not require CEQA review; and allowing base density to be calculated using a site's entire floor area ratio when residential FAR is established under applicable zoning.
Status: Assembly Committee on Local Government
Recommended Position: Watch
Platform Statement: Support incentives for housing production across all income levels — market rate, middle, low, very low, and extremely low — while maintaining local land use authority.
Oppose legislation that restricts or caps local development fees associated with housing projects at any income level.
AB 748 (Harabedian) — Single-Family and Multifamily Housing Units: Preapproved Plans: This bill would require local
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agencies to post preapproved plans and applicant details online, and to approve or deny ministerial applications within 30 days where specified conditions are met. Local agencies would be required to submit annual reports detailing progress on regional housing needs, and beginning April 1, 2028 (large jurisdictions) or April 1, 2030 (small jurisdictions), the number of units approved through preapproved plans must be included. CEQA does not apply to these ministerial projects. The bill declares itself a matter of statewide concern, applicable to all cities including charter cities. No state reimbursement is required for specified reasons.
Status: Senate Rules Committee
Recommended Position: Watch
Platform Statement: Review and evaluate legislation that would increase housing production ministerially, ensuring adequate opportunities for community engagement and City Council oversight.
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
AB 1383 (McKinnor) — Public Employees' Retirement Benefits: Safety Members: This bill mandates that retirement systems under PEPRA align pensionable compensation limits with federal standards. The bill proposes new retirement formulas of 2.5%, 2.7%, or 3% at age 55 for employees hired after January 1, 2027. Employers would be required to update these formulas for members hired after January 1, 2013, based on existing offerings. Public employers and employee organizations are authorized to negotiate changes to these safety member formulas.
Status: Senate Rules Committee
Recommended Position: Watch
Platform Statement: Oppose legislation and ballot measures that threaten the City's financial stability, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; conflict with existing City policies, prior actions, or current City Council strategic priorities; or diminish programs, services, or infrastructure serving the San Mateo community.
SB 1159 (Cabaldon) — Artificial Intelligence: Transparency and Governance: This bill would specify that, for purposes of the California Public Records Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, and other applicable statutes, terms such as "person," "interested person," "participant," and "member of the public" do not include artificial intelligence systems, autonomous agents, robots, or other nonhuman entities, whether physical or digital. The bill would make findings and declarations related to these provisions.
Status: Senate Privacy and Consumer Protection
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation and ballot measures that protect the City's fiscal health, responsibilities, legal authority, and operations; uphold existing City policies, prior actions, or current City Council strategic priorities; and enhance programs, services, or infrastructure that benefit San Mateo residents.
Support legislation that enhances public trust, confidence, and access to public meetings while recognizing the fiscal and operational constraints of local government.
E-BIKES
AB 2595 (Papan) — Vehicles: Electric Bicycles: This bill, known as the San Mateo Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2031, authorize a local authority within the County of San Mateo — or the County of San Mateo in unincorporated areas — to adopt an ordinance or resolution prohibiting a person under 12 years of age from operating a Class 1 or Class 2 electric bicycle.
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Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation establishing clear regulations for electric bike use and reinforcing local enforcement authority.
AB 1557 (Papan) — Vehicles: Electric Bicycles: This bill would redefine the e-bicycle classes, changing the speed limit to 16 mph for both Class 1 and Class 2 bicycles while retaining the 750-watt motor power limit. Electric bicycles manufactured before January 1, 2027, that meet existing standards would retain their classification. The bill prohibits manufacturers and retailers from selling electric bicycles with motors exceeding 750 watts, or from equipping Class 1 and Class 2 bikes with motors over 250 watts capable of enabling speeds over 16 mph. Violations would result in civil penalties of up to $15,000 for a first offense and $50,000 for subsequent offenses, with such violations not constituting criminal offenses.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation that regulates e-bike battery and motor specifications to promote safe bicycle traffic for all residents in San Mateo.
AB 1614 (Dixon) — Vehicles: Bicycles: This bill would make existing safety provisions applicable to the operation of a bicycle upon highways also applicable to a Class I bikeway. By expanding an existing infraction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation establishing clear regulations for electric bike use and reinforcing local enforcement authority.
AB 1942 (Bauer-Kahan) — Electric Bicycles: Registration and Special License Plates: This bill would mandate the registration of Class 2 and Class 3 electric bicycles with the DMV, requiring them to display a special license plate. Non- compliance would result in fines. The bill establishes the Electric Bicycle Registration Fund in the State Treasury, into which all collected fees would be deposited to offset DMV administrative costs. A General Fund loan would be provided to seed the fund. The bill specifies that no reimbursement is required for local agencies or school districts.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation establishing clear regulations for electric bike use and reinforcing local enforcement authority.
AB 2284 (Dixon) — Vehicles: Electric Bicycles: This bill would require the California Highway Patrol, in partnership with biking nonprofit groups, to compile a list of electric two-wheeled devices that do not comply with the definition of any single class of electric bicycles and that are labeled, advertised, or commonly perceived by riders or peace officers as electric bicycles or electric bicycle products.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
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Platform Statement: Support legislation that regulates e-bike battery and motor specifications to promote safe bicycle traffic for all residents in San Mateo.
AB 2346 (Wilson) — Vehicles: Electric Bicycles and Speed Limits: This bill would require all Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles manufactured, sold, or offered for sale to be equipped with a speedometer. The bill establishes a 5 mph speed limit on sidewalks and a 15 mph speed limit for Class IV bikeways. New Vehicle Code requirements introduced by the bill would be treated as criminal violations if breached, creating a state-mandated local program.
Status: Assembly Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation, programs, and funding that advance the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries, as outlined in the San Mateo General Plan 2040.
SB 1167 (Blakespear) — Vehicles: Electric Bicycles: This bill would amend the types of vehicles that are prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles — including, among others, motor-driven cycles and mopeds. The bill would additionally make a violation of this provision a misleading statement for purposes of the false advertising provisions of the Business and Professions Code.
Status: Senate Committee on Transportation
Recommended Position: Support
Platform Statement: Support legislation establishing clear regulations for electric bike use and reinforcing local enforcement authority.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with receiving and filing this report. Any future actions taken in response to specific legislative positions, including formal correspondence or advocacy efforts, may be absorbed within the existing City Manager's Office and CPPG contract budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This item is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Presentation
STAFF CONTACT
Zachary Reda, Senior Management Analyst
[email protected]
(650) 435-0823