City of Visalia
2024 Legislative & Executive Branch Review
2025 Look Ahead
2 Advocating for the City
John Moffatt, Partner
Michelle Rubalcava, Partner
Geoff Neill, Senior Advocate
Two Main Areas
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch/Regulatory
3 Legislative Summary for 2024
2,532 bills introduced
1,730 Assembly Bills
802 Senate Bills
1,206 bills (47.6% of total) sent to the Governor
1,017 bills signed (84.3%)
189 bills vetoed (15.7%)
Visalia
We tagged 835 bills for the City in 2023-24
28 bills with positions in 2024
4 Wins for Visalia
AB 1725 (Law Enforcement Settlements and Judgements: Reporting) – Oppose – Held in Committee AB 1978 (Vehicles: Speed Contests) – Support – Signed
AB 2346 (Organic Waste Reduction Regulations: Procurement) – Support – Signed AB 2557 (Local Agencies: Contracts for Special Services) – Oppose – Held in Committee
5 Wins for Visalia
AB 3068 (Adaptive Reuse: Streamlining Incentives) – Oppose – Vetoed SB 719 (Law Enforcement Agencies: Radio Communications) – Oppose – Failed to Pass Senate SB 1046 (Organic Waste Reduction: Program Environmental Impact) – Support – Signed SB 1420 (Hydrogen Production Facilities: Certification) – Support – Signed
6 Losses for Visalia
AB 98 (Planning and Zoning: Logistics Use: Truck Routes) – Oppose – Signed SB 637 (Zero-Emission Vehicle: Fleet Owners: Rental Vehicles) – Support – Vetoed AB 2286 (Vehicles: Autonomous Vehicles) – Support – Vetoed SB 399 (Employer Communications: Intimidation) – Oppose – Signed
7 Losses for Visalia
AB 1886 (Housing Element Law: Substantial Compliance) – Oppose – Signed AB 3093 (Land use: housing element) – Oppose – Signed
SB 937 (Development Projects: Fees and Charges) – Oppose – Signed SB 1037 (Planning and Zoning: Housing Element: Enforcement) – Oppose – Signed
8 New Laws for 2025
AB 2561 requires annual public hearings on the status of vacancies and recruitment.
AB 2943 creates a new felony charge for serial retail theft, allows police to arrest without witnessing the crime, prohibits nuisance actions against retailers reporting crime, sets up diversion programs, increases probation time.
SB 1243 raises the threshold for contributions regulated by the Levine Act to $500 and gives more time to cure unintentional violations.
SB 1418 requires expedited, streamlined permitting for hydrogen-fueling stations.
9 Of the 80 Assembly seats on the ballot:
All 56 incumbents won reelection.
2 of 23 new members flipped a seat D to R.
Rep. Fong’s seat remains vacant pending a special election.
Alexandra Macedo replaces Devon Mathis
Of the 20 Senate seats on the ballot:
8 of 9 incumbents won, 1 flipped D to R.
5 of 12 new members are from the Assembly, and two others previously served in the Assembly.
Looking Ahead:The 2025-26 Legislature
10 CA vs. DC
Affordability
Wildfires and LA recovery
Climate bond appropriations
Cap and trade reauthorization
Housing and homelessness
Local accountability
Looking Ahead:2025-26 Issues
11 Governor’s budget released last week.
Revenues up $16.5 billion from previous year.
Proposes New Housing and Homelessness Agency, but details are sparse.
No new HHAP funds included.
$100 for encampment resolution funds.
$2.7 billion for Prop. 4 resources bond.
LAO projects significant deficits in the out-years.
Looking Ahead:StateBudget
12 Deadline to introduce bills – February 21
Deadline to pass first house – June 6
Deadline to pass budget – June 15
Summer recess – July 18 to August 18
Deadline for final passage – September 12
As of January 14
244 Assembly Bills introduced
70 Senate Bills introduced
30 bills identified for the City to review
Looking Ahead: Calendar
Thank you!