TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Alexandra South, Director of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs
DATE:September 9, 2025
SUBJECT: FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report and approve FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
LEVINE ACT: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal costs related to staff time and travel are included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The City actively monitors and advocates for state and federal legislation that impacts its operations and residents. These proactive efforts have resulted in successful state legislation, such as Auto Leases, No-Low Property Tax, and Tax Equity Allocation initiatives. The City also supported the passage of critical propositions like Prop 1A -Protection of Local Government Revenues. Legislative Constitutional Amendment; and Prop 22- Prohibits the state from borrowing or taking funds used for transportation, redevelopment, or local government projects and services. Initiative constitutional amendment, which directly influenced local control and budget. Because of these efforts, the City's General Fund receives
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over $5.0 million annually from Auto Leases and Tax Equity Allocation, and the City gains protection against state borrowing.
In addition to its legislative efforts, the City has successfully obtained federal grants and Congressional appropriations, which have funded a wide range of local projects. These initiatives span from community resources like the Boys and Girls Club facilities and the California Lutheran University Aquatics Center, to major infrastructure enhancements such as the Thousand Oaks Transportation Center and U.S. 101/S.R. 23 Interchange Improvements. In recent years, the City was awarded funding for a microgrid installation at its Municipal Service Center, a water pump, and funding for a groundwater capture and diversion project.
To make its efforts more efficient, in 2006 City Council adopted its first Legislative Platform and appointed a Legislative Affairs Manager. The Legislative Affairs Manager was tasked with developing and overseeing the legislative program. Now, with each new biennial budget cycle, an updated platform is presented to the City Council for approval. This platform is shaped by Citywide Goals, City Council Top Priorities, and legislative trends that could impact the City's operations and services.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
A. LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
The FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform serves as a crucial guide for monitoring and advocating for federal and state legislation. The platform is a formal document that outlines an organization's legislative priorities, principles, and goals for a specific period. It serves as a statement of purpose, defining what matters most to the City.
The platform acts as a strategic blueprint, while the Legislative Program represents the tactical actions to execute that strategy. The Legislative Program is the set of practical activities and initiatives undertaken to achieve the goals outlined in the platform. The Legislative Program involves advocating for state and federal bills, seeking federal and state funding and resources for City interests, maintaining active participation in state and federal municipal organizations, and addressing any special legislative interests or programs that emerge. The Legislative Platform and Program together guide the City's legislative efforts.
The proposed Legislative Platform (Attachment #1), in particular, reinforces the City's commitment to local control and local budget advocacy. This updated platform includes critical new issues like local requirements to address FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform
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homelessness and the mitigation of "forever chemicals," while maintaining relevance by excluding outdated priorities. Position letters reflecting the platform's stance are drafted for the mayor’s signature, representing the City’s position.
The City is a member of the National League of Cities (NLC) and League of California Cities (Cal Cities), as well as regional and professional organizations that provide both insight and influence in local, state, and federal affairs. These organizations provide perspective and analysis on important municipal bills and state and federal trends. Their position on bills serves as additional guidance.
The City does not take a position on issues where no direct authority exists, such as individual rights, federal issues that do not impact municipal operations, or bills that pertain to international policies (e.g. Affordable Care Act, gun control, immigration, reproductive rights, trade, war, etc.). The City abstains from taking a position on issues where another elected body has direct authority and expertise (e.g. education, school curriculum, special districts).
In addition, the City refrains from taking positions on ballot measures unless the measure has been sponsored by the City or a bona fide municipal organization (e.g., Cal Cities, NLC) or has a direct effect on the City, its operations, or services.
In the event a ballot measure is identified that has an impact on the City, but is not covered by the Legislative Platform, it will be brought to City Council by the Legislative Affairs Manager for consideration.
Federal and State Lobbyists
The City retains a federal lobbyist, Van Scoyoc and Associates, to provide advocacy services. Federal advocacy has become crucial, especially after the revival of federal earmarks and the passage of federal bills associated with competitive grant funding, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Legislative Affairs Manager works closely with City departments and the federal lobbyist to develop a list of City projects/interests for consideration by congressional members and key agency contacts should a funding opportunity arise. During the City's annual lobbying visit to Washington, D.C., in March, coinciding with the NLC Congressional Cities Conference, City representatives meet with federal officials to discuss the City's interests. The federal lobbyist also supports grant writing and application efforts. The federal lobbyist attends hearings, conducts meetings, and keeps the City informed on federal executive orders, legislation, and programs by Congress and the White House.
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The City retains a state lobbyist to assist in state legislative activities, including advocacy on state bills, monitoring the state budget, representation at hearings, and meetings with state officials and agencies. This year, the City contracted with a new state lobbyist, California Public Policy Group (CPPG). The City conducts meetings with State representatives in January during Cal Cities Policy Committee meetings in Sacramento, and during the annual Cal Cities City Leaders Summit in April. The state lobbyist prepares a deep dive analysis of key bills for their potential impact on City operations and budget. As bills are signed into law, especially housing and planning bills, they publish helpful primers on how to apply new provisions to operations and procedures. Additionally, they monitor and publish state and private grant opportunities and are prepared to assist with the application and preparation processes.
B. FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 FEDERAL OUTLOOK AND PRIORITIES Federal Grant Monitoring – Ongoing/Key Grant Opportunities:
The Legislative Affairs Manager and the federal lobbyist collaborate closely with City departments to explore and prepare grant submissions. City departments provide their program and project interests to the federal lobbyist, who actively tracks grant opportunities from agencies and monitors policies that could benefit the City. This joint effort allows them to identify projects with the highest potential for federal assistance and funding.
Congressional Directed Spending:
The City annually submits Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) requests to its Congressional delegation. CDS is strictly limited to specific appropriations areas, including energy, defense, homeland security, interior, and transportation. To ensure greater transparency, entities receiving CDS are now required to submit a post-grant application to the associated agency. This application verifies that the project meets all regulations before the award is disbursed. The federal fiscal cycle runs from October to September. The City was fortunate to receive the following CDS from our Congressional delegation:
•FY 2021-22: $1.50 million for a Water Reuse Project under the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
•FY 2022-23: $1.85 million for the installation of a microgrid project at the City’s Municipal Service Center. This grant is coordinated under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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•FY 2023-24: $1.38 million for the installation of microgrid technology at a critical water pump station.
•FY 2024-25: $938,000 from the EPA for a Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project. In 2025, the City submitted a “technical correction” request to the EPA and gained approval to combine FY 2021-22 funding from the Water Reuse Project.
The City’s Congressional delegation selected the following FY 2025-26 CDS for funding. These projects are still pending final approval through the House and Senate subcommittee markups. The funding amounts may also change. •$1.45 million for the Community Resiliency Center (Microgrid Installation at the Grant Brimhall Library) from FEMA.
•$3.00 million for the Community Resiliency Center Network (Microgrid Installation at the Teen Center, Senior Center, and Newbury Park Library). •$2.00 million for the Wildfire Hazard Fuel Reduction and Education Program from the Department of Interior.
New White House Administration and Recent Federal Initiatives Since taking office in January 2025, the current White House Administration has implemented a broad range of policies and programs through executive orders, presidential memorandums, and legislative efforts. These initiatives provide a general outlook on the White House’s priorities:
•Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): An executive order on January 20, 2025, launched the Department of Government Efficiency, renaming the United States Digital Service to the United States DOGE Service.
•Workforce Optimization Initiative: A presidential memorandum on February 11, 2025, outlined a plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce through efficiency improvements and attrition.
•Federal Hiring Process Reform: An executive order on January 20, 2025, aimed at reforming the federal hiring process and restoring merit to government service.
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•Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: An executive order signed early in the administration ended all DEI programs within the federal government, with the stated aim of ensuring hiring decisions are based on merit and not on race or sex.
•Tariffs: On April 2, 2025, a national emergency was declared to increase the U.S. competitive edge, protect sovereignty, and strengthen national and economic security, leading to the imposition of a 10 percent tariff on all countries, with individualized higher reciprocal tariffs on countries with large trade deficits with the U.S.
•Tax Cuts: Recent legislation includes approximately $4.5 trillion in corporate tax cuts, making existing tax rates and brackets from the previous administration's first term via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, permanent.
•Border Wall and Deportations: Recent legislation allocates approximately $350 billion for border and national security, including funding for the U.S.- Mexico border wall and for 100,000 migrant detention facility beds to support mass deportations. The funding includes provisions for hiring 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. •Sanctuary Jurisdictions: An executive order on April 28, 2025, requires the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a list of sanctuary jurisdictions and notify them of their alleged violations of federal law.
•Wildland Fire Programs: An executive order on June 12, 2025, directs relevant agencies to streamline wildland fire programs and work with state, local, tribal, and other entities to encourage wildfire preparedness and response, strengthen mitigation, and modernize prevention. •Clean Water for Western Communities: The Department of the Interior announced over $514.0 million in investments as part of the Investing in America agenda to bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through water storage and conveyance projects. •One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1): This bill addresses a wide range of major fiscal and policy issues, primarily through a “budget reconciliation.” A core component makes the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was set to expire on December 31, 2025, permanent. It introduces new tax cuts, FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform
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such as eliminating federal income tax on tips and overtime pay, and an additional tax deduction for seniors. It makes substantial cuts to federal Medicaid funding, estimated at around $1.0 trillion over 10 years, leading to projected coverage losses for millions. The bill includes significant increases in funding for immigration control and border enforcement, including billions for building new detention centers, hiring more ICE and Border Patrol agents, and increasing fees for certain immigration benefit applications. It creates work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The provisions of this bill raise the debt ceiling by $5.0 billion.
Nationally, cities had key wins and losses in H.R. 1
Wins:
•Preserves tax-exemption for municipal bonds.
•Temporarily increases the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 with phaseouts starting for households earning over $500,000. The cap will increase by 1 percent annually through 2029. However, in 2030, the maximum SALT deduction will automatically sunset, and revert to its original $10,000 cap, and the income phaseouts will be removed.
•Creates incentives for the Opportunity Zone program; the Low- Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, and the New
Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program.
•Awards $10 billion in grants to reimburse states for prior border security efforts, $500 million to improve local capabilities to detect threats from unmanned aerial systems, $625 million for security planning related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and $1 billion for the 2028 Olympics.
Losses:
•Rescinds substantial funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity grants.
•Claws back unobligated funding from several emissions
reduction grants under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
•Claws back Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund unobligated grants and repeals the future reauthorization of the program.
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Congressional Priorities-Reauthorization of Expired Bills and Programs Congress is working on several federal reauthorizations:
•Farm Bill: The previous Farm Bill was extended for one year through a Continuing Resolution in 2024 and is set to expire in December 2025. A long-term reauthorization of the Farm Bill, which covers agriculture, food assistance (like SNAP), rural development, and conservation programs, is a top priority for the current Congress.
•IIJA Surface Transportation: The authorization for surface transportation programs, included in the IIJA, expires on September 30, 2026. Discussions and hearings are already underway for its reauthorization, which is crucial for funding highways, transit, and rail.
•Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): This legislation, which supports job training and workforce development programs, was not reauthorized in 2024. New reauthorization bills will need to be introduced in the 119th Congress to continue these critical programs. •Older Americans Act (OAA): Similar to WIOA, the OAA, which funds services for elder adults, was not reauthorized in 2024. Its reauthorization will be a priority for the current Congress.
•National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): The NFIP's authorization was extended through September 30, 2025, by the most recent Continuing Resolution. Without further extension, FEMA would be unable to renew existing policies or issue new ones after this date.
•Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) & Related Programs:
Authorization for these programs also expires on September 30, 2025. •Medicare/Medicaid Policies & Health Care Extenders: Various Medicare and Medicaid policies and health care extenders are set to expire on September 30, 2025. The passage of “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in July 2025 includes substantial cuts to federal Medicare ($500 billion over 10 years, including a 4 percent reduction to hospitals) and Medicaid funding (projected to be around $1 trillion over 10 years), making reauthorization improbable.
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•National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 1626): This bill aims to amend and reauthorize programs under the National Landslide Preparedness Act, with authorized appropriations from 2025 through 2030. The authorization for this program expired in 2024, so this is a pending reauthorization effort.
Federal Budget - National Debt Ceiling
As of July 2025, the U.S. federal debt ceiling has been raised by $5.0 trillion through the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which was signed into law.
This action addresses the immediate risk of a U.S. default and provides borrowing authority for the federal government, likely for the next year or two. The debt ceiling is now set at $41.1 trillion, an increase from the previous limit of $36.1 trillion that was reinstated on January 2, 2025.
NLC 2025 Federal Priorities
The City is an active member of NLC. NLC helps identify bills and policies that impact cities. They publish weekly electronic newsletters, issue action alerts, and host policy briefings. NLC hosts informational sessions, webinars, and educational programs to help strengthen cities.
The NLC publishes and updates its National Municipal Policy, which is a compilation of federal policy positions adopted during the NLC’s annual business meeting. These positions focus on federal actions, programs, and legislation that directly impact municipalities and guide all NLC’s federal advocacy efforts. The NLC Board of Directors also adopts a set of short-term priorities. The 2025 priorities are as follows:
1. Make Government Work for Small Communities: Advocate for equal access for small cities and towns, so they may be eligible for federal grant assistance at scale, so the benefits of federal programs and policies reach all of America’s communities.
2. Support a Local Workforce Pipeline: Advocate for investments in workforce development, training, and apprenticeship programs to ensure America’s communities have the skilled labor to complete these priority projects.
3. Build Safe and Healthy Communities: Advocate for policies and programs that support local climate action and a federal partner to address this critical issue.
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4. Prevent Federal Overreach of Local Governments: Advocate for restoration of local authority over local telecommunication franchises, land use, and full municipal access to federal infrastructure programs. Contest unfunded mandates.
5. Increase Housing Supply and Stability: Urge Congress to provide more funding to help local communities address the housing crisis and maintain efforts even after current one-time programs wind down.
6. Support Local Economic Growth and Opportunity: Advocate for federal investments that catalyze local economic growth.
C. FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 STATE OUTLOOK AND PRIORITIES 2025 State Bills
The California State Legislature began a new legislative biennium in January 2025.
As a result of term limits, one-third of the legislature is newly elected. Of the 37 newly elected state legislators, 24 new members were sworn into the California State Assembly, and 13 new members were sworn into the California State Senate. Democrats hold the supermajority, and there is a record number of women in the Legislature — 59 of the 120 total seats.
The legislature introduced about 2,350 bills for the 2025-2026 legislative session.
Despite a reduction in the number of bills legislators can introduce — from 50 to 35 in the Assembly and 40 to 35 in the Senate for this two-year session — the sheer volume of new bills remains significant.
Bills have been reviewed in the house of origin, and those that received approval are currently proceeding through the second house for consideration.
This year, the top legislative themes affecting local government are:
•Homelessness
•Affordable Housing
•Wildfire Resilience
•Wildfire Recovery Housing
•Insurance Affordability
•Cap and Trade Funding
Since the start of the legislative biennium, the Legislative Affairs Manager, with the support of state lobbyist CPPG, reviewed and advocated for bills following the City’s Legislative Platform and those identified by Cal Cities, Southern California FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Legislative Platform
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Association of Governments (SCAG), and several industry organizations such as the California Transit Association, California Product Stewardship Association, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, etc. The legislative deadline to pass bills is September 12, 2025. Subsequently, the Governor has until October 12, 2025, to veto or sign bills into law.
State Budget
The 2025-26 spending plan, totaling $321.0 billion, was signed into law on June 27, 2025. This plan addresses a $12.0 billion shortfall by drawing $7.0 billion from the rainy-day fund and an additional $6.5 billion from other reserves, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Topline provisions include:
•Transportation: The budget includes significant investments in transportation, restoring $1.1 billion to transit agencies from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and safeguarding a $750.0 million loan for them. Additionally, the Active Transportation Program will receive $200.0 million, and High-Speed Rail is allocated $1.0 billion. •Homelessness and Affordable Housing: Efforts to address homelessness and increase affordable housing see some shifts. The Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program faces a $500 million deferral for cities and counties, representing a 50 percent cut from current funding.
Conversely, the Encampment Resolution Fund receives $100 million. For affordable housing projects, $500 million is allocated for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and the California Dream for All program, supporting first-time/first-generation homebuyers, will receive $300 million. •Public Safety: In public safety, $100 million in one-time funding from Prop 36 is designated to increase sentences for drug and theft crimes. •Tax Credits: The budget ensures no new taxes for individuals, families, or small businesses. The Hollywood Tax Credit for film and television production is set to significantly increase from $330 million to $750 million.
Furthermore, the Legislative Analyst's Office is directed to conduct a tax reform study. This study, due in November 2025, will explore options to lower taxes for ordinary California families, maximize federal deductibility, minimize negative economic impacts, and strengthen long-term revenues, with its findings to inform the 2026-27 state budget.
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•Energy and Climate: The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is allocated $3.8 billion, reflecting a $1.0 billion reduction from the Discretionary Spending Plan. Notably, the proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project was excluded, leading to $315.8 million being repealed from the budget.
•Health Care: There are no cuts to Medi-Cal. However, current undocumented immigrants receiving Medi-Cal will now incur a $30 per month premium, and new undocumented immigrants will not be permitted to enroll in the program.
CEQA Reform: The Governor agreed to sign the budget with conditions. He required lawmakers to pass two budget trailer bills, AB 130 and SB 131, to reform (CEQA) and make changes to state housing and homeless laws. These bills are intended to boost the housing supply by expediting environmental review and providing exemptions for urban housing developments. Both were signed into law and are effective as of June 30, 2025.
AB 130 creates a new statutory exemption from CEQA review for infill housing development projects in urban areas that meet certain criteria.
SB 131 limits CEQA review for housing projects that nearly qualify for an exemption, focusing only on the environmental effects caused by the single condition that disqualifies them.
Cal Cities Top Legislative Priorities
The City is an active member of Cal Cities and relies on its expertise in identifying State legislation that impacts local government. Cal Cites hosts legislative briefings and webinars. They publish weekly newsletters and issue legislative action alerts.
The Legislative Affairs Manager reviews, monitors, and advocates for Cal Cities identified bills and participates in action alerts.
Cal Cities monitors bills under several subject areas:
•Community Services
•Environmental Quality
•Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations
•Housing, Community, and Economic Development
•Public Safety
•Revenue and Taxation
•Transportation, Communications, and Public Works
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Each year, the Cal Cities Board of Directors adopts annual Strategic Goals based on local government interests and trends. The 2025 State Priorities are as follows:
1. Protect local revenues and expand economic development tools.
Safeguard and modernize revenue streams for local priorities. Pursue new economic development opportunities that bolster local economies and cultivate a strong local workforce, including expanded workforce recruitment and retention tools.
2. Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
Support city efforts to prepare, prevent, and adapt to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change, including wildfires, drought, sea level rise, and other extreme weather events. Increase transparency and access to insurance policies, especially following a natural disaster.
3. Strengthen and modernize critical infrastructure.
Dedicate new resources and protect existing funding to maintain and improve essential infrastructure, including bridges, roads, broadband, and the state’s water supply and energy grid.
4. Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.
Secure dedicated funding to bolster cities’ long-term planning efforts to support unhoused residents and accelerate the construction of affordable housing.
Strengthen state and regional partnerships to expand access to wraparound services and improve the housing element planning process. Ensure cities have the flexibility and decision-making authority to meet their community and state housing goals and reduce homelessness.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
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C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
E. Complete ring of open space around the City; protect and preserve ridgelines, natural habitat, and designated open space areas, while balancing needs for wildfire mitigation.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts, Youth and Senior Programs).
PREPARED BY: Mina Layba, Legislative Affairs Manager
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Legislative Platform 2025
CMO:660-60\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2025 Staff Reports \2025 Legislative Platform Staff Report.docx