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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-15; City Council Legislative Subcommittee; 04; City of Carlsbad Legislative and Advocacy UpdateMeeting Date: April 15, 2025 To: Legislative Subcommittee From: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2958 Subject: City of Carlsbad Legislative and Advocacy Update District: All Recommended Action Receive updates on federal and state legislative and budget activity and the city's recent and ongoing advocacy efforts; discuss and provide feedback to staff, including identifying high-priority bills, advocacy positions, funding opportunities, and items for future City Council consideration. Discussion Staff and the city’s contract lobbyists – Federal: Carpi & Clay Government Relations / State: California Public Policy Group – will present updates and overviews of federal and state legislative activity (Exhibits 1 and 2) and the priority legislation (Exhibit 3) and intergovernmental matters being tracked on behalf of the city. The Subcommittee is requested to provide feedback to help city staff and the city’s lobbying consultants focus the city’s advocacy efforts on high-priority bills and to identify bills for future City Council consideration. Next Steps Staff and the city’s contract lobbyists will monitor, evaluate, and engage the Legislative Subcommittee in a discussion of legislative activity and proposed measures that may impact city operations and policy priorities throughout the legislative session. If the Legislative Subcommittee decides to refer any matters to the City Council, staff will work with the City Manager to place an item on a future City Council agenda for consideration. Exhibits 1.Carpi & Clay Government Relations – Federal Update, March 2025 2.California Public Policy Group – State Update, March 2025 3.California Public Policy Group – Priority Legislation as of April 10, 2025 LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 1 of 63 Exhibit 1 1 March 31, 2025 City of Carlsbad Federal Update www.carpiclay.com Appropriations Update On March 14th, Congress passed H.R. 1968, a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. President Trump signed it into law the following day, averting a government shutdown. While the CR generally maintains FY 2024 funding levels through September 30, it excludes all Congressionally Directed Spending (earmarks) requests that were included in the House and Senate’s proposed FY25 appropriations bills. With FY25 now funded, Congress has shifted its focus to the FY26 appropriations process. Many Senators and Representatives are currently accepting both programmatic and project requests for FY26. Additionally, many congressional offices are planning to resubmit projects that were originally proposed for FY25. However, guidance from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees has not yet been released, so some aspects of the process may change once the committees issue the official rules. Trump Administration Appointments President Trump announced the following appointments to his administration in March: Dept/Agency Position Appointee Agriculture Chief of Staff, National Resources Conservation Service Colton Buckley Agriculture Chief, National Resources Conservation Service Aubrey Bettencourt Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Shupe Appleton Commerce Deputy Secretary Paul Dabbar Council on Environmental Quality General Counsel Justin Schwab Defense Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management Timothy John Walsh Energy General Counsel Jonathan Brightbill Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste John Busterud Exhibit 1 April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 2 of 63 2 www.carpiclay.com Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 Administrator Josh F.W. Cook Health & Human Services Health Resources and Services Administrator Thomas Engels Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar Housing & Urban Development Deputy Secretary Andrew Hughes Housing & Urban Development General Counsel David Woll Transportation Administrator of FHWA Sean McMaster Transportation Administrator of the FAA Bryan Bedford Transportation Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Derek Barrs Transportation Administrator of the Maritime Administration Brent Sadler Transportation Assistant Secretary Seval Oz Transportation Assistant Secretary Michael Rutherford Transportation Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transit Authority Tariq Bokhari White House Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Eric Ueland President Trump Issues EO on State and Local Preparedness On March 19th, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness” to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The order directs state and local governments to lead resiliency efforts against threats such as natural disasters and cyberattacks. FEMA’s role would be that of a partner to local and state governments, rather than the director of disaster response. The order emphasizes the role of local communities in planning and managing disaster resilience independently, with federal support available upon request. LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY Bipartisan House Bill Introduced to Establish FEMA as an Independent Cabinet-Level Agency. Florida Representatives Byron Donalds (R) and Jared Moskowitz (D) introduced the FEMA Independence Act of 2025 (H.R. 2308) to establish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an independent Cabinet-level agency, removing it from its existing position as an agency under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation was referred to the Committees on Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 3 of 63 3 www.carpiclay.com Bill Introduced in House to Restore Tax-Exempt Advance Refunding for Municipal Bonds. Representatives David Kustoff (R-TN), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Investing in Our Communities Act (H.R. 1255) to restore tax-exempt advance refunding for municipal bonds, which were made unavailable in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means for consideration. Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Bills Introduced in House and Senate. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Water Conservation Rebate Tax Parity Act (H.R. 1871). Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Michael Bennet (D-CO)introduced a Senate companion bill (S. 857). The legislation would amend federal tax law to exempt homeowners from income tax on rebates received from water utilities for water management and improvement projects. The House bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means for consideration, and the Senate bill was referred to the Committee on Finance. Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Simplify the Disaster Relief Application Process. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the bipartisan Disaster Assistance Simplification Act (S. 861) to simplify the federal disaster relief application process across government agencies. Currently, there are different requirements across the various agencies that provide disaster relief. Specifically, the bill would:  Require FEMA to establish a universal disaster application across federal agencies.  Allow FEMA to share applicant information with other federal agencies to streamline recovery efforts.  Ensure all information-sharing practices comply with federal data security standards to protect survivors’ personal information. CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS Sens. Padilla & Schiff Lead Letter Requesting Reversal of USDA Funding Cuts for Local Food Purchases. California Senators Alex Padilla (D) and Adam Schiff (D) led a group of 31 Senators in a letter to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting reinstatement of $1 billion in food purchasing programs nationwide. The purchases from local farmers support food for food banks, schools, and childcare centers. The letter states that USDA’s cuts to food purchasing programs pose “extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country.” Bicameral Letter to HUD Secretary Condemns Proposed Field Office Closures and Staffing Cuts. A bicameral group of Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner condemning the agency’s potential closure of field offices and requesting reinstatement of fired HUD civil servants. The letter highlights that federal law requires a field office in each state to process mortgage applications, but the Trump Administration’s proposed office closures would leave 34 states without a field office. The letter states that the lawmakers “strongly urge HUD to maintain existing field offices with adequate April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 4 of 63 4 www.carpiclay.com staffing levels and to fully and immediately reinstate civil servants who have been illegally terminated.” Lawmakers continued by requesting answers to a list of questions regarding HUD’s plans by April 2nd. FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS AND PERSONNEL CHANGES President Trump Issues EO to Reduce Federal Agencies. President Trump signed an EO titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” that scales back agencies such as the Interagency Council on Homelessness, Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The directive limits their respective funding to their statutory functions and limits those statutory functions to the minimum permitted by law. This means that any grants must be consistent with those functions and subject to appropriations. The agencies have until March 21st to recommend what activities can continue. Based on the reviews, the Office of Management and Budget would have the ability to reject future funding requests “to the extent they are inconsistent with this order.” Amtrak CEO Steps Down. On March 19th, Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner announced his resignation, effective immediately. Amtrak has not yet announced an Interim CEO. CBP Publishes Guidance on Aluminum and Steel Tariffs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released guidance on aluminum and steel tariffs. The tariff on steel and steel derivatives is set at 25%, and all quota agreements have been terminated, applying the tariff to all trading partners of the United States. The tariff on aluminum and aluminum derivatives is increased from 10% to 25%, and all quota agreements have been terminated, except for a 200% rate on aluminum imports from Russia. DOT Issues SS4A NOFO. DOT released the FY25 Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for $982.3 million in available funding. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis for planning, demonstration, and strategy-based projects that prevent death and serious injury on roadways for all users. Applications are due by June 26th. DOT Issues a Memo Providing Guidance on Competitive Grants and Compliance with EOs. DOT issued guidance for competitive grant and cooperative agreement awards made after January 20th, 2021, that lack fully obligated agreements. This guidance mandates that all selections align with current Administration priorities, including EOs focused on energy, climate, diversity, and economic analysis. It requires a comprehensive review of all awards from FY 2022– 2025 that have not been fully obligated, particularly those supporting equity, DEI, climate change, environmental justice, bicycle infrastructure, and electric vehicle projects. Programs meeting these criteria will undergo project-by-project reviews, with identified elements flagged for potential removal or revision. If necessary, award scopes must be modified to align with statutory requirements and Administration priorities, with final decisions made by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and the Office of the General Counsel. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 5 of 63 5 www.carpiclay.com EPA Announces Review of WOTUS Definition. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will review and revise the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS). The EPA’s review will consider the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which held that the Clean Water Act’s definition of “waters” encompasses only those relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water, such as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes. FAA Reminds the Public of the Dangers of Laser Strikes on Aircraft. FAA announced that in 2024, pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes, only a 3% decrease from 2023. FAA reminds the public that shining a laser at an aircraft poses a serious safety threat and is a federal crime. Pilots reported the highest numbers of laser strikes in the states listed below:  California - 1,489  Texas - 1,463  Florida - 810  Tennessee - 649  Illinois - 622  Arizona - 550  New York - 531  Indiana - 512  Georgia - 416  Virginia – 415 FHWA Delays Buy America Rule. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) delayed the final rule titled “Buy America Requirements for Manufactured Products” until March 20th. NHTSA Delays Enforcement Action of Several Rules. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it will not take enforcement of the following rules until March 20th:  FMVSS: Bus Rollover Structural Integrity  FMVSS: Child Restraint Systems  Implementing the Whistleblower Provisions of the Vehicle Safety Act ## ## ## April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 6 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 1 Date: April 3, 2025 To: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Cindie McMahon, City Attorney City of Carlsbad From: Sharon Gonsalves Managing Director California Public Policy Group Re: CPPG Legislative Summary – March 2025 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Legislative Session in Full Swing The 2025 legislative session is in full swing with hundreds of bills being referred to their respective policy committees. Committee hearings are well underway with stacked agendas and will continue to increase in frequency until early June as the Legislature hits several deadlines. The deadline for bills tagged as fiscal to be referred out of Appropriations committees is May 23. From there, all bills must be passed by their house of origin by June 6 to be sent to the opposite house (i.e., all Senate Bills must advance to the Assembly and vice versa). Additionally, all “spot” bills had to be amended by the end of March to include substantive language. This resulted in an influx of new bills throughout the month and therefore what CPPG is tracking for you, including as priority, continues to evolve. The Legislature will adjourn for Spring Recess on April 10 and return on April 21. The Legislature also conducted several informational and oversight hearings of interest in March. These are when the Legislature invites subject matter experts and stakeholders in a policy area to each give several minutes of panel testimony to a committee. They are held so that the Legislature can gather information on a specific policy so that they are better able to consider any connected legislation, usually in relation to a recent major event or policy action. No votes are taken during informational or oversight hearings. Permitting Reform Legislation Package On March 27, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) issued a press release announcing that she was leading a bipartisan permitting reform legislation package. The bill package contains more than 20 bills “aimed at making housing more affordable by slashing red tape, removing uncertainty, and drastically diminishing the time it takes to get new housing approved and built.” The press release also stated, “The package targets the five key bottlenecks that delay housing development: application, CEQA compliance, entitlement, post-entitlement, and enforcement. By addressing inefficiencies at every step, lawmakers aim to reduce project timelines, cut costs, and get shovels in the ground faster.” Homeowners’ Insurance Oversight Hearings On March 12, the Senate Insurance Committee held an oversight hearing discussing “California’s Insurance Market and Key Factors and Future Outlook in the Aftermath of Recent Wildfires.” Panelists consisted of Department of Insurance staff (but not Commissioner Ricardo Lara), consumer advocates, insurer representatives, and insurance market experts. Speakers and Exhibit 2 April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 7 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 2 legislators agreed that the state’s insurance market is outdated and needs updates to ensure market stability and consumer protection, especially in the wake of increasing climate change-fueled disasters. Possible solutions to the insurance crisis included streamlining the rate approval process, utilizing updated catastrophe models, encouraging risk mitigation efforts like home hardening, and increasing transparency and accountability in rate-setting. The agenda for this hearing can be found here. On March 19, the Assembly Insurance Committee held their own homeowners’ insurance oversight hearing, due to the absence of the Commissioner at the Senate’s hearing. The hearing’s subject was “Sustainable Insurance Strategy: Post Southern California Wildfires.” The Committee heard testimony from Commissioner Lara on his Department’s efforts to stabilize the insurance market in the wake of the Los Angeles fires. Commissioner Lara also make assurances that the implementation of the Sustainable Insurance Strategy remains on track. He highlighted efforts to hold insurance companies accountable, ensure prompt claim payments, and protect consumer interests through initiatives like the consumer claim tracker and expanded disaster assistance programs. Legislators raised pressing concerns about the financial burden on homeowners, the adequacy of the FAIR Plan as a last-resort option, and the need for greater consumer education. Commissioner Lara addressed these issues by detailing the Department’s efforts to provide regulatory oversight on proposed rate increases and wildfire mitigation discounts. The Commissioner noted his commitment to collaborating with legislators and community members to strengthen market stability, expand consumer protections, and improve transparency in the insurance industry. The agenda for this hearing can be found here. Brown Act Informational Hearing On March 19, the Senate Local Government Committee held an informational hearing on the Brown Act exploring ways to improve public access, participation, and transparency in local government meetings. Discussions highlighted the benefits of remote participation in increasing engagement, particularly for seniors, people with disabilities, and those with limited access to in-person meetings, while also addressing concerns about the financial burden on local governments. Panelists shared successful hybrid meeting models and emphasized the need for regional collaboration to share resources and best practices. Additional topics included challenges like technological disruptions and the importance of maintaining in-person access alongside remote options. Committee members expressed interest in pursuing legislative updates to ensure equitable participation and enhanced transparency in local governance. The agenda for this hearing can be found here. Homelessness Informational Hearings On March 11, the Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing to discuss efforts to reduce homelessness through the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) Program and related homelessness grant programs. A total of $20 billion was allocated to homelessness April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 8 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 3 response, with $15 billion directed towards grant programs and $5 billion allocated to tribes. The Committee discussed the need for stronger data collection and accountability. Megan Kirkeby, Deputy Director of Housing Policy from HCD, outlined that the data collected through HHAP allows for tracking service utilization and client outcomes. However, not all grantees have the same success rates, prompting the committee to question whether the funds are being used effectively and whether these efforts are truly reducing homelessness. Assemblymember Wicks asked whether there is a clear correlation between HHAP investment and the reduction of homelessness. Local officials from San Diego and Santa Cruz agreed that while HHAP funding has been helpful, it is difficult to gauge the full return on investment (ROI) without more data and a consistent metric of success. There were discussions about the role of local nonprofits in providing services and whether they are held accountable for their spending. Kirkeby noted that while most grantees report data regularly, there are still gaps, and HCD is working to ensure better compliance. Several members raised the issue of the lack of uniformity in measuring success, with some communities focusing on permanent housing exits and others on reducing encampments. In conclusion, the committee recognized the complexity of the homelessness crisis and the need for ongoing collaboration and data-driven solutions to improve the effectiveness of state and local efforts. The agenda for this hearing can be found here. The Assembly Budget Committee held another informational hearing on March 25 that focused on California’s housing and homelessness challenges, with several key issues discussed regarding funding, programs, and the impact of proposed budget cuts. Despite progress in housing construction and efforts to streamline processes, the Chair expressed frustration that the state budget cuts for housing could interfere with progress. Zach Olmstead, Deputy Director from HCD testified that over 113,000 housing units were built in 2023 (the most recent year that data was available). However, funding concerns were raised by several members, including Assemblymember Ward, who questioned the impact of federal dollars, the ability to sustain projects without sufficient funding, and low success rates in transitioning individuals into permanent housing. Olmstead reassured that funds were still available through various grants and financing options but also acknowledged that the lack of state general fund dollars was a serious concern. Assemblymember Ward questioned low success rates in transitioning individuals into permanent housing. Olmstead admitted the lack of detailed reporting on program outcomes was a barrier to understanding program effectiveness. Members also discussed a proposed reorganization plan to split housing and consumer protection agencies to increase operational efficiency, with some skepticism over whether this would lead to better outcomes without increasing costs. Public comments echoed support for streamlining processes but raised concerns about ensuring that the new agency structure addresses the core challenges in affordable housing and homelessness. Moreover, it was highlighted that the proposed reorganization of the state housing agencies has already fallen out of alignment with the state’s budget timeline, making it unrealistic in this fiscal year without infused support. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 9 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 4 A new trailer bill was discussed to allow for the reinvestment of excess equity into housing preservation and development, with some support for its potential to create a revolving fund during tight budget times. Overall, while there was a general consensus on the need for continued investment in housing, concerns over the proposed budget cuts, lack of detailed tracking of homelessness outcomes, and the potential impact of agency restructuring were central themes in the discussions. The agenda for this hearing can be found here. CPPG ACTIVITY CPPG continues to review priority bills—keeping City staff apprised of developments on legislation during our standing meetings and throughout the month as needed. CPPG continues to work hand in hand with City staff to gather City-specific information while actively engaging with lawmakers and agency officials on legislation of interest to the City. CPPG has marked 114 bills as “priority” for the City and will continue to bring bills of potential interest to staff for review in the coming weeks. Positioned Legislation • AB 259 (Rubio, Blanca) Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences. o Status: Assembly Local Government o Position: Support • AB 492 (Valencia) Alcohol and drug programs: licensing. o Status: Assembly Appropriations o Position: Support • AB 610 (Alvarez) Housing element: governmental constraints: disclosure statement. o Status: Assembly Housing and Community Development o Position: Oppose • AB 968 (Boerner) Electric bicycles: disclosure. o Status: Assembly Transportation o Position: Support • SB 79 (Wiener) Planning and zoning: housing development: transit-oriented development. o Status: Senate Housing and Local Government o Position: Oppose • SB 239 (Arreguín) Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body. o Status: Senate Local Government o Position: Support • SB 677 (Wiener) Housing development: streamlined approvals. o Status: Senate Housing o Position: Oppose Watch/Neutral: • AB 532 (Ransom) Water rate assistance program. o Status: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials o Position: Watch • SB 350 (Durazo) Water Rate Assistance Program. o Status: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 10 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 5 o Position: Watch •SB 707 (Durazo) Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements. o Status: Senate Local Government o Position: Watch LOOKING FORWARD •April 11-18: Spring Recess •June 6: Last day for the Legislature to pass bills out of their house of origin •June 15: Legislature must pass the primary budget bill •June 30: Governor must sign the primary budget bill •July 21-August 15: Summer Recess •September 12: Last day for the Legislature to pass bills •October 12: Last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 11 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 1 Exhibit 3 City of Carlsbad Priority Bill List Children, Youth and Recreation AB 933 (Ávila Farías) Organized residential camps: organized day camps. (Introduced 02/19/2025) Link Existing law requires the State Public Health Officer to establish rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for organized camps, and regulations governing the operation of organized camps that they determine are necessary to protect the health and safety of the campers. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt minimum fire safety regulations for organized camps in accordance with specified law. Existing law establishes specified standards for the operation, regulation, and enforcement of organized camps. Existing law adopts certain definitions for the purposes of these provisions, including a definition for “organized camp” and “camper.” Existing law prohibits an organized camp from operating unless the minimum standards for organized camps prescribed in the building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized camps, and in other rules and regulations adopted by the Director of Public Health and the State Fire Marshal, are satisfied. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. This bill would rename “organized camp” to “organized residential camp” and make conforming changes. The bill would define “organized day camp” to mean a site where the primary purpose is to provide a group experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives, that has programs and facilities attended by 5 or more children 3 to 17 years of age, inclusive, and that operates for more than 3 hours per day for at least 5 days during any 12-month period. The bill would define “living experience” to mean an overnight camp for 5 days or more. The bill would change the definition of “camper” to mean any person in an organized residential camp or an organized day camp on a fee or nonfee basis who is a participant in the regular program and training of an organized residential camp or an organized day camp, and who may take on duties relating to that program and training.. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/19/2025 text) Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on Health and E.M. Economic Development SB 5 (Cabaldon) Infrastructure financing districts: allocation of taxes: agricultural land exclusion. (Introduced 12/02/2024) Link Existing law, the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to enter into contracts with owners of agricultural land to preserve the April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 12 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 2 land for agricultural use, as specified, in return for reduced property tax assessments. The act also authorizes a landowner of specified agricultural land to petition the city or county to cancel the Williamson Act contract in order to designate the land as a farmland security zone, whereby the land is eligible for a specified property tax valuation and taxed at a reduced rate for specified special taxes. Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city or a county to establish an enhanced infrastructure financing district, with a governing body referred to as the public financing authority, to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects of communitywide significance. Existing law requires the public financing authority to prepare and adopt a proposed infrastructure financing plan, as specified. Existing law authorizes the plan to require a certain portion of specified taxes levied upon property within the district to be allocated to the district each year, as specified. This bill would exclude the taxes levied upon a parcel of land enrolled in or subject to a Williamson Act contract or a farmland security zone contract, as specified, from the above-described allocation to the district. (Based on 12/02/2024 text) Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 23. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 113 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness AB 66 (Tangipa) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: egress route projects: fire safety. (Amended 02/24/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, exempt from CEQA egress route projects undertaken by a public agency to improve emergency access to and evacuation from a subdivision without a secondary egress route if the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has recommended the creation of a secondary access to the subdivision and certain conditions are met. The bill would require the lead agency to hold a noticed public meeting to hear and respond to public comments before determining that a project is exempt. The bill would require the lead agency, if it determines that a project is not subject to CEQA and approves or carries out that project, to file a notice of exemption with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and with the clerk of the county in which the project will be located. (Based on 02/24/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. AB 262 (Caloza) California Individual Assistance Act. (Amended 04/03/2025) Link Existing law, the California Disaster Assistance Act, requires the Director of Emergency Services to provide financial assistance to local agencies for their personnel costs, equipment costs, and the cost of supplies and materials used during disaster response activities, incurred as a result of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor, subject to specified criteria. The act continuously appropriates moneys in the Disaster Assistance Fund and its subsidiary account, the Earthquake Emergency Investigations Account, without regard to fiscal year, for purposes of the act. This bill would require the director, in administering that act, to prioritize local agencies that are not eligible for federal funding, pursuant to specified federal regulation, due to the agency’s inability to meet minimum damage thresholds. This bill would also enact the California Individual Assistance Act to April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 13 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 3 establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to local agencies, community-based organizations, and individuals for specified costs related to a disaster, as prescribed. The bill would require the director to allocate from the fund, subject to specified conditions, funds to meet the cost of expenses for those purposes. By authorizing increased expenditure of moneys from a continuously appropriated fund for a new purpose, the bill would make an appropriation. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 04/03/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 442 (Hadwick) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: prescribed fire, thinning, and fuel reduction projects. (Introduced 02/06/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts from its requirements prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, or fuel reduction projects, and certain related activities, undertaken in whole or in part on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire, if those projects and activities meet certain requirements. This bill would exempt from CEQA prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken within a community with a single ingress and egress evacuation route. Because the bill would require the lead agency to determine whether the exemption is applicable to a project, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/06/2025 text) Status: 02/18/2025 - Referred to Com. on NAT. RES. AB 846 (Connolly) Endangered species: incidental take: wildfire preparedness activities. (Amended 03/27/2025) Link The California Endangered Species Act prohibits the taking of an endangered, threatened, or candidate species, except as specified. Under the act, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (department) may authorize the take of listed species by certain entities through permits or memorandums of understanding for specified purposes. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Existing law requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal, as provided. This bill would authorize a city, county, city and county, special district, or other local agency to submit to the department a wildfire preparedness plan to conduct wildfire preparedness activities on land designated as a fire hazard severity zone, as defined, that minimizes impacts to wildlife and habitat for candidate, threatened, and endangered species. The bill would require the wildfire preparedness plan to include, among other things, a brief description of the planned wildfire preparedness activities, the approximate dates for the activities, and a description of the candidate, endangered, and threatened species within the plan area. The bill would authorize the department to impose a fee on a local agency for the cost of reviewing a wildfire preparedness plan submitted by that local agency, as specified. The bill would require the department, if sufficient information is included in the wildfire preparedness plan for the department to determine if an incidental take permit is required, to notify the local April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 14 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 4 agency within 90 days of receipt of the wildfire preparedness plan if an incidental take permit or other permit is needed, or if there are other considerations, exemptions, or streamlined pathways that the wildfire preparedness activities qualify for, including, but not limited to, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s California Vegetation Treatment Program. The bill would require the department to provide the local agency, in its notification, with guidance that includes, among other things, a description of the candidate, endangered, and threatened species within the plan area and measures to avoid, minimize, and fully mitigate the take of the candidate, threatened, and endangered species, as provided. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2026, to make a standard wildfire preparedness plan submission form publicly available on its internet website. The bill also would require the department, commencing January 1, 2027, to annually post on its internet website a summary of the wildfire preparedness plans submitted and include specified information in that summary. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 03/27/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-NATURAL RESOURCES 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 BRYAN, ISAAC, Chair SB 732 (Ochoa Bogh) Emergency backup generators: critical facilities: exemptions. (Introduced 02/21/2025) Link Existing law imposes various limitations on emissions of air contaminants for the control of air pollution from vehicular and nonvehicular sources. Existing law generally designates air pollution control and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to identify toxic air contaminants that are emitted into the ambient air of the state and to establish airborne toxic control measures to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants from nonvehicular sources. This bill would require an air district without a specified rule on emergency backup generators, as defined, as of January 1, 2026, that adopts such a rule to include in the rule provisions that allow the operator of a critical facility, as defined, to use a permitted emergency backup generator in exceedance of the applicable runtime and testing and maintenance limits if specified conditions are met. The bill would require a critical facility allowed to exceed applicable limits under a rule adopted pursuant to that provision to attest to and provide evidence of having taken demonstrable steps toward implementing the use of backup power technologies that meet or exceed emission standards set by the state board. By adding to the duties of air districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - Set for hearing April 30. Calendar: 04/30/25 S-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 113 BLAKESPEAR, CATHERINE, Chair Energy and Utilities SB 252 (Valladares) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: undergrounding powerlines. (Introduced 02/03/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 15 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 5 effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would exempt from the provisions of CEQA a project to underground powerlines. Because a lead agency would be required to determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/03/2025 text) Status: 03/25/2025 - April 2 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author. Environment and Climate AB 436 (Ransom) Composting facilities: zoning. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link Existing law provides that the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation serves the Governor and the Governor’s Cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research, and constitute the comprehensive state planning agency. In that capacity, existing law requires the office to, among other things, assist local governments in land use planning. Existing law, the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, establishes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to administer an integrated waste management program. Existing law establishes a goal that statewide landfill disposal of organic waste be reduced from the 2014 level by 75% by 2025. This bill, on or before June 1, 2027, would require the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, in consultation with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, to develop and post on the office’s internet website, a technical advisory, as provided, reflecting best practices to facilitate the siting of composting facilities to meet the organic waste reduction goals. The bill would require the office to consult with specified entities throughout the development of the technical advisory. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 1207 (Irwin) Climate change: market-based compliance mechanism: price ceiling. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases and requires the state board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act, until January 1, 2031, authorizes the state board to adopt a regulation establishing a system of market-based declining aggregate emissions limits for sources or categories of sources that emit greenhouse gases (market-based compliance mechanism) that meets certain requirements. Existing law requires the state board, in adopting the regulation to, among other things, establish a price ceiling for emission allowances sold by the state board. Existing law requires the state board, in establishing the price ceiling, to consider specified factors, including the full social cost associated with emitting a metric ton of greenhouse gases. This bill would require the state board to instead consider the full social cost associated with emitting a metric ton of greenhouse gases, as determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in November 2023. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 03/18/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. Calendar: 04/28/25 A-NATURAL RESOURCES 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 BRYAN, ISAAC, Chair SB 427 (Blakespear) Habitat Conservation Fund. (Introduced 02/18/2025) Link Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the electors at the June 5, 1990, direct primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act creates the Habitat Conservation Fund and requires the moneys in the fund to be used for specified purposes generally April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 16 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 6 relating to the acquisition, enhancement, or restoration of wildlife habitat. The act requires the Controller, until June 30, 2020, to annually transfer $30,000,000 from the General Fund to the Habitat Conservation Fund, less any amount transferred to the Habitat Conservation Fund from specified accounts and funds. The act, until July 1, 2020, continuously appropriates specified amounts from the Habitat Conservation Fund to the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Coastal Conservancy, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the California Tahoe Conservancy, and continuously appropriates the balance of the fund to the Wildlife Conservation Board. Chapter 31 of the Statutes of 2019 requires the Controller to continue to annually transfer $30,000,000 from the General Fund, less any amount transferred to the Habitat Conservation Fund from specified accounts and funds, to the Habitat Conservation Fund until June 30, 2030, and continuously appropriates that amount on an annual basis in the same proportions to the specified entities until July 1, 2030. This bill would require the Controller to continue to annually transfer $30,000,000 from the General Fund, less any amount transferred to the Habitat Conservation Fund from specified accounts and funds, to the Habitat Conservation Fund indefinitely, and would continuously appropriate that amount on an annual basis in the same proportions to the specified entities described above, indefinitely. (Based on 02/18/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair SB 454 (McNerney) State Water Resources Control Board: PFAS Mitigation Program. (Amended 04/08/2025) Link Existing law designates the State Water Resources Control Board as the agency responsible for administering specific programs related to drinking water, including, among others, the California Safe Drinking Water Act and the Emerging Contaminants for Small or Disadvantaged Communities Funding Program. This bill would create the PFAS Mitigation Fund in the State Treasury and would authorize certain moneys in the fund to be expended by the state board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for specified purposes. The bill would authorize the state board to seek out and deposit nonstate, federal, and private funds, require those funds to be deposited into the PFAS Mitigation Fund, and continuously appropriate the nonstate, federal, and private funds in the fund to the state board for specified purposes, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would authorize the state board to establish accounts within the PFAS Mitigation Fund. The bill would authorize the state board to expend moneys from the fund in the form of a grant, loan, or contract, or to provide assistance services to water suppliers and sewer system providers, as those terms are defined, for multiple purposes, including, among other things, to cover or reduce the costs for water suppliers associated with treating drinking water to meet the applicable state and federal maximum perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminant levels. The bill would require a water supplier or sewer system provider to include a clear and definite purpose for how the funds will be used to provide public benefits to their community related to safe drinking water, recycled water, or treated wastewater in order to be eligible to receive funds. The bill would require the state board, on or before July 1, 2027, to adopt guidelines to implement these provisions, as provided. (Based on 04/08/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair Notes 1: CalCities Sponsored SB 496 (Hurtado) Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation: appeals advisory committee: exemptions. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 17 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 7 Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt and implement motor vehicle emission standards, in-use performance standards, and motor vehicle fuel specifications for the control of air contaminants and sources of air pollution that the state board has found necessary, cost effective, and technologically feasible. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the state board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases and requires the state board to adopt rules and regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions from those sources. Pursuant to its authority, the state board has adopted the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation, which imposes various requirements for transitioning local, state, and federal government fleets of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, other high-priority fleets of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and drayage trucks to zero-emission vehicles. The Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation authorizes entities subject to the regulation to apply for exemptions from its requirements under certain circumstances. This bill would require the state board to establish the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Appeals Advisory Committee by an unspecified date for purposes of reviewing appeals of denied requests for exemptions from the requirements of the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation. The bill would require the committee to include representatives of specified governmental and nongovernmental entities. The bill would require the committee to meet monthly and would require recordings of its meetings to be made publicly available on the state board’s internet website. The bill would require the committee to consider, and make a recommendation on, an appeal of an exemption request denial no later than 60 days after the appeal is made. The bill would require specified information relating to the committee’s consideration of an appeal to be made publicly available on the state board’s internet website. The bill would require the state board to consider a recommendation of the committee at a public meeting no later than 60 days after the recommendation is made. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. Position: Support Calendar: 04/22/25 S-TRANSPORTATION 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 CORTESE, DAVE, Chair Notes 1: 4/9/25 CP Finished letter of support, sent to city with agenda for check in. Governmental Operations AB 24 (DeMaio) San Diego Association of Governments: board of directors. (Amended 04/08/2025) Link The San Diego Regional Transportation Consolidation Act reorganizes the transportation responsibilities in the San Diego region by consolidating the San Diego Association of Governments and the transit operations of 2 specified transit boards. Existing law establishes a 21-member board of directors to govern the consolidated agency that includes, among others, 2 members of the Board of Supervisors of San Diego County. This bill, the Give San Diego Rural Communities a Voice Act, would instead require the board of directors to include, among others, one member of the Board of Supervisors of San Diego County from an unincorporated area of the county and one representative from the Association of Planning Groups - San Diego County to be selected by their respective governing bodies. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/08/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. Calendar: 04/23/25 A-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 10 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 127 CARRILLO, JUAN, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 18 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 8 AB 339 (Ortega) Local public employee organizations: notice requirements. (Introduced 01/28/2025) Link Existing law, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, contains various provisions that govern collective bargaining of local represented employees and delegates jurisdiction to the Public Employment Relations Board to resolve disputes and enforce the statutory duties and rights of local public agency employers and employees. Existing law requires the governing body of a public agency to meet and confer in good faith regarding wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with representatives of recognized employee organizations. Existing law requires the governing body of a public agency, and boards and commissions designated by law or by the governing body, to give reasonable written notice, except in cases of emergency, as specified, to each recognized employee organization affected of any ordinance, rule, resolution, or regulation directly relating to matters within the scope of representation proposed to be adopted by the governing body or the designated boards and commissions. This bill would require the governing body of a public agency, and boards and commissions designated by law or by the governing body of a public agency, to give the recognized employee organization no less than 120 days’ written notice before issuing a request for proposals, request for quotes, or renewing or extending an existing contract to perform services that are within the scope of work of the job classifications represented by the recognized employee organization. The bill would require the notice to include specified information, including the anticipated duration of the contract. The bill would also require the public agency, if an emergency or other exigent circumstance prevents the public agency from providing the written notice described above, to provide as much advance notice as is practicable under the circumstances. If the recognized employee organization demands to meet and confer within 30 days of receiving the written notice, the bill would require the public agency and recognized employee organization to promptly meet and confer in good faith, as specified. By imposing new duties on local public agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 01/28/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. AB 370 (Carrillo) California Public Records Act: cyberattacks. (Amended 03/12/2025) Link The California Public Records Act requires state and local agencies to make their records available for public inspection, except as specified. Existing law requires each agency, within 10 days of a request for a copy of records, to determine whether the request seeks copies of disclosable public records in possession of the agency and to promptly notify the person of the determination and the reasons therefor. Existing law authorizes that time limit to be extended by no more than 14 days under unusual circumstances, and defines “unusual circumstances” to include, among other things, the need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine records during a state of emergency when the state of emergency currently affects the agency’s ability to timely respond to requests due to staffing shortages or closure of facilities, as provided. This bill would also expand the definition of unusual circumstances to include the inability of the agency, because of a cyberattack, to access its electronic servers or systems in order to search for and obtain a record that the agency believes is responsive to a request and is maintained on the servers or systems in an electronic format. Under the bill, the extension would apply only until the agency regains its ability to access its electronic servers or systems and search for and obtain electronic records that may be responsive to a request. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/12/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. AB 561 (Quirk-Silva) Restraining orders. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 19 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 9 Existing law authorizes a person who has suffered harassment, as defined, to seek a temporary restraining order and an order prohibiting harassment. Existing law prohibits a filing fee for, and a fee for the service of process by a sheriff or marshal of, a protective or restraining order if the order is based upon stalking, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence. This bill would authorize a petitioner, at no cost, to file a petition for a protective or restraining order electronically and remotely appear at the hearing if the order is based upon stalking, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 03/26/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 569 (Stefani) California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013: exceptions: supplemental defined benefit plans. (Introduced 02/12/2025) Link Existing law, the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), on and after January 1, 2013, requires a public retirement system, as defined, to modify its plan or plans to comply with PEPRA, as specified. Among other things, PEPRA prohibits a public employer from offering a defined benefit pension plan exceeding specified retirement formulas, requires new members of public retirement systems to contribute at least a specified amount of the normal cost, as defined, for their defined benefit plans, and prohibits an enhancement of a public employee’s retirement formula or benefit adopted after January 1, 2013, from applying to service performed prior to the operative date of the enhancement. PEPRA prohibits a public employer from offering a supplemental defined benefit plan if the public employer did not do so before January 1, 2013, or, if it did, from offering that plan to an additional employee group after that date. This bill would, notwithstanding that prohibition, authorize a public employer, as defined, to bargain over contributions for supplemental retirement benefits administered by, or on behalf of, an exclusive bargaining representative of one or more of the public employer’s bargaining units. (Based on 02/12/2025 text) Status: 02/24/2025 - Referred to Com. on P. E. & R. Calendar: 04/23/25 A-PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 MCKINNOR, TINA, Chair AB 875 (Muratsuchi) Vehicle removal. (Introduced 02/19/2025) Link Existing law authorizes a peace officer or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations to remove a vehicle when, among other things, the officer arrests a person driving or in control of a vehicle for an alleged offense, and the officer is, by the Vehicle Code or other law, required or permitted to take, and does take, the person into custody. This bill would additionally authorize a peace officer to remove an electric bicycle operated on the highway that is capable of speeds greater than any speed permitted for an electric bicycle, as specified. The bill would also authorize a peace officer to remove a bicycle operated by a person who (1) is under 16 years of age and is operating a class 3 electric bicycle or (2) is operating, or riding upon, a class 3 electric bicycle without a helmet, as specified. (Based on 02/19/2025 text) Status: 03/28/2025 - Referred to Com. on TRANS. Calendar: 04/28/25 A-TRANSPORTATION 2:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 WILSON, LORI, Chair AB 1109 (Kalra) Evidentiary privileges: union agent-represented worker privilege. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 20 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 10 Existing law governs the admissibility of evidence in court proceedings and generally provides a privilege as to communications made in the course of certain relations, including the attorney- client, physician-patient, and psychotherapist-patient relationship, as specified. Under existing law, the right of any person to claim those evidentiary privileges is waived with respect to a communication protected by the privilege if any holder of the privilege, without coercion, has disclosed a significant part of the communication or has consented to a disclosure. This bill would establish a privilege between a union agent, as defined, and a represented employee or represented former employee to refuse to disclose any confidential communication between the employee or former employee and the union agent made while the union agent was acting in the union agent’s representative capacity, except as specified. The bill would permit a represented employee or represented former employee to prevent another person from disclosing a privileged communication, except as specified. The bill would further provide that this privilege may be waived in accordance with existing law and does not apply in criminal proceedings. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. AB 1337 (Ward) Information Practices Act of 1977. (Amended 04/08/2025) Link Existing law, the Information Practices Act of 1977, prescribes a set of requirements, prohibitions, and remedies applicable to agencies, as defined, with regard to their collection, storage, and disclosure of personal information, as defined. Existing law exempts from the provisions of the act counties, cities, any city and county, school districts, municipal corporations, districts, political subdivisions, and other local public agencies, as specified. This bill would recast those provisions to, among other things, remove that exemption for local agencies, and would revise and expand the definition of “personal information.” The bill would make other technical, nonsubstantive, and conforming changes. Because the bill would expand the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/08/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 1383 (McKinnor) Public employees’ retirement benefits. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link The Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL) establishes the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to provide a defined benefit to members of the system based on final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. Existing law creates the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund, which is continuously appropriated for purposes of PERS, including depositing employer and employee contributions. Under the California Constitution, assets of a public pension or retirement system are trust funds. The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) establishes a variety of requirements and restrictions on public employers offering defined benefit pension plans. In this regard, PEPRA restricts the amount of compensation that may be applied for purposes of calculating a defined pension benefit for a new member, as defined, by restricting it to specified percentages of the contribution and benefit base under a specified federal law with respect to old age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits. This bill, on and after January 1, 2026, would require a retirement system to adjust pensionable compensation limits to be consistent with a defined benefit limitation established and annually adjusted under federal law with respect to tax exempt qualified trusts. By increasing the contribution to continuously appropriated funds, this bill would make an appropriation. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 03/11/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on P. E. & R. Calendar: 04/23/25 A-PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 MCKINNOR, TINA, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 21 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 11 AB 1388 (Bryan) Law enforcement: settlement agreements. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and requires the commission to, among other things, establish a certification program for peace officers, as defined. Existing law requires the commission to establish procedures for accepting complaints from members of the public regarding peace officers or law enforcement agencies that may be investigated. Existing law establishes, within the commission, the Peace Officer Standards Accountability Division and requires the division, among other things, to bring proceedings seeking the suspension or revocation of certification of a peace officer. Existing law, the California Public Records Act, generally requires public records to be open for inspection by the public. Existing law provides numerous exceptions to this requirement. Under existing law, the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection. Existing law provides certain exemptions to this confidentiality, including the reports, investigations, and findings of certain incidents involving the use of force by a peace officer. This bill would additionally exempt agreements between an employing agency and a peace officer that, among other things, require the agency to destroy, remove, or conceal a record of a misconduct investigation. The bill would also require any agency employing a peace officer to report certain events to the commission, that occurred after January 1, 2020, and resulted in the peace officer’s separation from employment or appointment after January 1, 2023, and include the reason for the separation and whether the separation was part of the resolution or a settlement. The bill would declare that its provisions are severable. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-PUBLIC SAFETY 8:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 126 SCHULTZ, NICK, Chair AB 1494 (Ta) General plans. (Introduced 02/21/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city and of any land outside its boundaries that bears relation to its planning. That law further requires the planning agency having jurisdiction over a general plan to render a report as to conformity with the adopted general plan before, among other things, the acquisition or disposition of real property or the construction or authorization of a public building or structure impacting the general plan, except as specified. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. (Based on 02/21/2025 text) Status: 02/24/2025 - Read first time. ACA 1 (Valencia) Public finance. (Introduced 12/02/2024) Link The California Constitution prohibits the total annual appropriations subject to limitation of the State and of each local government from exceeding the appropriations limit of the entity of government for the prior year adjusted for the change in the cost of living and the change in population. The California Constitution defines “appropriations subject to limitation” of the State for these purposes. This measure would change the 1.5% required transfer to an undetermined percentage of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for that fiscal year. The measure would change the 10% limit on the balance in the Budget Stabilization Account to 20% of the amount of the General Fund proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year estimate, as specified. The April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 22 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 12 measure would specify that funds transferred under these provisions to the Budget Stabilization Account do not constitute appropriations subject to the above-described annual appropriations limit. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 12/02/2024 text) Status: 01/29/2025 - Introduced measure version corrected. SB 240 (Jones) San Diego Association of Governments: board of directors: County of San Diego. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link The San Diego Regional Transportation Consolidation Act establishes a 21-member board of directors to govern the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). The act requires 2 supervisors from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to serve on the SANDAG board of directors. The act refers to these directors as primary and secondary representatives. The act requires one of these directors to be from a district that is substantially an incorporated area and the other to be from a district that is substantially an unincorporated area. This bill would replace the secondary representative from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on the SANDAG board of directors with a resident of an unincorporated area of the County of San Diego that is selected by, and subject to recall by, a majority of the community planning groups in the County of San Diego. The bill would provide for an alternative to serve on the SANDAG board of directors if the secondary representative is not available. The bill would eliminate the requirement that one of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on the SANDAG board of directors be from a district that is substantially an incorporated area and the other to be from a district that is substantially an unincorporated area. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 28 in TRANS. pending receipt. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 113 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair 04/28/25 S-TRANSPORTATION 3 p.m. or upon adjournment of Session - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 CORTESE, DAVE, Chair SB 365 (Alvarado-Gil) Fire insurance: reporting on cancellation and nonrenewal. (Introduced 02/13/2025) Link Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including residential property insurance. Existing law prohibits an insurer from canceling or refusing to renew a policy of residential property insurance for a property located in a ZIP Code within or adjacent to a fire perimeter for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency, if the cancellation or nonrenewal is based solely on the fact that the insured structure is located in an area in which a wildfire has occurred. This bill would require the Department of Insurance, on or before January 1, 2027, and on or before each January 1 thereafter, to report specified information to the Legislature on the effect the above- described one-year prohibition against cancellation or nonrenewal has had on cancellations and nonrenewals of policies of residential property insurance in ZIP Codes adjacent to, but not included in, an area where the prohibition applies, as well as for ZIP Codes for which the prohibition has expired. (Based on 02/13/2025 text) Status: 04/04/2025 - Set for hearing April 23. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-INSURANCE 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 RUBIO, SUSAN, Chair SB 456 (Ashby) Contractors: exemptions: muralists. (Amended 04/02/2025) Link Existing law, the Contractors State License Law, establishes the Contractors State License Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of contractors. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business, or act in the capacity, of a contractor without a license, unless exempted. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 23 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 13 Existing law exempts from the Contractors State License Law, among other things, a nonprofit corporation providing assistance to an owner, as specified. This bill would exempt from that law an artist who draws, paints, applies, executes, restores, or conserves a mural, as defined, pursuant to an agreement with a person who could legally authorize the work. (Based on 04/02/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair SB 464 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Employer pay data. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to enforce civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment and to protect and safeguard the right of all persons to obtain and hold employment without discrimination based on specified characteristics or status. This bill would require an employer to collect and store any demographic information gathered by an employer or labor contractor for the purpose of submitting the pay data report separately from employees’ personnel records. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-LABOR, PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 SMALLWOOD-CUEVAS, LOLA, Chair 04/29/25 S-JUDICIARY 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair SB 569 (Blakespear) Department of Transportation: homeless encampments. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link Current law vests the Department of Transportation with full possession and control of the state highway system, including associated property, and authorizes the department to require the removal of any encroachment in, under, or over any state highway. Existing law authorizes the department to establish maintenance programs related to highway cleanup, as specified. This bill would require the department to coordinate with local governments to address and prevent homeless encampments located on department property and to establish a dedicated liaison office for this purpose. The bill would require the department to develop a joint action plan for each district of the department in which homeless encampments are located on department property in collaboration with local governments located in the district. The bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate funds to support collaborative efforts with local governments to address homeless encampments on department property. The bill would require the department to establish an advisory committee in each district for the purpose of providing advice on the implementation of these provisions. The bill would require the department to submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing specified information and recommendations regarding homeless encampments on department property. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-TRANSPORTATION 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 CORTESE, DAVE, Chair SB 827 (Gonzalez) Local agency officials: training. (Amended 03/26/2025) Link Existing law imposes ethics training on specified local agency officials. Existing law requires each training to be 2 hours and requires the officials to receive each training every 2 years, and as described otherwise, with the first training within one year of commencing service. Existing law requires the local agency to maintain records of the trainings, as prescribed. This bill would expand which local agency officials are required to complete the above-described ethics training to include any managerial-level employee with responsibility over the agency’s finances and would April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 24 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 14 instead require officials who commence service on or after January 1, 2026, to receive their initial training within 6 months of commencing service. The bill would require the local agency to publish the training records on its internet website, as specified. This bill would additionally require, if a local agency provides any type of compensation, salary, or stipend to a member of a legislative body, or provides reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred by a member of a legislative body in the performance of official duties, all local agency officials, as defined, to receive at least 2 hours of ethical, fiscal, and financial training, as described. The bill would require the training to be received at least once every 2 years, as provided. The bill would exempt from these requirements specified local agency officials if they are in compliance with existing education requirements specific to their positions. This bill would authorize a local agency or an association of local agencies to contract with or otherwise collaborate with a provider of a training course to offer one or more training courses, or sets of self-study materials with tests, to its local agency officials to meet the training requirement, as described. The bill would require the training courses and materials to be developed in consultation with experts in local government finance. The bill would require providers of training courses to provide participants with proof of participation for purposes of complying with specified recordkeeping requirements. The bill would require a local agency to provide information on training available at least once annually. By imposing additional duties on local officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/26/2025 text) Status: 04/04/2025 - Set for hearing April 30. Calendar: 04/30/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair Health and Human Services AB 424 (Davies) Alcohol and other drug programs: complaints. (Amended 03/19/2025) Link Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities serving adults by the State Department of Health Care Services, as prescribed. Existing law prohibits the operation, establishment, management, conduct, or maintenance of an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility to provide recovery, treatment, or detoxification services within this state without first obtaining a current valid license. This bill would, when the department receives a complaint against a licensed alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, or a complaint alleging that a facility is unlawfully operating without a license, from a member of the public, require the department to provide, within 30 10 days of the date of the complaint, notice to the person filing the complaint that the complaint has been received and to provide, upon closing the complaint, notice to the person filing the complaint that the complaint has been closed and whether the department found the facility to be in violation of the provisions governing facility licensure and regulation. (Based on 03/19/2025 text) Status: 03/20/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on Health. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-HEALTH 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 BONTA, MIA, Chair AB 492 (Valencia) Alcohol and drug programs: licensing. (Introduced 02/10/2025) Link Under existing law, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for administering prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse and problem gambling. Existing law authorizes the department to issue a license to operate an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility upon receipt of a completed written application, fire clearance, and licensing fee, as specified. This bill would require the department, whenever it issues a license to operate an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, to concurrently provide written notification of the issuance of the license to the city or county in which the facility is located. The April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 25 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 15 bill would require the notice to include the name and mailing address of the licensee and the location of the facility. (Based on 02/10/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Position: Support Notes 1: 2/24/25: Jason requested in an email that the bill be tagged priority. 3/18/25: DC tagged as support. 3/21/25: SG sent to the City. 4/1/25: SG testified in support in Assembly Health. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Assembly Health and Assembly Appropriations, and sent to delegation. Homelessness AB 750 (Quirk-Silva) Homeless shelters: safety regulations. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link The State Housing Law, among other things, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations for the protection of the health, safety, and general welfare of the occupant and the public relating to specified residential structures, as provided, which apply throughout the state. Existing law requires the housing or building department of every city or county, or the health department if there is no building department, to enforce within its jurisdiction the provisions of the State Housing Law, building standards, and the other rules and regulations adopted by the department pertaining to the maintenance, sanitation, ventilation, use, or occupancy of apartment houses, hotels, or dwellings. Existing law authorizes an officer, employee, or agent of an enforcement agency to enter and inspect any building or premises whenever necessary to secure compliance with, or prevent a violation of, specified law, including the State Housing Law. A violation of the State Housing Law, or of the building standards or rules and regulations adopted pursuant to that law, is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a city or county that receives a complaint from an occupant of a homeless shelter, as defined, or an agent of an occupant, alleging that a homeless shelter is substandard to inspect the homeless shelter, as specified. Existing law requires a city or county that determines a homeless shelter is substandard to issue a notice to correct the violation to the owner or operator of the homeless shelter, as specified. Existing law makes the owner or operator of a homeless shelter responsible for correcting any violation cited pursuant to these provisions. This bill would require a city or county to additionally perform an annual inspection of every homeless shelter located in its jurisdiction. The bill would authorize the above-described inspection or annual inspection to be announced or unannounced. The bill would require homeless shelters to prominently display notice of an occupant’s rights, the process for reporting a complaint alleging a homeless shelter is substandard, and prescribed information, including specified contact information. The bill would require the homeless shelter to provide the same notice in writing to new occupants upon intake. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on APPR. SB 16 (Blakespear) Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: housing element: Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes. (Amended 03/25/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law requires the housing element to include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to meeting these needs. For a local government that does not receive funding to address the population of individuals who are unhoused pursuant to April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 26 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 16 certain state programs, this bill would require the assessment to include, among other things, specified data regarding the population of individuals who are unhoused and a description of key actions that will be taken to reduce individuals who are unhoused based on the data. By imposing additional duties on local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 03/25/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing April 30 in HEALTH pending receipt. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair 04/30/25 S-HEALTH 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 MENJIVAR, CAROLINE, Chair SB 329 (Blakespear) Alcohol and drug recovery or treatment facilities: investigations. (Amended 03/28/2025) Link Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facilities by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law prohibits operating an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility to provide recovery, treatment, or detoxification services within this state without first obtaining a current valid license. If a facility is alleged to be providing those services without a license, existing law requires the department to conduct a site visit to investigate the allegation. Existing law also authorizes the department to conduct announced or unannounced site visits to licensed facilities for the purpose of reviewing them for compliance, as specified. This bill would require the department to assign a complaint under its jurisdiction regarding an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility to an analyst for investigation within 10 days of receiving the complaint. If the department receives a complaint that does not fall under its jurisdiction, the bill would require the department to notify the complainant, in writing, that it does not investigate that type of complaint. The bill would require the department to complete an investigation into a complaint regarding a facility within 60 days of assigning the complaint unless the department requires additional resources, as specified, to complete the investigation. If the department is not able to complete an investigation within 60 days, the bill would require the department to notify the complainant, in writing, of the reason for the delay. (Based on 03/28/2025 text) Status: 04/04/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair SB 692 (Arreguín) Vehicles: homelessness. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Existing law makes it unlawful for a peace officer or an unauthorized person to remove an unattended vehicle from a highway, except as provided. Under existing law, the removal of a vehicle is a seizure, subject to the limits set forth in jurisprudence for the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Existing law authorizes a city, county, or city and county to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts of vehicles from private or public property. Existing law requires that any ordinance for the removal of abandoned vehicles contain certain provisions, including a provision exempting vehicles under certain circumstances, and a provision providing no less than a 10-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle or part thereof as a public nuisance, unless the property owner and the owner of the vehicle sign releases. Existing law also exempts from the 10-day notice prior to removal provision, a vehicle meeting specified requirements, including being valued at less than $200 and being determined to be a public nuisance, if the property owner has signed a release. This bill would additionally authorize a city, county, or city and county to adopt an ordinance for the abatement and removal of vehicles formerly used as shelter by a person. The bill would require an ordinance establishing procedures for the removal of abandoned vehicles to contain a provision making the ordinance applicable to April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 27 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 17 public agencies operating certain vehicle buyback programs, as specified. The bill would also specifically authorize a local government to perform emergency summary abatement of vehicles creating imminent health and safety hazards. The bill would modify the exemption from prior 10- day notice of intention to abate and remove a vehicle to no longer require that both the vehicle be determined to be a public nuisance and that the property owner sign a release. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-PUBLIC SAFETY 8:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 ARREGUÍN, JESSE, Chair Housing and Land Use AB 39 (Zbur) General plans: Local Electrification Planning Act. (Amended 02/25/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city or county to adopt a comprehensive general plan for the city’s or county’s physical development that includes various elements, including, among others, a land use element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land in specified categories, and a circulation element that identifies the location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, any military airports and ports, and other local public utilities and facilities, as specified. This bill, the Local Electrification Planning Act, would require a each city, county, or city and county, on or after January 1, 2027, but no later than January 1, 2030, to prepare and adopt a specified plan, or integrate a plan in the next adoption or revision of the general plan, that includes locally based goals, objectives, policies, and feasible implementation measures that include, among other things, the identification of opportunities to expand electric vehicle charging, as specified, and includes policies and implementation measures that address the needs of disadvantaged communities, low-income households, and small businesses for equitable and prioritized investments in zero-emission technologies that directly benefit these groups. For these purposes, the bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county to incorporate by reference into the general plan a previously adopted similar plan that meets the above-described requirements, as specified. By increasing the duties of local public officials, the bill would establish a state- mandated local program. The bill would deem a plan adopted pursuant to these provisions as a regional plan for specified purposes. The bill would require that the above-described provisions only apply to a city, county, or city and county with a population greater than 75,000 residents. The bill would define terms for these purposes. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/25/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E. Calendar: 04/30/25 A-UTILITIES AND ENERGY Upon adjournment of Communications and Conveyance Committee - State Capitol, Room 437 PETRIE-NORRIS, COTTIE, Chair AB 52 (Aguiar-Curry) Native American resources. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link Existing law finds and declares it to be the public policy and in the public interest of California to encourage the voluntary conveyance of conservation easements to qualified nonprofit organizations. Existing law defines the term “conservation easement” for these purposes, and authorizes certain entities and organizations to acquire and hold conservation easements, including a federally recognized California Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe that is on the contact list maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission, to protect a California Native American prehistoric, archaeological, cultural, April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 28 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 18 spiritual, or ceremonial place, if the conservation easement is voluntarily conveyed. This bill would instead authorize a California Native American tribe that is on the above-described contact list, to protect a California Native American prehistoric, archaeological, cultural, spiritual, or ceremonial place, to acquire and hold conservation easements, if the conservation easement is voluntarily conveyed or otherwise conveyed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 03/11/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. AB 87 (Boerner) Housing development: density bonuses: mixed-use developments: short-term rentals. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link Existing law, commonly referred to as the Density Bonus Law, requires a city or county to provide a developer that proposes a housing development within the city or county with a density bonus and other incentives or concessions, as specified, if the developer agrees to construct, among other options, specified percentages of units for lower income households or very low income households, and meets other requirements. Existing law defines “housing development,” for these purposes, to mean a development project for 5 or more residential units, including mixed-use developments. This bill would define “mixed-use development” for purposes of the Density Bonus Law to mean a development with at least 70% of the square footage of a proposed development designated for residential uses and no square footage of the development designated for use as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other visitor-serving purposes. The bill would also prohibit an applicant from being eligible for a density bonus or any other incentives or concessions under the Density Bonus Law, unless the applicant agrees to, and the city, county, or city and county ensures, the commitment to record a land use restriction or covenant providing that a unit of development may not be listed as a short-term rental unit, as defined. By imposing these requirements on local agencies with respect to density bonuses, this bill would impose a state- mandated local program. This bill would also make related conforming changes to various other laws to update cross-references to the Density Bonus Law. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 03/18/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair AB 249 (Ramos) Housing: Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program: youth- specific processes and coordinated entry systems. (Amended 03/27/2025) Link Existing law requires the Governor to create the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, renamed the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, to, among other things, identify mainstream resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California and to serve as a statewide facilitator, coordinator, and policy development resource on ending homelessness in California. Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program, administered by the Interagency Council on Homelessness, with respect to rounds 1 through 5, inclusive, of the program, and Department of Housing and Community Development (department), with respect to round 6 of the program, for the purpose of providing jurisdictions, as defined, with one-time grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Existing law requires the department, upon appropriation, to distribute certain amounts, as specified, for purposes of round 6 of the program. Existing law requires an applicant to submit an application containing specified information in order to apply for a program allocation. Existing law requires an applicant to use at least 10% of specified funds allocated for services for homeless youth populations. This bill would require a continuum of care, upon April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 29 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 19 appropriation and beginning with the 2026–27 fiscal year, to annually certify that they create or maintain a youth-specific process with their respective coordinated entry system, as specified, implement a youth-specific assessment tool, create a body or identify an existing body composed of youth with lived experience of homelessness that the continuum of care and other Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program grantees must consult with regularly, and identify an array of youth-specific housing inventory. The bill would require the continuum of care to document in their application how the housing assessment is youth-specific and their prioritization policy if the continuum of care states they already maintain a youth-specific coordinated entry system. The bill would also make findings and declarations related to youth-specific programs and the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program. (Based on 03/27/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 253 (Ward) California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits. (Amended 03/13/2025) Link Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Existing law authorizes a county’s or city’s governing body to prescribe fees for permits, certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law. This bill, the California Residential Private Permitting Review Act, would require a county’s or city’s building department to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/13/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. AB 301 (Schiavo) Planning and zoning: housing development projects: postentitlement phase permits: state departments. (Amended 03/04/2025) Link Existing law relating to housing development approval requires a local agency to compile a list of information needed to approve or deny a postentitlement phase permit, to post an example of a complete, approved application and an example of a complete set of postentitlement phase permits for at least 5 types of housing development projects in the jurisdiction, as specified, and to make those items available to all applicants for these permits no later than January 1, 2024. Existing law establishes time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant and consequences for a local agency that fails to meet that timeline, as provided. Existing law defines “postentitlement phase permit” to include a range of permits issued by a local agency. This bill would require a state department to comply with the above-described provisions relating to postentitlement phase permits applicable to a local agency. The bill would require a state department to make the information list, as described above, and the above-described examples of a complete, approved application and a complete set of postentitlement phase permits available on the department’s internet website by January 1, 2026. The bill would deem a postentitlement phase permit approved, and all related reviews complete, if a state department fails to meet the time limits for review of an application for that permit. The bill would revise the definition of “postentitlement phase permit” for purposes of these provisions to include permits issued by a state department and any postentitlement review by a state department associated with a housing development proposal, and would define the term “state department” for these purposes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. (Based on 03/04/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. AB 306 (Schultz) Building regulations: state building standards. (Amended 03/12/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 30 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 20 Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development (department) in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission (commission) within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code (code). Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Existing law requires, among other things, the building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval by the commission, as specified, to be adopted by reference, with certain exceptions. Existing law authorizes any city or county to make changes in those building standards that are published in the code, including to green building standards. Existing law requires the governing body of a city or county, before making modifications or changes to those green building standards, to make an express finding that those modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. This bill would, from June 1, 2025, until June 1, 2031, inclusive, prohibit a city or county from making changes that are applicable to residential units to the above-described building standards unless a certain condition is met, including that the commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety. By requiring a city or county to take certain actions relating to building standards, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would, from June 1, 2025, until June 1, 2031, inclusive, require the commission to reject a modification or change to any building standard, as described above, affecting a residential unit and filed by the governing body of a city or county unless a certain condition is met, including that the commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety. The bill would also make related findings and declarations. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/12/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. AB 462 (Lowenthal) Land use: coastal development permits: accessory dwelling units. (Amended 02/27/2025) Link Existing law provides for the creation by local ordinance, or by ministerial approval if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, of accessory dwelling units in areas zoned for single-family or multifamily dwelling residential use in accordance with specified standards and conditions. The California Coastal Act of 1976, which is administered by the California Coastal Commission, requires any person wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, as defined, to obtain a coastal development permit from a local government or the commission, except as provided. Existing law specifies that the above-described provisions governing accessory dwelling units do not supersede or in any way alter or lessen the effect or application of the California Coastal Act of 1976, except as specified. This bill would exempt the construction of an accessory dwelling unit located within the County of Los Angeles, and in any county that is subject to a proclamation of a state of emergency made by the Governor on or after February 1, 2025, as provided, from the need to obtain a coastal development permit, as specified. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 02/27/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. AB 507 (Haney) Adaptive reuse: streamlining: incentives. (Introduced 02/10/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for its physical development, and the development of certain lands outside its boundaries, that includes, among other mandatory elements, a housing April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 31 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 21 element. That law allows a development proponent to submit an application for a development that is subject to a specified streamlined, ministerial approval process not subject to a conditional use permit, if the development satisfies certain objective planning standards, including that the development is a multifamily housing development that contains two or more residential units. This bill would deem an adaptive reuse project a use by right in all zones, regardless of the zoning of the site, and subject to a streamlined, ministerial review process if the project meets specified requirements, subject to specified exceptions. In this regard, an adaptive reuse project, in order to qualify for the streamlined, ministerial review process, would be required to be proposed for an existing building that is less than 50 years old or meets certain requirements regarding the preservation of historic resources, including the signing of an affidavit declaring that the project will comply with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation for, among other things, the preservation of exterior facades of a building that face a street, or receive federal or state historic rehabilitation tax credits, as specified. The bill would require an adaptive reuse project to meet specified affordability criteria. In this regard, the bill would require an adaptive reuse project for rental housing to include either 8% of the unit for very low income households and 5% of the units for extremely low income households or 15% of the units for lower income households. For an adaptive reuse project for owner-occupied housing, the bill would require the development to offer either 30% of the units at an affordable housing cost to moderate-income households or 15% of the units at an affordable housing cost to lower income households. For an adaptive reuse project including mixed uses, the bill would require at least one-half of the square footage of the adaptive reuse project to be dedicated to residential uses. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/10/2025 text) Status: 02/24/2025 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV. Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair AB 590 (Lee) Social Housing Bond Act of 2026. (Introduced 02/12/2025) Link Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing- related parks. This bill would enact the Social Housing Bond Act of 2026 which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $950,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law, to fund social housing programs, as specified. The bill would create the California Housing Authority, which would be governed by the California Housing Authority Board, to ensure that social housing developments that are produced and acquired align with specified goals and would authorize the authority to issue the bonds and, upon appropriation of the Legislature, utilize funds from other sources to build more low, very low, and extremely low income housing. The bill would create the Social Housing Revolving Loan Fund to be used, upon appropriation of the Legislature, to provide zero-interest loan for the purpose of constructing housing to accommodate a mix of household incomes. The bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 02/12/2025 text) Status: 03/03/2025 - Referred to Com. on H. & C.D. AB 609 (Wicks) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 32 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 22 The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts from its requirements various projects, including, but not limited to, housing projects that meet certain requirements. This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA a housing development project, as defined, that meets certain conditions. The bill would require a local government, as a condition of approval for the development, to require the development proponent to complete a phase I environmental assessment, as provided. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a housing development project qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-NATURAL RESOURCES 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 BRYAN, ISAAC, Chair AB 610 (Alvarez) Housing element: governmental constraints: disclosure statement. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law, commonly referred to as the Housing Element Law, prescribes requirements for a city’s or county’s preparation of, and compliance with, its housing element, and requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to review and determine whether the housing element substantially complies with the Housing Element Law, as specified. Existing law provides that a housing element or amendment is considered substantially compliant with the Housing Element Law when the local agency has adopted a housing element or amendment, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction determines the adopted housing element or amendment to be in substantial compliance with the Housing Element Law, and the department’s compliance findings have not been superseded by subsequent contrary findings by the department or by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or the court’s decision has not been overturned or superseded by a subsequent court decision or by statute. Existing law requires the housing element to include an analysis of potential and actual governmental constraints upon the maintenance, improvement, or development of housing for all income levels, including, among others, locally adopted ordinances that directly impact the cost and supply of residential development. Existing law also requires the analysis to demonstrate local efforts to remove governmental constraints that hinder the locality from meeting its share of the regional housing need. This bill would require the housing element to include, in addition to the above-described analysis, a governmental constraints disclosure statement, as specified. The bill would also prohibit any new or amended covered governmental constraint, as defined, or a more stringent revision of a covered governmental constraint, from being adopted during within 3 years from the date the housing element or amendment is considered in substantial compliance with the Housing Element Law unless, among other things, it was both (1) included in the governmental constraints disclosure statement, and (2) the local government has completed all of the housing element program commitments to eliminate or mitigate covered governmental constraints contained in the prior and current planning periods, or the adoption of the measure is required by state or federal law and the local government has taken specified actions. By imposing new requirements upon local governments submitting a housing April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 33 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 23 element, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended. Position: Oppose Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as oppose. 3/23/25: SG sent draft letter to the City. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Assembly Housing and Assembly Local Government, and sent to delegation. AB 623 (Dixon) Fuel modification and reduction projects: California Environmental Quality Act: coastal development permits: exemptions. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would exempt a fuel modification project to maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of a building or structure and a fuel reduction project to prevent and contain the spread of wildfires from the requirements of CEQA. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a project qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 03/18/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. AB 650 (Papan) Planning and zoning: housing element: regional housing needs allocation. (Amended 03/28/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, which includes, among other mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law requires a public agency to administer its programs and activities relating to housing and community development in a manner to affirmatively further fair housing, and take no action that is materially inconsistent with its obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. Existing law defines “affirmatively furthering fair housing,” as provided. The Planning and Zoning Law requires that a housing element include, among other things, a program that sets forth a schedule of actions during the planning period. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a standardized reporting format for programs and actions taken pursuant to the requirement to affirmatively further fair housing. This bill would require the department to develop the above- described standardized reporting format on or before December 31, 2026. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 03/28/2025 text) Status: 04/01/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair Notes 1: CalCities sponsored. AB 671 (Wicks) Accelerated restaurant building plan approval. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 34 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 24 Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code. The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development within its boundaries. Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, requires each public agency to provide a development project applicant with a list that specifies the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project. This bill would require a local building department or local permitting department to allow a qualified professional certifier, as defined, to certify compliance with applicable building, health, and safety codes for a tenant improvement relating to a restaurant. In that regard, the bill would require the qualified professional certifier to submit a statement attesting that the tenant improvement plans and specifications comply with all applicable laws and regulations. The bill would also make qualified professional certifiers subject to certain penalties for false statements or willful noncompliance with these provisions, and would make qualified professional certifiers liable for any damages arising from negligent plan review. The bill would require that a certified plan be deemed approved for permitting purposes upon submission of the certification, provided that all fees and required documents have been submitted. This bill would require each local building department or local permitting department to conduct annual audits of tenant improvements submitted for certification, as specified. By requiring local entities to administer a new program and to take certain actions, this bill would impose a state-mandated program. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. Calendar: 04/23/25 A-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 10 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 127 CARRILLO, JUAN, Chair AB 712 (Wicks) Housing reform laws: enforcement actions: fines and penalties. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law within the Planning and Zoning Law describes various reforms and incentives enacted by the Legislature to facilitate and expedite the construction of affordable housing. Existing law within the Planning and Zoning Law, in certain civil actions or proceedings against a public entity that has issued specified approvals for a housing development, authorizes a court to award all reasonably incurred costs of suit to a prevailing public entity or nonprofit housing corporation that is a real party in interest and the permit applicant of the low- or moderate-income housing if the court makes specified findings. This bill, where the applicant for a housing development is a prevailing party in an action brought by the applicant to enforce a housing reform law against a public agency, would entitle an applicant for a housing development project to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and would require a court to impose fines on a local agency, as specified. The bill would prohibit a public agency from requiring the applicant to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless the public agency in any action alleging the public agency violated the applicant’s rights or deprived the applicant of the benefits or protection provide by a housing reform law. The bill would define housing reform law as a law that establishes or facilitates protections for the benefit of applicants for housing development projects or imposes limitations on a public agency for the benefit of housing development projects. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-JUDICIARY 8 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 KALRA, ASH, Chair AB 736 (Wicks) The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 35 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 25 Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing-related parks. This bill would enact the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Proceeds from the sale of these bonds would be used to finance programs to fund affordable rental housing and home ownership programs, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing Program, the CalHome Program, and the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Read second time and amended. AB 818 (Ávila Farías) Permit Streamlining Act: local emergencies. (Introduced 02/19/2025) Link Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, requires a public agency to determine whether an application for a development project is complete within specified time periods, as specified. The act requires a public agency that is the lead agency for a development project to approve or disapprove that project within specified time periods. Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, among other things, authorizes a local emergency to be proclaimed by the governing body of a city, county, or city and county, as specified, and grants political subdivisions various powers and authorities in periods of local emergency. This bill would prohibit, during the period of a local emergency, a local agency from denying an application for a permit necessary to rebuild or repair a residential property affected by a natural disaster unless the permit would result in the property being deemed a substandard building. The bill would require the local agency to approve or disapprove that application within 45 days of receipt of the application, and would require other expedited approvals. The bill would prohibit specified fees from being charged for these projects. By imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/19/2025 text) Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and H. & C.D. Calendar: 04/23/25 A-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 10 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 127 CARRILLO, JUAN, Chair AB 854 (Petrie-Norris) California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that the lead agency proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would exempt from CEQA projects that consist of the inspection, maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, reconductoring with advanced conductors, replacement, or removal of a transmission wire or cable used to conduct electricity or April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 36 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 26 other piece of equipment that directly attached to the wire or cable and that meet certain requirements. If a lead agency determines that a project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the above provision, the bill would require the lead agency to file a notice of exemption with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the county clerk in each county in which the project is located, as provided. By increasing the duties of a lead agency, this bill would impose a state- mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. AB 874 (Ávila Farías) Mitigation Fee Act: waiver of fees: affordable rental housing. (Introduced 02/19/2025) Link Existing law, the Mitigation Fee Act, imposes certain requirements on a local agency that imposes a fee as a condition of approval of a development project that is imposed to provide for an improvement to be constructed to serve the development project, or a fee for public improvements, as specified. The act also regulates fees for development projects and fees for specific purposes, including water and sewer connection fees, among others. The act, among other things, requires local agencies to comply with various conditions when imposing fees, extractions, or charges as a condition of approval of a proposed development or development project. The act prohibits a local agency that imposes fees or charges on a residential development for the construction of public improvements or facilities from requiring the payment of those fees or charges until the date of the final inspection or the date the certificate of occupancy is issued, whichever occurs first, except for utility service fees, as provided. This bill would require a local agency to waive fees or charges that are collected by a local agency to fund the construction of public improvements or facilities for residential developments subject to a regulatory agreement with a public entity, as provided, that includes certain income and affordability requirements. The bill would exclude from this requirement those fees or charges, as applicable, for the construction or reconstruction of school facilities or that cover the cost of code enforcement, inspection services, or other fees collected to pay for the cost of enforcement of local ordinances or state law. (Based on 02/19/2025 text) Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and H. & C.D. AB 906 (González, Mark) Planning and zoning: housing elements. (Introduced 02/19/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law requires the housing element to include, among other things, an inventory of land suitable and available for residential development, including specified sites, an analysis of the relationship of zoning and public facilities and services to these sites (first analysis), and an analysis of the relationship of the sites identified in the land inventory to the jurisdiction’s duty to affirmatively further fair housing (2nd analysis). If the inventory of sites does not identify adequate sites to accommodate the need for groups of all household income levels, as provided, existing law requires that the local government rezone sites within specified time periods. This bill would additionally require the 2nd analysis to demonstrate that the jurisdiction has accommodated a meaningful portion of its share of the regional housing need for lower income households on sites located in higher income, racially exclusive areas to the extent that those areas exist within the jurisdiction. The bill would also require the local government to rezone the sites within specified time periods, as described above, if the inventory of sites does not affirmatively further fair housing. By imposing additional duties on local entities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/19/2025 text) Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 37 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 27 Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair AB 956 (Quirk-Silva) Accessory dwelling units: ministerial approval: single-family dwellings. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, provided for the creation by local ordinance, or by ministerial approval if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, of accessory dwelling units in areas zoned for single-family or multifamily dwelling residential use in accordance with specified standards and conditions. Existing law requires a local agency to ministerially approve building permit applications within a residential or mixed-use zone to create, among others, one detached, new construction, accessory dwelling unit that does not exceed 4-foot side and rear yard setbacks for a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling, as specified. This bill would increase the number of detached, new construction, accessory dwelling units that a local agency is required to ministerially approve on lots with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling, as described above, to 2. By imposing new duties on local governments with respect to the approval of accessory dwelling units, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 04/07/2025 - In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair AB 996 (Pellerin) Public Resources: California Coastal Act of 1976: California Coastal Planning Fund. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link Existing law, the California Coastal Act of 1976, provides for the protection of California’s coast and requires any person wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, as defined, to obtain a coastal development permit, except as specified. The act requires the issuance of a coastal development permit if the proposed development is in conformity with the certified local coastal program. The act provides for the certification of local coastal programs by the California Coastal Commission. The bill would establish the California Coastal Planning Fund in the State Treasury to help local governments adequately plan for the protection of coastal resources and public accessibility to the coastline. The bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, make moneys in the fund available to the commission for various state and local costs relating to local coastal program development and sea level rise plans and to administer the fund, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 03/11/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. AB 1007 (Rubio, Blanca) Land use: development project review. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, requires a public agency that is the lead agency for a development project to approve or disapprove a development project within specified time periods. The act requires a public agency, other than the California Coastal Commission, that is a responsible agency for specified development projects to approve or disapprove the project within 90 days of the date on which the lead agency has approved the project or within 90 days of the date on which the completed application has been received and accepted as complete by the lead agency, whichever is longer. This bill would reduce the time period that a responsible agency is required to approve or disapprove a project, as described above, from 90 days to 45 days. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 38 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 28 AB 1055 (Boerner) Accessory dwelling units: proof of residential occupancy requirements. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, provides for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit by local ordinance or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in accordance with specified standards. Existing law similarly provides for the creation of junior accessory dwelling units by local ordinance or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in single-family residential zones in accordance with specified standards and conditions. Existing law generally prohibits a local agency from imposing additional standards, as specified, when evaluating a proposed accessory dwelling unit on a lot that includes a proposed or existing single-family dwelling. However, existing law authorizes a local agency to require that the property be used for rentals of terms 30 days or longer. This bill would additionally authorize a local agency to require the property owner to certify, as specified, that the accessory dwelling unit will be occupied as a residential dwelling unit for at least 6 months out of each calendar year. The bill would authorize the local agency to annually recertify, as specified, that the accessory dwelling unit is occupied as a residential dwelling unit for at least 6 months out of each calendar year. The bill would require the local agency, in enforcing the annual recertification provisions described above, to include at least 2 notices to the owner of the accessory dwelling unit, and would prohibit the local agency from, among other things, charging more than a reasonable fine for failure to comply with the above-described annual certification provisions, as specified. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/24/25 A-HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Upon adjournment of Session - State Capitol, Room 126 HANEY, MATT, Chair AB 1102 (Boerner) Sea level rise and groundwater rise: contaminated sites: report. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Under existing law, the Department of Toxic Substances Control generally regulates the management and handling of hazardous substances, materials, and waste. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2027, the department and the State Water Resources Control Board to submit a report to the Legislature that includes specified information, including information relating to all contaminated sites that are vulnerable to sea level rise and groundwater rise. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. Calendar: 04/29/25 A-ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 CONNOLLY, DAMON, Chair AB 1154 (Carrillo) Accessory dwelling units: junior accessory dwelling units. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning Law, among other things, provides for the creation of accessory dwelling units by local ordinance, or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in accordance with specified standards and conditions. Existing law prohibits a local agency from imposing parking standards for an accessory dwelling unit under certain circumstances, whether or not the local agency has adopted a local ordinance pursuant to the above provisions. Under existing law, those circumstances include, among others, if the accessory dwelling unit is located within 1/2 of one mile walking distance of public transit or there is a car share vehicle located within one block of the accessory dwelling unit. This bill would additionally prohibit a local agency from imposing any parking standards if the accessory dwelling unit is 500 April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 39 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 29 square feet or smaller. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 1206 (Harabedian) Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans. (Amended 03/27/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, provides for the adoption and administration of zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations by counties and cities and the implementation of those general plans as may be in effect in those counties or cities. In that regard, existing law requires each local agency, by January 1, 2025, to develop a program for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans. This bill would require each local agency, as defined and by July 1, 2026, to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and multifamily residential housing plans, whereby the local agency accepts single-family and multifamily plan submissions for preapproval and approves or denies the preapproval applications, as specified. The bill would authorize a local agency to charge a fee to an applicant for the preapproval of a single-family or multifamily residential housing plan, as specified. The bill would require the local agency to post preapproved single-family or multifamily residential housing plans and the contact information of the applicant on the local agency’s internet website. The bill would require a local agency to either approve or deny an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit, both as defined, within 30 days if the lot meets certain conditions and the application utilizes either a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit plan preapproved within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle or a plan that is identical to a plan used in an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit approved by the local agency within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle. The bill would also provide that its provisions do not prevent a local agency from voluntarily accepting or admitting additional plans at higher densities in additional zoning districts into the preapproved housing plan program, at the local agency’s discretion. By imposing new duties on local agencies, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/27/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 1276 (Carrillo) Housing developments: ordinances, policies, and standards. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning law, among other things, authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a development that is subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process, as provided, and not subject to a conditional use permit, if the development satisfies specified objective planning standards. The Housing Accountability Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project, as defined for purposes of the act, for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes specified written findings based on a preponderance of the evidence in the record. That act states that it shall not be construed to prohibit a local agency from requiring a housing development project to comply with objective, quantifiable, written development standards, conditions, and policies appropriate to, and consistent with, meeting the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing need, except as provided. The act further provides that for its purposes, a housing development project or emergency shelter shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 40 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 30 similar provision if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the housing development project or emergency shelter is consistent, compliant, or in conformity. The act requires a housing development project to be subject only to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when a preliminary application, as specified, was submitted, except as otherwise provided. The act defines “ordinances, policies, and standards” to include general plan, community plan, specific plan, zoning, design review standards and criteria, subdivision standards and criteria, and any other rules, regulations, requirements, and policies of a local agency, as defined, including those relating to development impact fees, capacity or connection fees or charges, permit or processing fees, and other exactions. This bill would include in the definition of “ordinances, policies, and standards” materials requirements, postentitlement permit standards, and any rules, regulations, determinations, and other requirements adopted or implemented by other public agencies, as defined. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. AB 1294 (Haney) Planning and zoning: housing development: standardized application form. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link The Permit Streamlining Act, among other things, requires each public agency to provide a development project applicant with a list that specifies the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project. The act requires a public agency that has received an application for a development project to determine in writing whether the application is complete within 30 calendar days and to immediately transmit the determination to the applicant of the development project. This bill would require that an application for a housing entitlement, as defined, be deemed complete upon payment of the permit processing fees and upon providing specified information, including, among other things, the information required in the above- described list provided by the public agency. The bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a standardized application form that applicants for a housing entitlement may use for the purpose of satisfying these requirements and would require a city, county, or city and county to accept an application submitted on the standardized application form. The bill would prohibit the city, county, or city and county from requiring submission of any other forms, beside the standardized application form, except as specified. This bill would prohibit a city, county, or city and county from requiring certain information or approvals, including, among others, any requirement for preapplication submissions, approvals, reviews, meetings, consultations, public outreach notices, or any other preapplication requirements, as a condition of determining that an application for a housing entitlement is complete. The bill would prohibit a city, county, or city and county from imposing a penalty or an additional fee, processing requirement, or submittal requirement as a consequence of an applicant using the standardized application form. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Coauthors revised. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. AB 1308 (Hoover) Residential building permits: fees: inspections. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Existing law authorizes a county’s or city’s governing body to prescribe fees for permits, certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law. Existing law entitles a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work for which the permit fees April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 41 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 31 have been charged within 60 days of receiving notice of completion of the permitted work. This bill would require a county’s or city’s building department to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. The bill would instead entitle a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work within 30 days of receiving the notice. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. AB 1359 (Ahrens) Planning and zoning: development conditions: housing-forward jurisdictions. (Amended 03/28/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development within its boundaries that includes, among other things, a housing element. The housing element is required to be updated at specified intervals, and when updating the housing element, the local government is required to take into account regional housing needs for various income levels, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to determine whether the housing element is in substantial compliance with specified provisions of the Planning and Zoning Law, and requires HCD to designate jurisdictions as prohousing, as prescribed. The Planning and Zoning Law also provides for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit by local ordinance, or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in accordance with specified standards. The law prohibits a local agency from imposing certain standards, except as specified, when evaluating a proposed accessory dwelling unit. Existing law, commonly referred to as the Density Bonus Law, requires a city or county to provide a developer that proposes a housing development, as defined, within the city or county with a density bonus, waivers or reductions of development standards and parking ratios, and other incentives or concessions, as specified, if the developer agrees to construct, among other options, specified percentages of units for lower income households or very low income households, and meets other requirements. This bill would authorize a housing-forward jurisdiction, defined to mean a city, county, or city and county that is designated as a prohousing jurisdiction by HCD and has met or exceeded its share of the regional housing need allocation, as provided, to impose certain conditions on a development project, including prohibiting a developer from using a density bonus benefit, as defined, to reduce the number of bicycle parking or storage spaces, and requiring an impact fee for specified accessory dwelling units. (Based on 03/28/2025 text) Status: 04/01/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D. AB 1456 (Bryan) California Environmental Quality Act: California Vegetation Treatment Program. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA authorizes the preparation and certification of an EIR for a program, plan, policy, or ordinance, commonly known as a “program EIR,” and requires a lead agency to examine later activities in the program in light of the program EIR to determine whether an additional environmental document is required to be prepared. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2027, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to update the California April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 42 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 32 Vegetation Treatment Program Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) to, among other things, expand the area that is treatable landscape under the FPEIR to portions of the state suitable for vegetation treatment consistent with the FPEIR, regardless of fire suppression responsibility designation, and recognize cultural burning conducted pursuant to a specified law as a covered treatment activity. The bill would authorize a public agency to partner with a federally recognized California Native American tribe to conduct a project under the FPEIR in the agency’s jurisdiction. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/28/25 A-NATURAL RESOURCES 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 BRYAN, ISAAC, Chair SB 9 (Arreguín) Accessory Dwelling Units: owner-occupant requirements. (Introduced 12/02/2024) Link The Planning and Zoning Law provides for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit by local ordinance, or, if a local agency has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in accordance with specified standards. The law prohibits a local agency from imposing an owner- occupant requirement or any additional standards, except as specified, when evaluating a proposed accessory dwelling unit on a lot that includes a proposed or existing single-family dwelling. The law also prohibits a local agency from imposing parking standards for an accessory dwelling unit, as specified, whether or not the local agency has adopted a local ordinance pursuant to these provisions. This bill would additionally prohibit a local agency from imposing an owner- occupant requirement for a proposed or existing accessory dwelling unit whether or not the local agency has adopted a local ordinance pursuant to these provisions. (Based on 12/02/2024 text) Status: 04/04/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair SB 73 (Cervantes) California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions. (Introduced 01/15/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA exempts from its requirements certain residential, employment center, and mixed-use development projects meeting specified criteria, including that the project is located in a transit priority area and that the project is undertaken and is consistent with a specific plan for which an environmental impact report has been certified. This bill would additionally exempt those projects located in a very low vehicle travel area, as defined. The bill would require that the project is undertaken and is consistent with either a specific plan prepared pursuant to specific provisions of law or a community plan, as defined, for which an EIR has been certified within the preceding 15 years in order to be exempt. The bill would additionally require the project site to have been previously developed or to be a vacant site meeting certain requirements. Because a lead agency would be required to determine the applicability of this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 01/15/2025 text) Status: 03/13/2025 - March 19 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 43 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 33 SB 79 (Wiener) Local government land: public transit use: housing development: transit- oriented development. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines “surplus land” for these purposes to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Existing law defines “agency’s use” for these purposes to include land that is being used for agency work or operations, as provided. Existing law exempts from this definition of “agency’s use” certain commercial or industrial uses, except that in the case of a local agency that is a district, except a local agency whose primary purpose or mission is to supply the public with a transportation system, “agency’s use” may include commercial or industrial uses or activities, as specified. This bill would additionally include land leased to support public transit operations in the definition of “agency’s use,” as described above. The bill would also revise the definition of “agency’s use” with respect to commercial or industrial uses to instead provide that a district or a public transit operator may use land for commercial or industrial uses or activities, as described above. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING. Position: Oppose Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as oppose. 3/23/25: CP sent draft letter to the City. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Senate Housing and Senate Local Government, and sent to delegation. SB 92 (Blakespear) Housing development: density bonuses: mixed-use developments. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link Existing law, commonly referred to as the Density Bonus Law, requires a city or county to provide a developer that proposes a housing development, as defined, within the city or county with a density bonus and other incentives or concessions, as specified, if the developer agrees to construct specified percentages of units for lower income households or very low income households, and meets other requirements. Existing law defines “housing development” to mean a development project for 5 or more residential units, including mixed-use developments, as specified. This bill would define “mixed-used developments” to mean mixed-used developments consisting of residential and nonresidential uses that meet specified conditions. By revising and expanding the duties for a city, county, or a city and a county to administer the Density Bonus Law with respect to mixed-use developments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing April 23. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 113 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair SB 262 (Wahab) Housing element: prohousing designations: prohousing local policies. (Amended 03/19/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine whether the housing element is in substantial compliance with those provisions. Existing law requires the department to designate jurisdictions as prohousing pursuant to April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 44 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 34 emergency regulations adopted by the department, as prescribed. Existing law requires that jurisdictions that are prohousing and that are in substantial compliance with specified provisions be awarded additional points or preference in the scoring of applications for specified state programs. Existing law defines “prohousing local policies” for these purposes and specifies a nonexhaustive list of examples of those policies, including local financial incentives for housing and adoption of zoning allowing for use by right for residential and mixed-use development. This bill would include in the definition of “prohousing local policies” policies that keep people housed, and would specify additional examples of prohousing local policies under the above-described provisions. (Based on 03/19/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Read second time. Ordered to third reading. SB 282 (Wiener) Residential heat pump systems: water heaters and HVAC: installations. (Amended 03/17/2025) Link Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and prescribes the authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the commission pertaining to energy matters. Existing law requires the commission, on or before January 1, 2019, in consultation with the Contractors State License Board, local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that promotes compliance with specified regulations relating to building energy efficiency standards in the installation of central air conditioning and heat pumps, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commission to adopt regulations to increase compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central air conditioning and heat pumps, and associated sales and installations, consistent with the above-described plan. This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2027, to establish a statewide certification program for licensed contractors of residential heat pump water heaters and heat pump heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to obtain a heat pump installation certification, and would require the commission to create a state training program, as described, on residential heat pump water heaters and heat pump HVAC systems for purposes of the certification program, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/17/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 113 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair SB 328 (Grayson) Hazardous waste generator permits: housing development projects. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link The hazardous waste control laws require the Department of Toxic Substances Control to regulate the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials. A violation of the hazardous waste control laws is a crime. Existing law requires a generator of hazardous waste to pay to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration a generation and handling fee for each generator site based on the amount of waste generated, as specified. This bill would impose a maximum fee in a total amount of $100,000 upon a generator of hazardous waste that is residential infill housing, as provided, a nonprofit, or a stand-alone park or open-space project. The bill would impose a maximum fee in a total amount of $250,000 upon a generator of hazardous waste that is a master development project, without regard to the phase of the project. These provisions would only apply to generators that are not responsible for creating the hazardous waste. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing April 23. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-REVENUE AND TAXATION 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 MCNERNEY, JERRY, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 45 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 35 SB 346 (Durazo) Local agencies: transient occupancy taxes: short-term rental facilitator. (Amended 03/20/2025) Link Existing law authorizes a local authority, by ordinance or resolution, to regulate the occupancy of a room or rooms, or other living space, in a hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, or other lodging for a period of less than 30 days. This bill would authorize a local agency, defined to mean a city, county, or city and county, to enact an ordinance to require a short-term rental facilitator, as defined, to report, in the form and manner prescribed by the local agency, the assessor parcel number of each short-term rental, as defined, during the reporting period, as well as any additional information necessary to identify the property as may be required by the local agency. The bill would authorize the local agency to impose an administrative fine or penalty for failure to file the report, and would authorize the local agency to initiate an audit of a short-term rental facilitator, as described. The bill would require a short-term rental facilitator, in a jurisdiction that has adopted an ordinance, to include in the listing of a short-term rental any applicable local license number associated with the short-term rental and any transient occupancy tax certification issued by a local agency. The bill would state these provisions do not preempt a local agency from adopting an ordinance that regulates short-term rentals, short-term rental facilitators, or the payment and collection of transient occupancy taxes in a manner that differs from those described in the bill. (Based on 03/20/2025 text) Status: 03/20/2025 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. SB 358 (Becker) Mitigation Fee Act: mitigating vehicular traffic impacts. (Introduced 02/12/2025) Link Existing law, the Mitigation Fee Act, imposes various requirements with respect to the establishment, increase, or imposition of a fee by a local agency as a condition of approval of a development project. Existing law requires a local agency that imposes a fee on a housing development for the purpose of mitigating vehicular traffic impacts to set the rate for that fee to reflect a lower rate of automobile trip generation associated with such housing developments in comparison with housing developments without prescribed characteristics, unless the local agency adopts findings after a public hearing establishing that the housing development, even with those characteristics, would not generate fewer automobile trips than a housing development without those specified characteristics. For purposes of these provisions, existing law specifies one of those characteristics is that the housing development provides either the minimum number of parking spaces required by the local ordinance, or no more than one onsite parking space for zero- to 2-bedroom units, and 2 onsite parking spaces for 3 or more bedroom units, whichever is less. For purposes of a local agency setting the rate for a mitigating vehicular traffic impacts fee, this bill would delete the provision about adopting findings after a public hearing and would, instead, require the rate for housing developments that satisfy those specified characteristics be at least 50% less than the rate for housing developments without all of those characteristics. With regard to the above-described characteristic, the bill would, instead, specify that the housing development provides no more than one onsite parking space for zero- to 2-bedroom units, and 2 onsite parking spaces for 3 or more bedroom units. By imposing a mandate on local agencies that approve housing development projects with regard to impact fees, this bill would impose a state- mandated local program. This bill contains other existing laws. (Based on 02/12/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - April 23 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. Calendar: 04/30/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair SB 417 (Cabaldon) The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. (Introduced 02/18/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 46 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 36 Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing-related parks. This bill would enact the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Proceeds from the sale of these bonds would be used to finance programs to fund affordable rental housing and home ownership programs, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing Program, the CalHome Program, and the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program. This bill would provide for submission of the bond act to the voters at the June 2, 2026, statewide primary election, in accordance with specified law. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. (Based on 02/18/2025 text) Status: 02/19/2025 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 21. SB 448 (Umberg) Trespassing: removal of trespassers on residential property. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Existing law prohibits the tenant of a property to remain on a property after the lawful termination of a lease agreement, as specified. Existing law prescribes a procedure for obtaining a judgment against such a tenant and for effecting the eviction of that tenant. Existing law prohibits entering or occupying real property or structures without the consent of the owner. This bill would define a squatter as somebody who unlawfully enters and remains in a residential property and, upon request, refuses to leave or falsely claims a legal right of possession. This bill would prescribe a procedure for the notice and removal of a squatter by a local law enforcement agency. The bill would authorize a property owner or their agent to serve a demand to vacate, as specified, upon a squatter. The bill would authorize the owner or agent, after service of the demand, to submit a request, signed under penalty of perjury, to the local law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction where the property is located, as specified. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandate local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. Calendar: 04/29/25 S-JUDICIARY 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair SB 457 (Becker) Housing element compliance: Housing Accountability Act: housing disapprovals. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link The Planning and Zoning Law requires each county and each city to adopt a comprehensive, long- term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law, commonly referred to as the housing element law, prescribes requirements for a city’s or county’s preparation of, and compliance with, its housing element, and requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to review and determine whether the housing element substantially complies with the housing element law, as specified. Existing law within the Planning and Zoning Law, the Housing Accountability Act, among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes written findings, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that one of 6 specified conditions exist. Among these conditions, the act allows a local agency to disapprove a April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 47 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 37 housing development project that is inconsistent with the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinances and general plan land use designation as it existed on the date the application was deemed complete, if the jurisdiction has adopted a revised housing element that is in substantial compliance with the housing element law, as specified. The act defines “deemed complete” for purposes of its provisions, until January 1, 2030, to mean that the applicant has submitted a preliminary application, as specified, or if the applicant has not submitted a preliminary application, the submission of a completed application, as specified. This bill, for the purpose of allowing a local agency to disapprove a housing development project that is inconsistent with the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinances and general plan land use designation, as described above, would revise the definition of “deemed complete” to mean that the applicant submitted a complete application, as specified. The bill would provide that this definition would apply to an application that as of January 1, 2026 has not (1) received approval from a local agency or (2) incurred substantial liability in good faith reliance upon the local agency approval. Existing law provides that a housing element or amendment is considered substantially compliant with the housing element law when the local agency adopts a housing element or amendment, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction determines the adopted housing element or amendment to be in substantial compliance with the housing element law and the department’s compliance findings have not been superseded by subsequent contrary findings by the department or by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or the court’s decision has not been overturned or superseded by a subsequent court decision or by statute, as applicable. This bill would, instead, provide that a housing element or amendment is considered substantially compliant with the housing element law on the date when the governing body of a local agency adopts the housing element or amendment, provided that after the date the housing element or amendment is adopted and without further action by the governing body, the department or a court of competent jurisdiction determines the adopted housing element or amendment to be in substantial compliance with the housing element law, and the department’s compliance findings are not superseded by subsequent contrary findings by the department or by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction or the court’s decision is not overturned or superseded by a subsequent court decision or by statute. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 03/24/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING. SB 543 (McNerney) Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, among other things, provides for the creation by ordinance, or by ministerial approval if the local agency has not adopted an ordinance, of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) in accordance with specified standards and conditions. Existing law defines the term ”junior accessory dwelling unit” for these purposes to mean a unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained entirely within a single-family structure. This bill would revise the definition of a “junior accessory dwelling unit” to require the size of a JADU to be no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair SB 607 (Wiener) California Environmental Quality Act: categorical exemptions: infill projects. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 48 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 38 The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. Existing law defines “negative declaration” and “mitigated negative declaration” for these purposes.This bill would revise the definition of negative declaration to mean a written statement briefly describing the substantial evidence in the record that the proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment, as specified. The bill would also revise the definition of mitigated negative declaration to mean that revisions would avoid or mitigate the effects on the environment, as determined by the public agency based upon substantial evidence in the record, as specified, and that there is substantial evidence that the project as revised will not have a significant effect on the environment, as provided. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 04/04/2025 - Set for hearing April 30 in L. GOV. pending receipt. Calendar: 04/23/25 S-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 BLAKESPEAR, CATHERINE, Chair 04/30/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair SB 677 (Wiener) Housing development: streamlined approvals. (Amended 04/09/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone to be considered ministerially, without discretionary review or hearing, if the proposed housing development meets certain requirements. This bill would require ministerial approval for proposed housing developments containing no more than 2 residential units on any lot hosting a single-family home or zoned for 4 or fewer residential units, notwithstanding any covenant, condition, or restriction imposed by a common interest development association. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/09/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING. Position: Oppose Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as oppose. 3/23/25: SG sent draft letter to the City. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Senate Housing and Senate Local Government, and sent to delegation. SB 681 (Wahab) Housing. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, authorizes a local agency to provide for the creation of accessory dwelling units in single-family and multifamily residential zones by ordinance, and sets forth standards the ordinance is required to impose with respect to certain matters, including, among others, maximum unit size, parking, and height standards. Existing law authorizes a local agency to provide by ordinance for the creation of junior accessory dwelling units, as defined, in single-family residential zones and requires the ordinance to include, among other things, standards for the creation of a junior accessory dwelling unit, required deed restrictions, and occupancy requirements. Existing law makes void and unenforceable any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property that either effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts the construction or use of an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit on a lot zoned for single-family residential use that meets the above-described minimum standards established for those units. However, existing law permits reasonable restrictions that do not April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 49 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 39 unreasonably increase the cost to construct, effectively prohibit the construction of, or extinguish the ability to otherwise construct, an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit consistent with those aforementioned minimum standards provisions. This bill would prohibit fees and other financial requirements from being included in the above-described reasonable restrictions. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair SB 838 (Durazo) Housing Accountability Act: housing development projects. (Amended 03/26/2025) Link Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act, among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households unless the local agency makes written findings as to one of certain sets of conditions, as specified. Existing law defines, for its purposes, a housing development project as a use consisting of, among other things, mixed-use developments consisting of residential and nonresidential uses meeting one of several conditions, including that at least 2/3 of the new or converted square footage is designated for residential use. This bill would revise the definition of “housing development project” to, in the case of mixed-use developments with at least 2/3 of the new or converted square footage designated for residential use, require that no portion of the project designated for use as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other transient lodging, except as specified. This bill would apply this requirement retroactively to an application or a revised application for a project that the local agency has not deemed complete, as specified, as of January 1, 2025, including projects that a preliminary application has been submitted for before January 1, 2025. (Based on 03/26/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing May 7 in L. GOV. pending receipt. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-HOUSING 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 112 WAHAB, AISHA, Chair 05/07/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair Notes 1: 4/11/25 CP tagged for the city. Open Meetings and Transparency AB 259 (Rubio, Blanca) Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences. (Introduced 01/16/2025) Link Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body, as defined, of a local agency be open and public and that all persons be permitted to attend and participate. The act authorizes the legislative body of a local agency to use teleconferencing, as specified, and requires a legislative body of a local agency that elects to use teleconferencing to comply with specified requirements, including that the local agency post agendas at all teleconference locations, identify each teleconference location in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, and have each teleconference location be accessible to the public. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes the legislative body of a local agency to use alternative teleconferencing if, during the teleconference meeting, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participates in person from a singular physical location clearly identified on the agenda that is open to the public and situated within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, and the legislative body complies with prescribed requirements. Existing law requires a member to satisfy specified requirements to April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 50 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 40 participate in a meeting remotely pursuant to these alternative teleconferencing provisions, including that specified circumstances apply. Existing law establishes limits on the number of meetings a member may participate in solely by teleconference from a remote location pursuant to these alternative teleconferencing provisions, including prohibiting such participation for more than 2 meetings per year if the legislative body regularly meets once per month or less. This bill would remove the January 1, 2026, date from those provisions, thereby extending the alternative teleconferencing procedures indefinitely. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 01/16/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 9). Position: Support Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as support. 3/21/25: CP sent draft letter to the City. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Assembly Local Government, and sent to delegation. 4/9/25: EN testified in support in Assembly Local Government. SB 239 (Arreguín) Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body, as defined, of a local agency be open and public and that all persons be permitted to attend and participate. The act generally requires for teleconferencing that the legislative body of a local agency that elects to use teleconferencing post agendas at all teleconference locations, identify each teleconference location in the notice and agenda of the meeting or proceeding, and have each teleconference location be accessible to the public. Existing law also requires that, during the teleconference, at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participate from locations within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, except as specified. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes specified neighborhood city councils to use alternate teleconferencing provisions related to notice, agenda, and public participation, as prescribed, if, among other requirements, the city council has adopted an authorizing resolution and 2/3 of the neighborhood city council votes to use alternate teleconference provisions, as specified This bill would authorize a subsidiary body, as defined, to use alternative teleconferencing provisions and would impose requirements for notice, agenda, and public participation, as prescribed. The bill would require the subsidiary body to post the agenda at each physical meeting location designated by the subsidiary body, as specified. The bill would require the members of the subsidiary body to visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly accessible via the internet or other online platform, as specified. The bill would also require the subsidiary body to list a member of the subsidiary body who participates in a teleconference meeting from a remote location in the minutes of the meeting. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing May 6. Position: Support Calendar: 05/06/25 S-JUDICIARY 1:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as support. 3/21/25: SG sent letter to the City for review. 4/4/25: EN received final letter, submitted to Senate Local Government and Senate Judiciary, and sent to delegation. SB 707 (Durazo) Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act, requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body, as defined, of a local agency be open and public and that all persons be permitted April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 51 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 41 to attend and participate. This bill would, until January 1, 2030, require a city council or a county board of supervisors to comply with additional meeting requirements, including that all open and public meetings include an opportunity for members of the public to attend via a 2-way telephonic service or a 2-way audiovisual platform, as defined, that a system is in place for requesting and receiving interpretation services for public meetings, as specified, and that the city council or county board of supervisors encourage residents to participate in public meetings, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Set for hearing April 22. Position: Watch Calendar: 04/22/25 S-JUDICIARY 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as watch. Public Safety and EMS AB 237 (Patel) Crimes: threats. (Amended 03/05/2025) Link Existing law makes it a crime to willfully threaten to commit a crime that will result in death or great bodily injury to another person, with the specific intent that the statement is to be taken as a threat that, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby reasonably causes the threatened person to be in sustained fear for their own safety or the safety of their immediate family, as defined. Under existing law, this crime is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for no more than one year for a misdemeanor, or by imprisonment in state prison for a felony. This bill would make it a crime for a person to willfully threaten, by any means, including, but not limited to, an image or threat posted or published on an internet web page, to commit a crime at specified locations, including a daycare and workplace, with specific intent that the statement is be taken as a threat, even if there is no intent of actually carrying it out, if the threat, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person or persons threatened a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and if the threat causes a person or person to reasonably be in sustained fear for their own safety or the safety of others at the specified locations. This bill would make this crime punishable as a wobbler by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment in the county jail for 16 months or 2 or 3 years. By creating a new crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/05/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. AB 438 (Hadwick) Authorized emergency vehicles. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link Existing law authorizes the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to issue authorized emergency vehicle permits for certain vehicles, including any vehicle owned and operated by a public utility and any vehicle owned and operated by a fire company, as specified, upon a finding that the vehicle is used in responding to emergency calls for fire or law enforcement, the immediate preservation of life or property, or the apprehension of law violators. This bill would authorize the commissioner to issue an emergency vehicle permit to any vehicle owned by a county, city, or city and county office of emergency services only while that vehicle is being used by a public employee in responding to any disaster. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-TRANSPORTATION 2:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 WILSON, LORI, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 52 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 42 AB 486 (Lackey) Vehicles: sideshows and street takeovers. (Amended 03/27/2025) Link Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in, aiding, or abetting a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. Upon conviction, existing law punishes the person by imprisonment in a county jail for between 24 hours and 90 days, inclusive, by a fine between $355 and $1,000, inclusive, or by both that fine and imprisonment, except as specified. If the vehicle used in the violation was registered to the person who violated the prohibition, existing law also authorizes the impounding of the person’s vehicle for between 1 and 30 days. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in, aiding, or abetting a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. Upon conviction, existing law punishes the person by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 90 days, by a fine of not more than $500, or by both that fine and imprisonment. Existing law, commencing July 1, 2025, authorizes the court to order the privilege to operate a motor vehicle suspended for 90 days to 6 months and restrict the person’s operation of a motor vehicle for the purposes of the person’s employment if the violation of the prohibition on engaging in, aiding, or abetting a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility occurred as part of a sideshow, as defined. This bill would clarify that, for purposes of those prohibitions, a person who organizes, facilitates, encourages, promotes, or instigates a sideshow may be charged with aiding or abetting a motor vehicle speed contest or a motor vehicle exhibition of speed even if they are not physically present at the scene of the sideshow, as specified. By expanding the prohibition on aiding or abetting to include an individual who aids or abets, but is not physically present at the scene of, a sideshow, this bill would impose a state- mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/27/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. AB 1013 (Garcia) Peace officer training: behavioral health. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish and keep updated a classroom-based continuing training course that includes instructor-led active learning, such as scenario-based training, relating to behavioral health and law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. Existing law requires the commission to make available the course to each law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties. This bill would authorize the commission to partner with local departments of behavioral health, community-based organizations, or nonprofit organizations to establish and keep updated this classroom-based continuing training course. The bill would require a law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties to complete the course. By imposing additional training costs on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 1022 (Kalra) Authority to remove vehicles. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link Existing law authorizes a peace officer, as defined, or a regularly employed and salaried employee, who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations, of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located, to remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under designated circumstances, including, but not limited to, when a vehicle is found upon a highway or public land, or removed pursuant to the Vehicle Code, and it is known that the vehicle has been issued 5 or more notices of April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 53 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 43 parking violations to which the owner or person in control of the vehicle has not responded within designated time periods, or the registered owner of the vehicle is known to have been issued 5 or more notices for failure to pay or failure to appear in court for traffic violations for which a certificate has not been issued by the magistrate or clerk of the court hearing the case, as specified. Under existing law, a vehicle that has been removed and impounded under those circumstances that is not released may be subject to a lien sale to compensate for the costs of towage and for caring for and keeping safe the vehicle. This bill would remove the authority of a peace officer or public employee, as appropriate, to remove a vehicle under the above-described circumstances, and make conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 03/28/2025 - Referred to Com. on TRANS. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-TRANSPORTATION 2:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 WILSON, LORI, Chair AB 1094 (Bains) Crimes: torture of a minor: parole. (Amended 04/03/2025) Link Existing law makes a person who, with the intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose, inflicts great bodily injury upon the person of another guilty of torture, and makes the crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of life. Existing law specifies that an inmate imprisoned under a life sentence shall not be paroled until they have served a term of at least 7 years or as established pursuant to a law that establishes a minimum term. This bill would prohibit a person imprisoned for committing the crime of torture from being eligible for parole until they have served at least 20 years, if the defendant is an adult who had care or custody of the victim and the victim was 14 years of age or younger at the time of the crime. By creating a new sentencing enhancement, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/03/2025 text) Status: 04/09/2025 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. AB 1115 (Castillo) Peace officers: mental health liaisons. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link The California Constitution authorizes local governments to make and enforce all police and sanitary ordinances and regulations within its limits that are not in conflict with general laws. Existing law requires the board of supervisors of a county and the governing body of a city to take measures necessary to preserve and protect the public health in its jurisdiction. This bill would authorize a local government to designate one or more existing employees specializing in counseling or mental health services as a law enforcement mental health liaison to facilitate mental health support for peace officers who serve the local jurisdiction. This bill contains other related provisions. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 03/10/2025 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S. AB 1127 (Gabriel) Firearms: converter pistols. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law prohibits any person from selling, leasing, or transferring any firearm unless the person is licensed as a firearms dealer, as specified. Existing law prescribes certain requirements and prohibitions for licensed firearms dealers. A violation of any of these requirements or prohibitions is grounds for forfeiture of a firearms dealer’s license. For purposes of these provisions, existing law defines “machinegun” to mean, among other definitions, any weapon that shoots or is designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. This bill would prohibit a licensed firearms dealer to sell, offer for sale, exchange, give, transfer, or deliver any semiautomatic machinegun-convertible pistol, except as specified. For these purposes, the bill would define “machinegun-convertible pistol” as any semiautomatic pistol with a cruciform trigger bar that can be readily converted by hand or with April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 54 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 44 common household tools into a machinegun by the installation or attachment of a pistol converter, as specified, and “pistol converter” as any device or instrument that, when installed in or attached to the rear of the slide of a semiautomatic pistol, replaces the backplate and interferes with the trigger mechanism and thereby enables the pistol to shoot automatically more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a fine, a 2nd violation punishable by a fine that may result in a suspension or revocation of the dealer’s license and removal from certain centralized lists maintained by the Department of Justice, and a 3rd violation punishable as a misdemeanor that shall result in the revocation of the dealer’s license and removal from certain centralized lists. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-JUDICIARY 8 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 437 KALRA, ASH, Chair AB 1178 (Pacheco) Peace officers: confidentiality of records. (Introduced 02/21/2025) Link Existing law, the California Public Records Act, generally requires public records to be open for inspection by the public. Existing law provides numerous exceptions to this requirement. Under existing law, the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection. Existing law provides certain exemptions to this confidentiality, including the reports, investigations, and findings of certain incidents involving the use of force by a peace officer. Existing law authorizes an agency to redact the records disclosed for specified purposes including, among others, to remove personal data or information, as specified, and where there is a specific, articulable, and particularized reason to believe that disclosure of the record would pose a significant danger to the physical safety of the peace officer, custodial officer, or another person. This bill would additionally require a law enforcement agency to redact records to remove the rank, name, photo, or likeness of specified people, including, among others, all duly sworn officers working an undercover assignment or who worked in an undercover assignment in the past 24 months, all sworn personnel attached to a federal or state task force, and members of a law enforcement agency who received verified death threats to themselves or their families within the last ten years because of their law enforcement employment. By increasing duties on local law enforcement agencies to redact information, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text) Status: 03/24/2025 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-PUBLIC SAFETY 8:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 126 SCHULTZ, NICK, Chair AB 1489 (Bryan) Peace officers. (Introduced 02/21/2025) Link Existing law defines persons who are peace officers and the entities authorized to appoint them. Existing law prescribes certain minimum standards for a person to be appointed as a peace officer, including moral character and physical and mental condition, and certain disqualifying factors for a person to be employed as a peace officer, including a felony conviction. This bill would require a law enforcement agency that issues a firearm to a peace officer it employs to have a policy prohibiting that officer from carrying the firearm issued by the agency with a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.00%, whether the officer is on duty or off duty. By imposing new duties on local law enforcement, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text) Status: 03/13/2025 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S. Calendar: 04/22/25 A-PUBLIC SAFETY 8:30 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 126 SCHULTZ, NICK, Chair SB 28 (Umberg) Treatment court program standards. (Amended 03/10/2025) Link April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 55 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 45 Existing law, the Drug Court Programs Act, authorizes counties to implement a drug court program, that, if implemented, requires a county alcohol and drug program administrator and the presiding judge in the county to develop a plan that includes, among other things, drug courts for juvenile offenders and drug courts for parents of children in certain family law cases. Existing law requires counties and courts that opt to have treatment court programs to design and operate the programs in accordance with state and national guidelines. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to, by no later than January 1, 2026, revise the standards of judicial administration to reflect state and nationally recognized best practices and guidelines for collaborative programs including those described in these provisions. Existing law, the Treatment-Mandated Felony Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 36 at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election, authorizes certain defendants convicted of specified felonies or misdemeanors to participate in a treatment program, upon court approval, in lieu of a jail or prison sentence, or grant of probation with jail as a condition of probation, if specified criteria are met. The Legislature may amend this initiative by a statute passed in each house by a rollcall vote entered in the journal, 2/3 of the membership concurring, or by a statute that becomes effective only when approved by the voters. This bill would instead require that treatment court programs be available to all eligible California defendants. The bill would include a new standard that, as part of the treatment court program, a drug addiction expert, as defined, conducts a substance abuse and mental health evaluation of the defendant, and submits the report to the court and the parties. The bill would remove the requirement that the Judicial Council revise the standards of judicial administration. The bill would require that a treatment program that complies with existing judicial standards be offered to a person that is eligible for treatment pursuant to the Treatment-Mandated Felony Act. By requiring the court to implement a treatment program that complies with existing judicial standards, the bill would amend that initiative statute. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/10/2025 text) Status: 04/07/2025 - April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. SB 264 (Valladares) Impersonation of a peace officer or firefighter during a state of emergency or local emergency. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency, as defined, under specified circumstances. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to impersonate a peace officer or an officer or member of a fire department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal. This bill would make impersonating a peace officer or an officer or member of a fire department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal during a state of emergency or local emergency punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony, as specified. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S. Calendar: 04/22/25 S-PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 8:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 ARREGUÍN, JESSE, Chair SB 680 (Rubio) Sex offender registration: unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. (Introduced 02/21/2025) Link Existing law, the Sex Offender Registration Act (act), requires a person convicted of specified crimes to register with law enforcement as a sex offender while residing in California or while attending school or working in California, as specified. Existing law establishes 3 tiers of registration based on specified criteria, for periods of at least 10 years, at least 20 years, and life, respectively, for a conviction of specified sex offenses. Existing law exempts from mandatory April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 56 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 46 registration under the act a person convicted of certain offenses involving minors if the person is not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the person to register. A willful failure to register, as required by the act, is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the underlying offense. This bill would require offenders guilty of engaging in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is more than 3 years younger than the offender or, if the offender was 21 years of age or older, engaging in an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is under 16 years of age, to register for 10 years as a tier one offender under the act, unless the offender was not more than 10 years older than the minor and if that offense is the only one requiring the offender to register. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/21/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair Revenue and Taxation SB 549 (Allen) Second Neighborhood Infill Finance and Transit Improvements Act. (Introduced 02/20/2025) Link Current law authorizes the legislative body of a city or a county, defined to include a city and county, to establish an enhanced infrastructure financing district to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects of communitywide significance, as provided. Existing law provides for the preparation of a proposed infrastructure financing plan, as provided, which takes effect upon adoption by the public financing authority of the district following a specified public hearing and protest procedure. Existing law authorizes the infrastructure financing plan to provide for the division of taxes levied on taxable property in the area included within the district, as specified, and authorizes the public financing authority to issue bonds by adopting a resolution containing specified provisions, including a determination of the amount of tax revenue available or estimated to be available for the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds. This bill would revise NIFTI-2 to instead authorize, for resolutions adopted under that act’s provisions on or after January 1, 2026, a city, county, or city and county to adopt a resolution, at any time before or after the adoption of the infrastructure financing plan for an enhanced infrastructure financing district, to allocate property tax revenues, and to remove the authorization for adoption of a resolution that allocates revenues derived from local sales and use taxes imposed pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or transactions and use taxes. The bill would also repeal the condition that the boundaries of the enhanced infrastructure financing district are coterminous with the city or county that established the district. (Based on 02/20/2025 text) Status: 03/24/2025 - Set for hearing May 7. Calendar: 05/07/25 S-LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 DURAZO, MARÍA ELENA, Chair Transportation and Public Works AB 382 (Berman) Pedestrian safety: school zones: speed limits. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link Existing law establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour when approaching or passing a school building or grounds contiguous to a highway or when the school grounds are not separated from the highway, as specified. Existing law authorizes a local authority, by ordinance or resolution, to reduce the prima facie speed limit based on an engineering and traffic survey, as specified. This bill would, notwithstanding the above provision and until January 1, 2029, authorize April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 57 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 47 a local authority, by ordinance or resolution, to determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 20 miles per hour in a school zone. The bill would, beginning on January 1, 2029, establish a prima facie speed limit of 20 miles per hour in a school zone, as defined, subject to specified conditions, including, among others, when a school speed limit sign states “children are present” and children are present, as defined, and when a school speed limit sign states specific hours, as specified. By establishing new prima facie speed limits in school zones that would require changes to local speed limit signs, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-TRANSPORTATION 2:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 WILSON, LORI, Chair AB 440 (Ramos) Suicide prevention. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention. Existing law authorizes the office, if established, to perform certain functions, including, among others, conducting state-level assessment of regional and statewide suicide prevention policies and practices and reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide. This bill would require the office to work with the Department of Transportation to identify cost-effective strategies to reduce suicides and suicide attempts on the state’s bridges and roadways. This bill would require the office to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature and specified policy committees on the strategies that it identifies on or before December 31, 2027. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2029. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Read second time and amended. AB 545 (Davies) Vehicles: electric bicycles. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle so that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is an infraction. This bill would also prohibit a person from selling an application that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle. By creating a new prohibition with respect to the modification of an electric bicycle, the violation of which is an infraction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. AB 902 (Schultz) Transportation planning and programming: barriers to wildlife movement. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law requires certain transportation planning agencies to prepare and adopt regional transportation plans directed at achieving a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system. Existing law requires that each regional transportation plan include a sustainable communities strategy prepared by each metropolitan planning organization in order to, among other things, achieve certain regional targets established by the State Air Resources Board for the April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 58 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 48 reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light trucks in the region for 2020 and 2035, respectively. This bill would require, to the extent feasible, the regional transportation plan or sustainable communities strategy, upon the adoption or next revision of a regional transportation plan, to, among other things, identify and analyze connectivity areas, permeability, and natural landscape areas, and identify strategies and the general location of uses and transportation networks in a manner that avoids, minimizes, or mitigates impacts and barriers to wildlife movement to the greatest extent feasible. The bill would also require metropolitan planning organizations and transportation planning agencies, in implementing those requirements, to, among other things, recommend for implementation by applicable jurisdictions appropriate standards, policies, and feasible implementation programs, consult with certain entities, and consider relevant best available science as appropriate. By imposing additional duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. Calendar: 04/21/25 A-TRANSPORTATION 2:30 p.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 WILSON, LORI, Chair AB 968 (Boerner) Pharmacists: self-administered FDA-approved nonhormonal contraceptives. (Amended 04/07/2025) Link Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, establishes, in the Department of Consumer Affairs, the California State Board of Pharmacy to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to, among other things, furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives and emergency contraception drug therapy pursuant to specified standardized procedures or protocols and requires a pharmacist to provide the recipient of the drug with a factsheet, as specified. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to furnish a 12-month supply of federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, self-administered hormonal contraceptive at a patient’s request under protocols developed by the board. This bill would expand these authorizations to include self-administered FDA-approved nonhormonal contraceptives. The bill would make related conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/07/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on B. & P. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. Calendar: 04/29/25 A-BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS 9 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 BERMAN, MARC, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as support. 4/7/25: DC removed support tag. AB 978 (Hoover) Department of Transportation and local agencies: streets and highways: recycled materials. (Amended 04/01/2025) Link The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 requires the Director of Transportation, upon consultation with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, to review and modify all bid specifications relating to the purchase of paving materials and base, subbase, and pervious backfill materials using certain recycled materials. Existing law requires the specifications to be based on standards developed by the Department of Transportation for recycled paving materials and for recycled base, subbase, and pervious backfill materials. Existing law requires a local agency that has jurisdiction over a street or highway, to the extent feasible and cost effective, to apply standard specifications that allow for the use of recycled materials in streets and highways, except as provided. Existing law requires, until January 1, 2027, those standard specifications to allow recycled materials at or above the level allowed in the department’s standard specifications that went into effect on October 22, 2018, for specified materials. This bill April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 59 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 49 would indefinitely require a local government’s standard specifications to allow recycled materials at a level no less than the level allowed in the department’s specifications for those specified materials. If a local agency’s standard specifications do not allow for the use of recycled materials at a level that is equal to or greater than the level allowed in the department’s standard specifications on the basis that the use of those recycled materials at those levels is not feasible, the bill would require the local agency to provide the reason for that determination upon request. By increasing the duties of local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/01/2025 text) Status: 04/08/2025 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. SB 71 (Wiener) California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions: transit projects. (Amended 03/25/2025) Link The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA, until January 1, 2030, exempts from its requirements active transportation plans, pedestrian plans, or bicycle transportation plans for the restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and highway intersection operations, and the related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles. This bill would extend the operation of the above-mentioned exemption indefinitely. The bill would also exempt a transit comprehensive operational analysis, as defined, a transit route readjustment, or other transit agency route addition, elimination, or modification, from the requirements of CEQA. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a plan qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 03/25/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. Calendar: 04/21/25 S-APPROPRIATIONS 10:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 CABALLERO, ANNA, Chair SB 274 (Cervantes) Automated license plate recognition systems. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law prohibits the state, a city, a county, a city and county, or any agency or political subdivision of the state, a city, a county, or a city and county, including, but not limited to, a law enforcement agency, from selling, sharing, or transferring automated license plate recognition (ALPR) information, except to another public agency, and only as otherwise permitted by law. Existing law defines ALPR information as information or data collected through the use of an ALPR system. This bill would, in compliance with specified laws, prohibit a public agency from using an ALPR system to gather geolocation data at specified locations for immigration enforcement purposes and retaining ALPR information for more than 30 days, except in specified circumstances. By imposing new requirements on public agencies, which include local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 60 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 50 Calendar: 04/22/25 S-JUDICIARY 9:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2100 UMBERG, THOMAS, Chair 04/29/25 S-PUBLIC SAFETY 8:30 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 2200 ARREGUÍN, JESSE, Chair SB 455 (Blakespear) Electric bicycles. (Amended 03/25/2025) Link Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power, and requires electric bicycles to comply with specified equipment and manufacturing requirements. Existing law requires manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles to apply a label that is permanently affixed to each electric bicycle that contains, among other things, the classification number of the electric bicycle, as specified. Existing law prohibits specified vehicles from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, including a vehicle that is modified to attain a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to have motor power of more than 750 watts. Existing law prohibits the sale of a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle such that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, revise the labeling requirements described above to require manufacturers and distributors to apply an etching, engraving, or label that is permanently affixed skyward on the frame of the electric bicycle and contains additional information, including the brand name and manufacturer or distributor of the electric bicycle. The bill would revise the above-described list of vehicles prohibited from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, as specified, and include on the list, among other things, a vehicle that is capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed exceeding 28 miles per hour. The bill would require any incident report filed by a peace officer for an injury or crash involving an electric bicycle to include all of the information provided in the etching, engraving, or label described above or to indicate that a marking was not available. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2026, require any product or device sold in the previous 5 years as an electric bicycle that no longer meets the definition of electric bicycle as of January 1, 2026, to be subject to a written customer notification by the retailer or manufacturer that includes among other things, notification that the product or device no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle under state law. Because the bill would impose new requirements for electric bicycles, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/25/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 28. Calendar: 04/28/25 S-TRANSPORTATION 3 p.m. or upon adjournment of Session - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 CORTESE, DAVE, Chair Water and Wastewater AB 514 (Petrie-Norris) Water: emergency water supplies. (Amended 04/03/2025) Link Existing law, the Urban Water Management Planning Act, requires every public and private urban water supplier that directly or indirectly provides water for municipal purposes to prepare and adopt an urban water management plan. The act requires an urban water management plan to include a water shortage contingency plan, as provided. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state to encourage, but not mandate, the development of emergency water supplies by both local and regional water suppliers, as defined, and to support their use during times of drought or unplanned service or supply disruption, as provided. (Based on 04/03/2025 text) Status: 04/07/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W. Calendar: 04/29/25 A-WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE 9 a.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 PAPAN, DIANE, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 61 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 51 AB 532 (Ransom) Water rate assistance program. (Amended 04/01/2025) Link Existing federal law, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, among other things, requires the federal Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Emergency Assistance Program, which is also known as the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, for making grants to states and Indian tribes to assist low- income households that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services, as provided. Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to administer the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in this state, and to receive and expend moneys appropriated and allocated to the state for purposes of that program, pursuant to the above-described federal law. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program was only operative until March 31, 2024. This bill would repeal the above- described requirements related to the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. The bill would instead require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Department of Community Services and Development to establish and administer the California Low Income Household Water Assistance Program to provide water rate assistance to residential ratepayers of community water systems, and urban retail water suppliers that serve disadvantaged communities, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/01/2025 text) Status: 04/02/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M. Position: Watch Calendar: 04/29/25 A-ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 CONNOLLY, DAMON, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as watch. AB 1313 (Papan) Water quality: permits. (Amended 03/24/2025) Link Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the federal national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit program established by the federal Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. Existing law requires each regional board to formulate and adopt water quality control plans for all areas within the region, as provided. The bill would require the state board, after making the necessary findings, to establish a statewide commercial, industrial, and institutional NPDES order, for properties of 5 acres or more, regulating stormwater and authorized nonstormwater discharges from facilities with impervious surfaces that are significant contributors of pollutants to federally protected surface waters, as determined by the state board. The bill would require the state board to publish a draft order of the statewide order for public comment on or before December 31, 2028, or 18 months after the reissuance of a specified statewide permit, as specified. The bill would require the state board to contemporaneously develop a model memorandum of understanding to issue with the publication of the draft statewide order for public comment that details the necessary components of an agreement between commercial, industrial, and institutional permittees and local municipalities for achieving offsite stormwater capture and use within the adopted final statewide commercial, industrial, and institutional NPDES order. The bill would require the NPDES order to include multiple options to achieve compliance with water quality standards, including, but not limited to, compliance options incentivizing onsite or offsite stormwater capture and use. (Based on 03/24/2025 text) Status: 03/25/2025 - Re-referred to Com. on E.S & T.M. Calendar: 04/29/25 A-ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS 1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 444 CONNOLLY, DAMON, Chair April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 62 of 63 1127 11TH STREET, SUITE 300, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • 916.974.9270 • PUBLICPOLICYGROUP.COM PAGE 52 SB 350 (Durazo) Water Rate Assistance Program. (Amended 04/10/2025) Link Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program. Existing law requires the plan to include, among other things, a description of the method for collecting moneys to support and implement the program and a description of the method for determining the amount of moneys that may need to be collected from water ratepayers to fund the program. This bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Program. As part of the program, the bill would establish the Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, available upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide water affordability assistance, for both residential water and wastewater services, to low-income residential ratepayers, as specified. The bill would require the state board to take various actions in administering the fund, including, among other things, tracking and managing revenue in the fund separately from all other revenue. The bill would require the state board, in consultation with relevant agencies and after a public hearing, to adopt guidelines for implementation of the program and to adopt an annual report to be posted on the state board’s internet website identifying how the fund has performed, as specified. The bill would require the guidelines to include minimum requirements for eligible systems, including the ability to confirm eligibility for enrollment through a request for self-certification of eligibility under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the state board to take various actions in administering the program, including, but not limited to, providing guidance, oversight, and funding for low-income rate assistance for residential ratepayers of eligible systems. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, at the request of the state board, to bring an action in state court to restrain the use of any method, act, or practice in violation of these provisions, except as provided. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 04/10/2025 text) Status: 04/10/2025 - Set for hearing April 21. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C. Position: Watch Calendar: 04/21/25 S-ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS 3 p.m. or upon adjournment of Session - 1021 O Street, Room 1200 BECKER, JOSH, Chair Notes 1: 3/18/25: DC tagged as watch. Total Measures: 117 Total Tracking Forms: 117 April 15, 2025 Item #4 Page 63 of 63