City of Visalia
Federal Legislative Update
2025 Review
Greg Burns
Thorn Run Partners
President Trump 2.0 Administration
Executive Orders
210 Executive Orders signed (as of early November)
150+ lawsuits filed
31 EO’s permanently blocked, 86 temporarily blocked, and 21 blocked pending appeal Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Primarily an extension of 2017 Trump 1.0 era tax cuts + new cuts for businesses and individuals Federal Government Shutdown
Lasted 43 days
House out of session for 53 days
Federal Funding
Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Process
Four of six requests supported by delegation; two projects funded in House bills $2 million for the Groundwater Recharge Basin
$250,000 for the Riggen Ave. project
Congress passed 3 of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government for FY 2026 Positive sign that they can finish additional bills
2 of the 3 full-year bills include community funded projects (CFP), like those for Visalia Will soon work with staff on FY 2027 CFP requests.
Other Advocacy Efforts: Expiration of the BIL
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, incl. surface transportation programs expire September 30, 2026 BIL was a roughly $1.2 trillion, 5- year law passed in November 2021 ~$650 billion was for surface transportation authorization ~$550 billion was spending for transportation and other programs New bill will have far less money
Fewer competitive programs, more money directly to state DOT’s for traditional highway programs Concerned about lack of support for transit
Other Advocacy Efforts: Expiration of the BIL
Other Advocacy Efforts: Housing Issues
ROAD to Housing Act
Reduce regulatory barriers
Incentivize housing development
near transit
Streamline permitting
Expand financing for affordable and workforce housing
New grant and incentive programs tied to housing outcomes House also looking to HOME Program changes
Homelessness Funding
Major changes to the Continuum of Care program
Less emphasis on permanent supportive housing
Permanent Expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit via OBBBA
Other Advocacy Efforts
National Flood Insurance Program, thousands of policies in Visalia Program lapsed during shutdown
No policy renewals or new policies written
Program on 34th short term extension since 2017
Policy affordability remains key goal
Tax Exempt Bond authority maintained
Other Advocacy Efforts: FEMA Reform
FEMA traditionally approves federal support after disasters based on amount of damage compared to population Proposed increase to disaster declaration per capita threshold for entire state, from $1.89 to $7.56 per person Minimum damage threshold for CA would now be more than $298M Smaller disasters will be left to states and local governments 71% of disasters nationwide from 2008 - 2024 would not have qualified $41B in disaster assistance would have been shifted to state and local governments Federal cost shares should not exceed 75%
Deny Category G – recreational facilities PA funding for “non-critical facilities” Admin says this would have saved $3.2 billion over the past decade No new Hazard Mitigation Grant Program money
HMGP $$$ traditionally = 15% of the amount FEMA will spend on a disaster FEMA Review Council report released Dec. 11
Other Advocacy Efforts: FEMA Reform
Other Advocacy Efforts
Re-exploration of Essential Air Service
Cancellation of federal funding for hydrogen projects initiated during prior Administration, like ARCHES Transportation grant support
Working with Congress on the FAA’s approval of the City’s Airport Layout Plan
City of Visalia Federal Advocacy Successes
Retain the Cigna call center
Helping deliver millions of dollars in federal grants and earmarks Working to reduce flood insurance rates and increase private insurance options Helping the City transition from partnering with the Essential Air Service program to securing a beneficial federal airport development grant Ensuring continuation of the alternative fuel tax rebate Fighting against significant fee increases by the National Park Service Securing the renewal of a five-year cooperative agreement with the National Park Service to continue the Sequoia Shuttle