Agenda Item #15.2
For Council Meeting of January 13, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MISTI D. WOOD, COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER SUBJECT: 2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office recommends that the Council, by two separate resolutions, adopt the 2026 State Legislative Platform. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City staff have identified state legislative priorities in a proposed 2026 state legislative platform for consideration by the City Council. Defined priorities, approved by the City Council, will help communicate the City’s state legislative and funding priorities to the California State Legislative Delegation, Legislature, and regional and state agencies.
GOAL
This item relates to all Council goals because it covers all aspects of City services.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
To prepare for these legislative and advocacy activities, City staff worked with various City departments and identified state legislative priorities for the proposed 2026 state legislative platform. The priorities focus efforts in the following core areas:
Disaster Prevention and Recovery, Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency Administration, Human Resources and Risk Management
Governmental Transparency and Public Access
Economic Development
Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability
Water Quality and Water Supply
Land Use Planning and Housing
Homelessness
Recreation and Parks
Public Safety/Police
Fire and Emergency Services
Transportation
Public Works and Utilities
On January 28, 2025, the Council adopted the 2025 State Legislative Platform.
On February 13, 2024, the Council adopted the 2024 State Legislative Platform.
On January 24, 2023, the Council adopted the 2023 State Legislative Platform.
On January 11, 2022, the Council adopted the 2022 State Legislative Platform.
ANALYSIS
The statements outlined in the proposed 2026 State Legislative Platform (Exhibit A) communicate the City’s state legislative and funding priorities to the California State Legislative Delegation, Legislature, regional and state agencies.
City staff, in coordination with the City’s state lobbyist team, will monitor state legislation and administrative or regulatory proposals, taking appropriate action, when necessary, in alignment with the approved 2026 State Legislative Platform and in compliance with the City’s existing Legislative Advocacy Council Policy No. 000-40 to advance and/or safeguard the City’s priorities in Sacramento.
City staff are proposing two resolutions to adopt the 2026 State Legislative Platform. In the first resolution, Council will again consider approving a specific policy statement related to wildfire insurance. Discussions regarding potential solutions to the state’s insurance issues are ongoing, especially related to access to coverage in fire prone areas. In 2023, the Council directed staff to add in a specific policy statement supporting action to protect the City’s residents related to access to wildfire insurance and fair market rates for that insurance. In 2024, the Council adopted similar language regarding access to insurance in fire prone areas.
Like last year, due to a conflict of interest, one Councilmember will be recusing from the vote on this policy related to wildfire insurance. To allow the Councilmember to vote on the balance of the platform, we have segmented this item into two resolutions as permitted under applicable Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) regulations. In the second resolution, Council will consider approving the balance of the state legislative platform.
FISCAL IMPACT
Not applicable.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the recommended action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the recommended action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution 1 / Exhibit A – 2026 State Legislative Platform (Disaster Prevention and Recovery, Hazard Mitigation & Resiliency only) Resolution 2 / Exhibit A – 2026 State Legislative Platform (excluding Disaster Prevention and Recovery, Hazard Mitigation & Resiliency)
PRESENTER(S)
Misti D. Wood, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Officer Dane Hutchings, CPPG
Ethan Nagler, CPPG
2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
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