2025 Q2 Legislative Action Summary — City Council and Authorities Concurrent, July 8, 2025

2025 Q2 Legislative Action Summary

Below is a summary of the actions that were taken during 2025 Q2 in alignment with the City of Santa Clara’s 2025 Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs), guiding principles for legislative advocacy, approved City policies (e.g., City Council Goals and Priorities), and/or Council action.

Community Services LAP

• June 9, 2025 Letter of support to restore federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna

Housing LAP

• May 19, 2025 Sign on Association of Bay Area Governments letter supporting a $30 million State budget appropriation for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority to California State Budget leadership: Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Scott Wiener, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee Jesse Gabriel, Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 Christopher Cabaldon, and Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee

• June 9, 2025 Letter of support to protect funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna

• June 19, 2025 Letter of support for AB 736 (Wicks) – The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 to State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

Public Safety LAP

• April 21, 2025 Letter of support for SB 701 (Wahab) – Signal jammers to State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab

• May 22, 2025 Letter of support for SB 258 (Wahab) – Crimes: rape to State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab

Sustainability and Environmental Protection LAP

• June 4, 2025 Letter of support for SB 496 (Hurtado) – Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation: appeals advisory committee: exemptions submitted to State Senator Melissa Hurtado

Transportation Issues LAP

• April 23, 2025 Letter of support for the City’s Federal Community Project Funding Requests to U.S. Representative Ro Khanna

• June 12, 2025 Letter of support to protect State transit funding to California State leadership: Governor Gavin Newson, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

Multiple Legislative Priorities

• April 2025 Sign on coalition letter supporting a $50 million State budget appropriation per host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to California State leadership: Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (Public Safety, Regional Issues and Collaboration, and Transportation Issues LAPs)

• May 2, 2025 Letter of support for the City’s State Budget Requests to State Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (Community Services, Housing, and Transportation Issues LAPs)

• May 2, 2025 Letter of support for the City’s State Budget Requests to State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (Community Services, Housing, and Transportation Issues LAPs)

• May 8, 2025 Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee Discussion Bills (Housing, Emergency Management, and Sustainability and Environmental Protection LAPs)

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

June 9, 2025

The Honorable Alex Padilla
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

RE: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Dear Senator Padilla,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support to restore funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to prior funding levels in the upcoming budget. As the only federal agency dedicated to ensuring that every community has access to essential library funding, IMLS plays a critical role in promoting early literacy, family literacy, and life-long learning in our city and across the country.

Eliminating or significantly reducing funding for IMLS would have a disproportionate and devastating impact on our residents. In our city and throughout the state of California, IMLS -funded programs are crucial community assets: they support literacy, digi tal access, workforce development, and lifelong learning for students, job seekers, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and new immigrants.

In Santa Clara, these cuts would eliminate access to vital resources including:
• Encyclopedia Britannica, Gale, PebbleGo Science, TeachingBooks, and ProQuest – which are used daily by K-12 students
• The eBooks for All California program
• Online New York Times access
• California Revealed (oral history archives)
• Staff development tools such as California Libraries Learn (CALL) • Adult Literacy and California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) In practice, this means that children will no longer have access to important academic support tools, adults will lose access to digital literacy training materials, and seniors will be deprived of critical community engagement opportunities.

Additionally, public libraries function as critical hubs during times of crisis, offering free emergency internet access, device charging stations, inclement weather relief facilities, and trusted public information. Defunding the IMLS will remove this ess ential community infrastructure for our most vulnerable community members.

Senator Alex Padilla
Re: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services June 9, 2025

Page 2 of 2 ends

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to support restoring IMLS funding to prior funding levels.

Thank you for your continued efforts to advocate for critical services that benefit all communities across the country.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

June 9, 2025

The Honorable Adam Schiff
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

RE: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Dear Senator Schiff,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support to restore funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to prior funding levels in the upcoming budget. As the only federal agency dedicated to ensuring that every community has access to essential library funding, IMLS plays a critical role in promoting early literacy, family literacy, and life-long learning in our city and across the country.

Senator Adam Schiff
Re: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services June 9, 2025

Page 2 of 2 ends

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to support restoring IMLS funding to prior funding levels.

Thank you for your continued efforts to advocate for critical services that benefit all communities across the country.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
June 9, 2025
The H
onorable Ro Khanna
United States House of Representatives
306 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE
: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services
D
ear Representative Khanna,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support to restore funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to prior funding levels in the upcoming budget. As the only federal agency dedicated to ensuring that every community has access to essential library funding, IMLS plays a critical role in promoting early literacy, family literacy, and life-long learning in our city and across the country.

Eliminating or significantly reducing funding for IMLS would have a disproportionate and devastating impact on our residents. In our city and throughout the state of California, IMLS -funded programs are crucial community assets: they support literacy, digital access, workforce development, and lifelong learning for students, job seekers, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and new immigrants.

Additionally, public libraries function as critical hubs during times of crisis, offering free emergency internet access, device charging stations, inclement weather relief facilities, and trusted public information. Defunding the IMLS will remove this essential community infrastructure for our most vulnerable community members.

Representative Ro Khanna
Re: Letter of Support to Restore Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services June 9, 2025

Page 2 of 2 ends

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to support restoring IMLS funding to prior funding levels.

Thank you for your continued efforts to advocate for critical services that benefit all communities across the country.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

May 19, 2025

The Honorable Scott Wiener The Honorable Jesse Gabriel Chair, Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Chair, Assembly Budget Committee 1020 N Street, Room 502 1021 O Street, Suite 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Christopher Cabaldon The Honorable Sharon Quirk-Silva Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee #5 1021 O Street, Suite 7320 1021 O Street, Suite 4210
Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Budget Request – Sustaining the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority

Dear Chairs Wiener, Gabriel, Cabaldon, and Quirk-Silva:

As local elected leaders, we strongly support a $30 million budget appropriation for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) to sustain its regional leadership over the next three years - most importantly, preparing for a large-scale revenue measure in 2028 to raise billions of dollars for building and preserving affordable homes across the region. Especially considering the state and federal budget situation, this robust “self-help” is vital for meeting our constituents’ housing needs.

After the Legislature created BAHFA in 2019, agency staff formed close partnerships with our cities and counties. They foster a collaborative approach that stretches local housing resources further. Last year, BAHFA staff provided essential technical assistance as local staff explored statutorily required expenditure plans for the 80% of revenue from a regional measure that would have flowed directly to local jurisdictions.

BAHFA’s $30 million request has two components. A $15 million appropriation would maintain BAHFA’s capacity for three years, including the intensive work required to place a revenue measure on the ballot and the continued operation of the Doorway Housing Portal. The initial development of Doorway - a centralized search and application website for affordable housing in all nine counties - was seeded with a state grant in 2021. Doorway not only makes our residents’ housing search much easier, it also allows cities and counties to redirect resources from local portals to other housing priorities. It is an excellent example of the positive impact generated by operating at a regional scale.

We also encourage you to consider allocating BAHFA an additional $15 million to launch a new lending program, with the goals of reducing development costs and assisting BAHFA in becoming self-sufficient. Modeled on the highly successful New York Housing Development Corporation, this program would offer financing to affordable housing developers at lower interest rates than private lenders, thereby reducing development costs. Modest interest and fees would generate self-sustaining operating support for BAHFA.

The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority is a vital resource that has already demonstrated value for our cities, counties, and residents. We can’t afford to lose its powerful revenue-raising potential or the immediate housing affordability it creates. And the state needs BAHFA as a robust partner to meet shared housing goals. We respectfully request your support to sustain its work.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Napa County
Anne Cottrell
Supervisor, Napa County
Joelle Gallagher
Supervisor, Napa County
Amber Manfree
Supervisor, Napa County
Belia Ramos
Supervisor, Napa County
Scott Sedgley
Mayor, City of Napa
Pierre Washington
Mayor, City of American Canyon

Solano County
Wanda Williams
Supervisor, Solano County
Catherine Moy
Councilmember, City of Fairfield

Marin County
Mary Sackett
Board President, on behalf of the full Marin
County Board of Supervisors
Stephanie Moulton-Peters
Supervisor, Marin County
Pat Eklund
Councilmember, City of Novato
Sonoma County
Chris Coursey
Supervisor, Sonoma County
James Gore
Supervisor, Sonoma County
Rebecca Hermosillo
Supervisor, Sonoma County
Lynda Hopkins
Supervisor, Sonoma County
David Rabbitt
Supervisor, Sonoma County
Ariel Kelley
Councilmember, City of Healdsburg
Kevin McDonnell
Mayor, City of Petaluma
Brian Barnacle
Councilmember, City of Petaluma
Susan Hollingsworth Adams
Councilmember, City of Rohnert Park
Mark Stapp
Mayor, City of Santa Rosa
Victoria Fleming
Councilmember, City of Santa Rosa
Dianna MacDonald
Councilmember, City of Santa Rosa

Phill Carter
Councilmember, City of Sebastopol
Alameda County
Nikki Fortunato Bas
Supervisor, Alameda County
Elisa Márquez
Supervisor, Alameda County
Nate Miley
Supervisor, Alameda County
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Mayor, City of Alameda
Robin López
Mayor, City of Albany
Preston Jordan
Councilmember, City of Albany
John Miki
Councilmember, City of Albany
Adena Ishii
Mayor, City of Berkeley
Carroll Fife
Councilmember, City of Oakland
Rebecca Kaplan
Councilmember, City of Oakland

Contra Costa County
Ken Carlson
Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Shanelle Scales-Preston
Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Carolyn Wysinger
Mayor, City of El Cerrito
Lisa Motoyama
Councilmember, City of El Cerrito
Sue Noack
Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill
San Francisco City and County
Matt Dorsey
Supervisor, City and County of San
Francisco
Myrna Melgar
Supervisor, City and County of San
Francisco
San Mateo County
City/County Association of Governments of
San Mateo County
(see endorsement letter under separate
cover)
David Canepa
Supervisor, San Mateo County
Noelia Corzo
Supervisor, San Mateo County
Martha Barragan
Mayor, City of East Palo Alto
Ruben Abrica
Councilmember, City of East Palo Alto
Carlos Romero
Councilmember, City of East Palo Alto
James Coleman
Councilmember, City of South San Francisco
Mark Nagales
Councilmember, City of South San Francisco
Santa Clara County
Sergio Lopez
Mayor, City of Campbell
Elliot Scozzola
Councilmember, City of Campbell
J.R. Fruen
Councilmember, City of Cupertino
Zach Hilton
Councilmember, City of Gilroy
Neysa Fligor
Councilmember, City of Los Altos
Sally Meadows
Councilmember, City of Los Altos
George Tyson
Councilmember, Town of Los Altos Hills
Maria Ristow
Councilmember, Town of Los Gatos
Yvonne Martinez Beltrán
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Morgan Hill
Emily Ramos
Vice Mayor, City of Mountain View
Lucas Ramirez
Councilmember, City of Mountain View

Patrick Burt
Councilmember, City of Palo Alto
George Lu
Councilmember, City of Palo Alto
Matt Mahan
Mayor, City of San José
Pamela Campos
Councilmember, City of San José
Domingo Candelas
Councilmember, City of San José
David Cohen
Councilmember, City of San José
Rosemary Kamei
Councilmember, City of San José
Peter Ortiz
Councilmember, City of San José
Carl Salas
Councilmember, City of San José
Lisa Gillmor
Mayor, on behalf of the full City Council for
the City of Santa Clara
Linda Sell,
Vice Mayor, City of Sunnyvale
Region

Libby Schaaf
MTC Commissioner
Eddie Ahn
MTC Commissioner

cc: Senator Josh Becker, Chair, Bay Area Caucus
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Vice-Chair, Bay Area Caucus Members of the Bay Area Caucus

555 County Center, 5th Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 PHONE: 650.599.1406 www.ccag.ca.gov

C/CAG

CITY/COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS

OF SAN MATEO COUNTY

Atherton • Belmont • Brisbane • Burlingame • Colma • Daly City • East Palo Alto • Foster City • Half Moon Bay • Hillsborough • Menlo Park • Millbrae • Pacifica • Portola Valley • Redwood City • San Bruno • San Carlos • San Mateo • San Mateo County •South San Francisco • Woodside

May 9, 2025

RE: Budget Request – Sustaining the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority

Dear Chairs Wiener, Gabriel, Cabaldon, and Quirk-Silva:

The City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) strongly supports a $30 million budget appropriation for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) to sustain its regional leadership over the next three years. Considering the state and federal budget situation, this robust “self-help” is vital for meeting our constituents’ housing needs.

C/CAG is the County Transportation Agency (CTA) and also the designated Congestion Management Agency (CMA) for San Mateo County. C/CAG represents all of San Mateo County’s 764,442 residents through its 21-member Board of Directors that includes a seat for every jurisdiction in San Mateo County. C/CAG also supports the 21-Elements program that assists all jurisdictions with their housing efforts. C/CAG works to improve climate resiliency, mobility, the environment, and equity throughout San Mateo County. This budget appropriation aligns with all of C/CAG’s goals.

We also encourage you to consider allocating BAHFA an additional $15 million to launch a new

555 County Center, 5th Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 PHONE: 650.599.1406 www.ccag.ca.gov

lending program, with the goals of reducing development costs and assisting BAHFA in becoming self-sufficient. Modeled on the highly successful New York Housing Development Corporation, this program would offer financing to affordable housing developers at lower interest rates than private lenders, thereby reducing development costs. Modest interest and fees would generate self-sustaining operating support for BAHFA.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Adam Rak
Chair, C/CAG Board

cc: Senator Josh Becker, Chair, Bay Area Caucus
Assemblymember Diane Papan
Assemblymember Catherine Stephanie
Assemblymember Marc Berman
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Vice-Chair, Bay Area Caucus Members of the Bay Area Caucus

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

June 9, 2025
The Honorable Alex Padilla
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Adam Schiff
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Ro Khanna
United States House of Representatives
306 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

RE: Support Continued Funding of Community Block Development Grants – FY26 Presidential Budget Request

Dear Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, and Congressmember Khanna:

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to kindly request your support in protecting funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development ’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), which was proposed for elimination in the May 2 nd Presidential Budget
Request.

CDBG is a cornerstone of community development efforts across the nation that represents a consistent, dependable federal investment in our city’s infrastructure, public facilities, local homeowner assistance efforts, and public services for lower income residents. Through the utilization of CDBG entitlement funds, the City of Santa Clara is able to partner with nonprofit organizations and local agencies to provide support for housing services, services for individuals experiencing homelessness , services fo r individuals with physical disabilities , health services, domestic violence services, nutrition programs, and services for seniors. Without CDBG funding , the City of Santa Clara would not be able to fully leverage local resources, thereby resulting in a reduction in services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Since 1974, CDBG has driven neighborhood revitalization, economic growth, and affordable housing development nationwide. Eliminating or reducing funding for CDBG would strip our communities of one of the most stable and important federal programs on which we rely.

For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara kindly requests your support to maintain funding for CDBG in the FY26 appropriations process. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

June 19, 2025

The Honorable Buffy Wicks
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8140
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: AB 736 (Wicks): The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 City of Santa Clara – Letter of Support

Dear Assembly Member Wicks:

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support for AB 736 (Wic ks) which authorizes the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, a $10 billion housing bond, to be placed on the March 2, 2026 primary ballot to fund the production of affordable housing and supportive housing.

Communities throughout California continue to struggle with mounting pressures from escalating housing costs. In Santa Clara, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, t he region’s high cost of living and limited supply of affordable housing units makes securing stable, affordable housing increasingly unattainable for many families, seniors, and low-income individuals. AB 736 directly addresses these local pressures by dedicating significant funding to programs that promote the development and long-term preservation of affordable housing.

The City of Santa Clara supports legislation that would establish additional ongoing funding streams for the construction, preservation, and operation of local affordable housing developments . AB 736 would provide a timely and strategic investment in the state’s affordable housing infrastructure by directing funds to proven programs. Specifically, AB 736 would allocate $5 billion to the Multifamily Housing Program to support the construction of affordable rental units for lower-income households.

Additionally, $1.7 billion would be directed toward supportive housing efforts under the same program to fund services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

These investments are essential to expanding affordable housing in Santa Clara and California and ensuring stable, affordable housing for vulnerable residents . For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports AB 736.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

April 21, 2025

The Honorable Aisha Wahab
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 8530
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: SB 701 (Wahab): Signal Jammers
City of Santa Clara – Letter of Support

Dear Senator Wahab,

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support for SB 701 (Wahab), which aims to strengthen California’s response to the illegal use of signal jammers by creating new penalties for their manufacture, importation, marketing, sale, and operation.

The City of Santa Clara is committed to ensuring public safety and supports initiatives that maintain existing tools/resources available to officers to respond to calls for service. The illegal use of signal jammers poses a significant threat by disrupting public safety communications, hindering emergency response efforts, and enabling criminal activity. These devices have been used to block law enforcement radios, interfere with emergency calls, and prevent victims from contacting first responders. Such actions put the safety of our residents and first responders at risk.

SB 701 provides much- needed enforcement tools by establishing clear penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, for those who unlawfully use signal jammers, particularly when used in conjunction with criminal activities or to obstruct public saf ety communications. SB 701 will enable California to take crucial measures to safeguard critical emergency response systems and prevent the misuse of these hazardous devices.

We recognize the importance of protecting the integrity of communication networks and ensuring that law enforcement agencies have the necessary tools to combat criminal activities involving signal jammers.

For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports SB 701 (Wahab).

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

cc: Senate Public Safety Committee

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

May 22, 2025

The Honorable Aisha Wahab
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 8530
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 258 (Wahab): Crimes: Rape
City of Santa Clara – Letter of Support

Dear Senator Wahab,

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support for SB 258, which seeks to amend Section 261 of the Penal Code by removing the spousal exception from the State of California’s legal definition of rape.

Current California law defines rape as an act of sexual intercourse accomplished under specific circumstances, including situations where the victim is incapable of giving legal consent due to a mental disorder or developmental or physical disability. However, as currently written, Section 261 of the Penal Code excludes instances where the perpetrator is the spouse of the victim.

SB 258 rectifies this inconsistency by eliminating the spousal exception, thereby ensuring that all individuals, regardless of marital status, are afforded equal protection under the law. By removing outdated legal distinctions that differentiate between married and unmarried individuals in cases of sexual assault, SB 258 reinforces the principle that consent is a fundamental human right that must be respected in all relationships, including marriage.

The City of Santa Clara is committed to advancing legislation that aims to assist individuals in crisis.

We commend you for your leadership on this critical issue and urge the Legislature to pass SB 258 to uphold the rights and dignity of all Californians.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

June 4, 2025

The Honorable Melissa Hurtado
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Room 6510
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: SB 496 (Hurtado) Advanced Clean Fleets
City of Santa Clara – Letter of Support

Dear Senator Hurtado,

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support for SB 496 (Hurtado), which would create an Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Appeals Advisory Committee, ensure disaster service workers are able to effectively respond to emergency situations, and provide needed reforms for compliance.

The ACF has set ambitious compliance deadlines for fleets to transition to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). The ACF’s ZEV transition requires access to adequate utility infrastructure for alternative fueling, such as EV charging, as well as access to ZEVs that operationally can deliver the full spectrum of important and highly specialized services that fleets provide, many of which are vital to the health and safety of Californians. While the ACF allows fleets to request exemptions in cases where fleets cannot meet the compliance timetables, the ACF does not provide clarity on how such exemption requests are to be evaluated and decided upon, nor does it provide a process for any administrative review of exemption request denials by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The City of Santa Clara s upports efforts to provide flexibility in the transition of local agencies ’ vehicle fleets to low- and zero-emission vehicles. SB 496 establishes an Appeals Advisory Committee by which local agencies may request a review of exemption request denials. Allowing a formal appeals process ensures transparency while protecting due process for those seeking further review. SB 496 would also update the emergency vehicle exemption, allowing those vehicles that respond to and support critical operations related to emergencies and disasters, often under austere conditions or in remote areas, to continue to protect our communities. Additionally, SB 496 modifies the requirements of the daily usage exemption, removing barriers for the applicant to comply with the mandate.

SB 496 will create essential reforms to the ACF that will protect the health and safety of Californians, avoid unnecessary costs detrimental to our shared long-term goals, and ensure that local agencies can continue to work diligently to decarbonize their fleet operations and comply with the ACF without being penalized for factors beyond their control. For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports SB 496.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

April 23, 2025

The Honorable Ro Khanna
United States House of Representatives
306 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

RE: Letter of Support for Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Dear Congressman Khanna:

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to you , and your staff, for your leadership and support. We appreciate the opportunity to work with your office to bring investments and improvements to the residents, businesses, and visitors of our region.

I also want to highlight the City of Santa Clara’s requests for community project funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Appropriations process and respectfully request your support. Our projects specifically seek to facilitate the development of regional community assets, increase opportunities for alternative modes of transportation, and create safe streets for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The City’s priority projects are:

• Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Project
The City of Santa Clara adopted the Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Plan in 2022 to implement buffered bicycle lanes along the Pruneridge Avenue corridor in Santa Clara. This east-west roadway is an important part of the County of Santa Clara’s cross -county bicycle corridor network and connects San Jose to Santa Clara and job centers in Cupertino. The project will remove portions of travel lanes along Pruneridge Avenue to complete this important cross-county bicycle network and enhance intersections along the corridor with pedestrian improvements such as quick -build curb extensions, A DA curb ramps, and pedestrian signal enhancements. When complete, Pruneridge Avenue will connect to jobs, schools, transit, and trails and provide direct access to the region’s first under-development bicycle superhighway. The requested funding will support the City’s design and construction of this priority bicycle and pedestrian improvement project in Santa Clara.

• Silicon Valley Hopper On-Demand Micro-transit Shuttle The City of Santa Clara has partnered with the City of Cupertino to implement an on-demand micro-transit shuttle project , known as Silicon Valley Hopper , to serve those who live and work in Cupertino and Santa Clara. With support from a California State Transportation Agency State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant, the goal is to continue the existing On-Demand Micro-Transit Shuttle Project and expand service into north Santa Clara with a fleet of zero -emissions vehicles. Service is being des igned to focus on offering Representative Ro Khanna
RE: Letter of Support for Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Page 2 of 2 ends

improved and affordable connections between local Caltrain, Amtrak, and Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) stations to job centers and other key destinations in Cupertino and Santa Clara while providing increased transit access for disadvantaged communities, high poverty zones, and senior populations.

Thank you for your consideration in championing these projects to help secure community project funding that will support the efforts of the City and benefit the region and State of California.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
June 12, 2025
The H
onorable Gavin Newsom, Governor
State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
The H
onorable Mike McGuire, President pro Tempore
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814
The H
onorable Robert Rivas, Speaker
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
R
E: Support for Transit Funding in Cap-and-Invest Negotiations D
ear Governor Newsom, pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas:

O
n behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I write to voice our concerns with Governor Newsom’s proposed Cap-and-Invest Plan and to request that you restore all Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) investments approved through Fiscal Year 2028- 29 for several vi tal transportation programs.

Additionally, we request that you maintain at least the current level of dedicated GGRF funding for transit capital projects and operations beyond 2030.

S
anta Clara has committed significant resources to enhance mobility and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by launching an on- demand, zero-emission microtransit service in partnership with the City of Cupertino. Thanks to GGRF funding, the two cities were able to deliver Silicon Valley Hopper (SV Hopper), a multiagency zero-emission, on-demand service in 2023 with Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) support. The program provides first and last -mile transit access to major passenger rail operators (Caltrain, ACE, and Amtrak), regional medical facilities (El Camino Hospital Mountain View and Kaiser Santa Clara), and major commercial districts (Westfield Valley Fair) for residents of all ages and income levels. The project also supports disadvantaged communities defined by SB 535 in North Santa Clara. On average, SV Hopper avoids ~29.96 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually.

The C
ap-and-Invest Plan proposes to eliminate one-time expenditures to these programs and fails to maintain continuous investments in the California State Transportation Agency’s (CalSTA) Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). This threatens more than $3 billion in GGRF funding for public transit and other clean mobility options, including approximately $2 billion in funding already programmed for individual projects and services.

Governor Newsom, pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas
RE: Support for Transit Funding in Cap-and-Invest Negotiations June 12, 2025

Page 2 of 2 ends

$279 million of GGRF monies have been allocated over the next three fiscal years, including $100 million of planned investment for FY 2025- 26. The proposal eliminates this vital funding and jeopardizes SV Hopper.

Zero-emission microtransit has made a real difference and impact in our community and in communities across California, and we strongly urge that you prioritize support for these types of projects by reincluding their funding programs in the GGRF.

If this funding isn’t maintained in the final Cap- and-Invest Plan, it will have potentially devastating impacts for Santa Clara County residents, commuters, and visitors. Without continued LCTOP and TIRCP support, SV Hopper may be eliminated and lose oppor tunities to expand into underserved parts of Santa Clara County, limiting access to transit for seniors, youth, and essential workers.

For the reasons above, we urge the Governor and Legislature to ensure the final Cap- and-Invest Plan restores vital GGRF funding to the Sustainable Community Strategies Programs, TIRCP, and LCTOP through 2030, and maintains at least the level of dedicated GGRF funding for transit capital projects and operations beyond 2030.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

Cc: Senator Aisha Wahab, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens

2026 World Cup Coalition Letter Sign-On Request
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Mike McGuire
President Pro Tem., California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for State Investment in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a Critical Economic and Recovery Opportunity

Dear Governor Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem McGuire, and Speaker Rivas,

The World Cup represents more than just an event, it is an investment in California’s economic future, workforce development, and international reputation. The World Cup will provide an unprecedented opportunity to uplift our economy, uplift communities, and showcase California’s resilience on the world stage through the 2026 FIFA World Cup (FWC26) tournament. In light of the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the economic development associated with the event could certainly help the recovery process.

The undersigned coalition of organizations, businesses, locally elected officials, and community leaders across California strongly supports the budget request for $50 million per host city to help Los Angeles and the Bay Area prepare for this once-in-a-generation event. The World Cup will bring over 500,000 visitors to California, generate an estimated $1.1 billion in economic impact, and reinforce California’s position as a global tourism, business, and cultural hub. However, hosting a safe and successful World Cup requires significant state investment to address the following key areas:

-Public Safety & Security – Ensuring California is prepared to protect millions of residents, visitors, and global dignitaries across stadiums, public transit, and large fan events.

-Transit & Transportation – Improving public transit capacity and efficiency to accommodate record-breaking crowds, while ensuring continued accessibility for local communities.

-Community & Economic Development – Investing in fan experiences, local business engagement, and tourism marketing to maximize long-term benefits for California beyond the event.

With states like Texas, the only other state with two host cities (Dallas and Houston), already committing $50 million per host city, California must remain competitive to fully capitalize on this opportunity.

We urge the State Legislature and Governor’s Office to prioritize this budget request, ensuring that Los Angeles and the Bay Area have the necessary resources to deliver a safe, world-class event while fostering long-term economic resilience for California.

Sincerely,

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
M
ay 2, 2025
H
onorable Patrick Ahrens
California State Assembly, 26th District
1021 O Street, Suite 6110
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re
: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara D
ear Assemblymember Ahrens:

O
n behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I want to express my appreciation to you and your staff for your support and commitment to the priorities of the City. I look forward to a long, and successful, working relationship between you, your office, and the City to improve the lives of the residents, businesses, and visitors to our great city.

A
s the State Legislature continues the process of shaping the state budget and evaluating where the state’s resources are best invested, I understand things are uncertain at best. If the opportunity arises for district requests to be included in the Legislature’s budget, I would like to respectfully present a list of priority funding needs for the City and request your partnership to help secure these critical dollars.

Below are the City’s priority projects for consideration, along with a brief description and dollar amount. Recognizing the state’s fiscal situation, the City has selected projects that will have significant local and regional impacts, thereby maximizing the return on the state’s investment.

The City and our legislative advocate are happy to provide more in- depth details and discuss each of these projects further.

I am proud that our values and priorities align and look forward to our continued partnership to serve the Santa Clara community. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to continuing our work together.

S
incerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens
Re: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Page 2 of 3 ends

Title: Oversized Vehicle Parking Program
Amount: $1,600,000
Description: As housing prices and costs of living continue to rise in Silicon Valley, the number of people living in oversized vehicles parked on City streets without utility and sanitation hookups has also increased. The City’s Police Department estimates there are over 100 inhabited oversized vehicles in Santa Clara on any given day and many of them are inoperable. There is a need to expand current City resources to address the basi c needs of people living outside and reduce the impacts of unsheltered homelessness throughout the community.

This proposal would fund a sanctioned safe parking pilot program for approximately 30- 40 oversized vehicles over 2-3 years. The program would allow 24-7 parking, provide basic hygiene services, daily monitoring for security, and case management to connect residents with services so they can transition to permanent housing. The program would be administered in close coordination with the Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing. The City will also explore partnerships with neighboring cities to identify possible sites and to potentially pool resources.

Ti
tle: Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Project
A
mount: $2,500,000
D
escription: In 2022, the City of Santa Clara adopted the Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Plan to implement buffered bicycle lanes along the Pruneridge Avenue corridor. This east -west roadway is a crucial part of the County of Santa Clara's cross -county bicycle corridor network, connecting San Jose, Santa Clara, and the Apple campus in Cupertino.

The
project involves removing portions of travel lanes along Pruneridge Avenue to complete this important bicycle network and enhance intersections with pedestrian improvements. These enhancements will include quick -build curb extensions, ADA- compliant curb ramps, and upgraded pedestrian signals. Funding is being requested to support the design and construction of this priority project for bicycle and pedestrian improvements in Santa Clara. This project is vital to the City, Silicon Valley region, and the state because it aims to increase pedestrian safety, promote alternative modes of transportation, and connect schools and employment centers to and from the region.

The
intersections of Pruneridge Avenue at Woodhams Road and Redwood Avenue are near an elementary school and are frequently used by students crossing Pruneridge Avenue. These locations have been identified in the City of Santa Clara’s Pedestrian Master Plan as needing improvements for pedestrian safety. Bicyclists, including students, currently use the portion of Pruneridge Avenue where no bicycle facility currently exists. Bicyclists using this corridor need to navigate between parked vehicles and vehicles traveling with a posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Students from two elementary schools located adjacent to this roadway also use this portion of Pruneridge Avenue. This project will provide Class II buffered bikeway that connects to 14 schools with a total enrollment of 8,896 students and over 12,500 employees from job centers along the project corridor.

Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens
Re: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Page 3 of 3 ends

Title: 24/7 Library Access Pilot Project
Amount: $641,800
Description: The 24/7 Library Access Pilot Project is an innovative initiative that will provide City of Santa Clara residents round- the-clock access to library serv ices and resources through two key components: a pop-up 24/7 community self-service library located at Lawrence Station and a 24/7 freestanding library kiosk to be deployed in north Santa Clara. The requested funding will be used to:
1) St
and up a pop-up self -service library in the City of Santa Clara’s Lawrence Station Community Room that will serve a high-density neighborhood of over 1,000 households.

This library will enable 24/7 access to order library materials, return books, pick up reserved items, browse a popular book collection, videoconference, and host group meetings. Additionally, a computer and free public Wi-Fi will be made available for users to browse all the library’s materials and resources; and 2) Ac
quire the EnvisionWare 24-Hour Library, a state- of-the-art self-service kiosk that will expand access to library resources and services for residents with busy schedules or limited proximity to traditional library branches. This freestanding kiosk will be deployed in north Santa Clara and will provide 24/7 access to library resources and services. Users will be able to borrow up to 230 physical items, pick up reserved materials, return books, and access free public Wi- Fi. Additionally, users will be able to digitally access over 1 million e-books and e-resources.

The Ci
ty of Santa Clara’s diverse population, comprised of working families, tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and students, requires flexible access to library services and resources beyond traditional operating hours. By extending library access beyond traditional hours and locations, the Lawrence Station self-service library and EnvisionWare 24-Hour Library kiosk will bridge gaps in service accessibility, empower underserved communities and ensure every resident, regardless of schedule or location, can fully access the City’s services and resources.

1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor

May 2, 2025

Honorable Aisha Wahab
California State Senator, 10th District
1021 O Street, Suite 8530
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Dear Senator Wahab:

On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I want to express my appreciation to you and your staff for your support and commitment to the priorities of the City. I look forward to continuing to work with you and your office to improve the lives of the residents, businesses, and visitors to our great city.

As the State Legislature continues the process of shaping the state budget and evaluating where the state’s resources are best invested, I understand things are uncertain at best. If the opportunity arises for district requests to be included in the Legislature’s budget, I would like to respectfully present a list of priority funding needs for the City and request your partnership to help secure these critical dollars.

Below are the City’s priority projects for consideration, along with a brief description and dollar amount. Recognizing the state’s fiscal situation, t he C ity has selected projects that will have significant local and regional impacts, thereby maximizing the return on the state’s investment.

The City and our legislative advocate are happy to provide more in- depth details and discuss each of these projects further.

I am optimistic that these project requests align with state goals and would be a worthy investment of state funds. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara

Senator Aisha Wahab
Re: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Page 2 of 3 ends

T
itle: Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Project
A
mount: $2,500,000
D
escription: In 2022, the City of Santa Clara adopted the Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Plan to implement buffered bicycle lanes along the Pruneridge Avenue corridor. This east -west roadway is a crucial part of the County of Santa Clara's cross -county bicycle corridor network, connecting San Jose, Santa Clara, and the Apple campus in Cupertino.

Senator Aisha Wahab
Re: 2025 State Budget Requests from the City of Santa Clara

Page 3 of 3 ends

Title: 24/7 Library Access Pilot Project
Amount: $641,800
Description: The 24/7 Library Access Pilot Project is an innovative initiative that will provide City of Santa Clara residents round- the-clock access to library services and resources through two key components: a pop-up 24/7 community self-service library located at Lawrence Station and a 24/7 freestanding library kiosk to be deployed in north Santa Clara. The requested funding will be used to:
1) S
tand up a pop-up self -service library in the City of Santa Clara’s Lawrence Stati on C
ommunity Room that will serve a high-density neighborhood of over 1,000 households.

This library will enable 24/7 access to order library materials, return books, pick up reserved items, browse a popular book collection, videoconference , and host group meetings. Additionally, a computer and free public Wi-Fi will be made available for users to browse all the library’s materials and resources; and 2) A
cquire the EnvisionWare 24-Hour Library, a state- of-the-art self-service kiosk that will ex
pand access to library resources and services for residents with busy schedules or limited proximity to traditional library branches. This freestanding kiosk will be deployed in nor
th Santa Clara and will provide 24/7 access to library resources and services. User s will be able to borrow up to 230 physical items, pick up reserved materials, return books, and access free public Wi- Fi. Additionally, users will be able to digitally access over 1 million e-books and e-resources.

The C
ity of Santa Clara’s diverse population, comprised of working families, tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and students, requires flexible access to library services and resources beyond traditional operating hours. By extending library access beyond traditional hours and locations, the Lawrence Station self-service library and EnvisionWare 24-Hour Library kiosk will bridge gaps in service accessibility, empower underserved communities and ensure every resident, regardless of schedule or location, can fully access the City’s services and resources.

1 May 8, 2025 Cities Association
Legislative Action Committee Meeting

Bill Summary and Positions
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP Alignment
AB 650 (Papan)
Housing element
reform
This bill would extend
a number of timelines
in the process of
determining regional
housing needs and
regional housing
needs allocations
(RHNA) and housing
element revisions
and require the
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development (HCD)
to provide specific
analysis or text to
local governments to
remedy deficiencies
in their draft housing
element revisions.

No Action

(Note: The bill
removes language
that would have
protected cities from
builder’s remedy risk
while working on
revising a non-
compliant housing
element. The City
has concerns about
the removal of this
protection.)
Most of the bill aligns with the
following position statement
within the Housing LAP.
–
“Support legislation that creates
a more equitable Regional
Housing Needs Allocation
(RHNA) process that takes into
account local factors including
existing proportion of deed
restricted affordable housing
stock in each City, availability of
developable land, and other
factors related to developing
the regional allocation of
housing units.”

SB 79 (Wiener)
Transit-oriented
development

This bill would make
transit oriented
development an
allowable use on any
site zoned residential,
mixed, commercial,
or light industrial
development; make
changes to the
surplus lands act
related to transit
agencies; and
exempt certain
projects on land
owned by a public
transit agency from
CEQA. The bill would
establish various
height, density, and
FAR standards for
transit-oriented
development, based
on a project’s
proximity to various
modes of transit.

No Action Housing LAP
–

"Oppose measures that reduce
local control over land use and
planning decisions and are
punitive in nature towards local
government.”

Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions June 17, 20255

Page 2 ends

SB 753 (Cortese)
Local authority on
shopping cart
retrieval and fines
This bill would allow
cities and counties,
for shopping carts
located away from a
store location, to
retrieve and return
carts to the parking
area of the store
owner or impound the
cart if the retailer
does not retrieve a
cart within three days
of receiving notice.

The measure also
removes the $50 limit
that a city/county can
charge a retailer for
failing to retrieve a
shopping cart (for
each occurrence in
excess of three in a
six-period) to instead
cover the actual cost
for retrieval/return.

No Action

Outside of scope of LAPs
SB 457 (Becker)
Misuse of builders
remedy

This bill revises
Housing Element
Law to specify that a
local agency’s
housing element is in
compliance the date
it is adopted if the
element is
subsequently certified
by the Department of
Housing and
Community
Development or a
court of competent
jurisdiction, and
changes the vesting
period for builder’s
remedy projects.

No action

(Note: this measure
failed in Senate
Housing Committee
(1-2) and is ineligible
for additional
consideration until
January 2026)

Outside of scope of LAPs
AB 262 (Caloza)
California Individual
Assistance Act

This bill would
establish the
California Individual
Assistance Act to
provide assistance to
local agencies,
community-based
organizations, and
individuals recovering
Support

Emergency Management LAP
–
“Supports efforts to provide
direct relief funding to local
jurisdictions, especially small
and medium-sized cities, which
can be utilized to mitigate,
prepare, respond to, and
recover from any all-hazard
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions June 17, 20255

Page 3 ends

from disasters and
requires Cal OES to
prioritize state
disaster relief to
communities that do
not meet thresholds
for federal disaster
assistance programs.

emergencies and emergent
crises and threats, including
offsetting lost revenue and
reimbursing incurred costs.”

AB 846 (Connolly)
Incidental take permit
for endangered
species

This bill establishes a
process to facilitate
the approval of an
incidental take permit
(ITP) for listed
species, if any,
needed by a local
agency to undertake
wildfire preparedness
activities. The bill
would, among other
things, 1) Authorize a
local agency to
submit to the
Department of Fish
and Wildlife (DFW) a
wildfire preparedness
plan (plan) to conduct
wildfire
preparedness
activities on land
designated as a
fire hazard severity
zone (FHSZ) that
minimizes impacts to
wildlife and habitat for
candidate,
threatened, and
endangered species
(listed species), and
meets additional
specified criteria.
2) Allow DFW to
impose a fee on a
local agency for the
cost of reviewing the
plan submitted
by that local agency,
consistent with
DFW’s fee authority.

Support Sustainability and
Environmental Protection LAP
–
“Support legislation,
regulations, and funding to
strengthen forest management
and fire prevention activities
and improve emergency
preparedness and response.

These include, but are not
limited to, the modernization of
vegetation and forest
management practices for
wildfire prevention and carbon
sequestration and biomass
production for energy, forest
thinning, and other activities to
improve the health of forests
damaged by infestation of bark
beetles, plant pathogens,
drought, or other hazards that
exponentially increase wildfire
dangers.”

SB 326 (Becker)
California Wildfire
Mitigation Strategic
Planning Act
This bill would require
the Deputy Director
of Community
Wildfire
Support Sustainability and
Environmental Protection LAP
–
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions June 17, 20255

Page 4 ends

Preparedness and
Mitigation within the
California
Department of
Forestry and Fire
Protection to prepare
and regularly update
a Wildfire Risk
Mitigation Planning
Framework to
quantitatively
evaluate wildfire risk
mitigation actions, a
Wildfire Risk Baseline
and Forecast to
evaluate targeted
wildfire risk mitigation
actions, and a
Wildfire Mitigation
Scenarios Report.

“Support legislation,
regulations, and funding to
strengthen forest management
and fire prevention activities
and improve emergency
preparedness and response.

SB 252 (Valladares)
CEQA exemption for
undergrounding
powerlines
This bill would
exempt from the
provisions of CEQA a
project to
underground
powerlines.

No Action

(Note: this bill was
not considered by a
policy committee
prior to the deadline
and is therefore not
eligible for additional
consideration until
January 2026)

Outside of scope of LAPs
AB 66 (Tangipa)
CEQA exemption for
emergency egress
routes

This bill would
exempt from CEQA
egress route projects
in subdivisions
reviewed by the State
Board of Forestry and
Fire Protection (BOF)
where the BOF
recommends creation
of secondary access
to the subdivision.

No Action Appears to be outside of scope
of LAPs. The City requires
additional time to review this
bill.

AB 300 (Lackey)
State Fire Marshall:
revision of fire hazard
severity maps

This bill would add a
minimum time frame,
of five years, to the
frequency in which
the State Fire
Marshall (SFM) must
review lands within
state responsibility
areas identified as
No Action Appears to be outside of scope
of LAPs. The City requires
additional time to review this
bill.

Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions June 17, 20255

Page 5 ends

fire hazard severity
zones (FHSZ) and
areas in the state
identified as
moderate, high, and
very high FHSZs, and
requires the SFM to
re-review areas in the
state and lands in the
SRA not previously
identified or classified
as FHSZs and if
applicable, identify or
classify new areas.

AB 261 (Quirk-Silva)
State Fire Marshall:
fire hazard severity
zones

This bill would
authorizes the State
Fire Marshal to
confer with, and
receive
documentation from,
entities on actions
that may impact the
degree of fire hazard
in an area or the
area’s recommended
fire hazard severity
zone designation and
authorizes the SFM
to provide a written
response to an entity,
which must be posted
on the SFM’s website
along with any
related
documentation
provided by an entity.

No Action

Appears to be outside of scope
of LAPs. The City requires
additional time to review this
bill.

City Council and Authorities ConcurrentJuly 8, 2025

City Council and Authorities Concurrent
July 8, 2025