HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-14; City Council Legislative Subcommittee; 01; State and Federal Legislative ReportsMeeting Date: April 14, 2026
To: Legislative Subcommittee
From: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2958
Subject: State and Federal Legislative Reports
District: All
Recommended Action Receive updates from representatives of U.S. Congressman Mike Levin, State Senator
Catherine Blakespear and State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, and provide feedback.
Next Steps
None.
Exhibit
1.Correspondence received as of April 9, 2026
LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 1 of 18
1
Melissa Rhodes
From:Melissa.Rhodes@carlsbadca.gov
Subject:FW: My report for Tuesday 5/14
Attachments:2026.04_DO Monthly Update for Carlsbad.docx; SB 866 (Blakespear) Fact Sheet.pdf; SB
936 Fact Sheet (final).pdf; 4.6.2026 SB 967 (RHNA Credit for Interim) Fact Sheet.pdf;
3.24.2026 SB 989 (Blakespear) CARE Court Petition Process.pdf; SB 1136 (Special Event
Train Service) - Fact Sheet_FINAL.pdf
From: Busby, Francine <Francine.Busby@sen.ca.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 2:17 PM
To: Jason Haber <Jason.Haber@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: My report for Tuesday 5/14
Hi Jason,
I won’t be able to be at the Leg Subcommittee Meeting on Tuesday. I am providing a summarized report
including the status of the Senator’s bills and district activities. I have also included a summary of all her
active bills for your information. I would appreciate it if you could share this information with the
councilmembers and enter it into the record.
I have attached a few fact sheets that may have been finalized after the last meeting. If the council would
like further information or decide to support any of the Senator’s bills, please let me know. I’m happy to
send you templates for Letter of Support.
Before the Senator speaks at the Subcommittee meeting on May 12, it would be helpful to know if there
are any specific topics, bills, issues, etc. that they would like her to address. Please let me know if I can
be of any further assistance with this.
Have a beautiful Carlsbad day,
Francine
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is
safe.
Exhibit 1
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 2 of 18
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District 38 Updates
April 2026
• Senator Blakespear is looking forward to meeting with your committee virtually on May 12.
Please let me know any specific topics, issues, and bills that you would like her to address.
• Senator Blakespear finalized all her bills. The bills are now going through the Committee
Hearing process. The following bills have been passed by the committees.
o SB 1167 To clearly identify ebikes vs more powerful bikes for consumers.
o SB 1066 To protect workers from Tijuana River Valley Pollution
o SB 936 To prevent Nitrous Oxide Abuse
• I have attached a summary of all her bills.
• We encourage you to review them and support bills that align with your priorities.
• I would like to highlight a few that may affect your city (members, neighborhood, etc.)
BILLS THAT MAY BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST:
• SB 866 - Interim Shelter Act: This is an intent bill that will help cities with funding for reducing
the number of unsheltered individuals by requiring the Legislature to award $500 million over
5 years to local governments for the purpose of constructing and operating interim shelter for
the homeless.
• SB 967 - RHNA Interim Housing Eligibility: This bill would help cities meet their RHNA
numbers by making emergency shelter eligible for credit toward Regional Housing Need
Allocation (RHNA) quotas, specifically up to 50% of the acutely low income category. It would
require local governments to provide committee support services to interim housing and
require shelter obligation needs be met before interim housing could count for RHNA credit.
• SB 1136 - Intercity and Regional Rail: Event Service Planning: This bill improves the
planning and management of rail services to heavily attended regional events in close
proximity to a station.
• SB 989 - Screening for CARE Court Petitions: This bill would require counties to review and
file CARE Court petitions for first responders, family members, and roommates of individuals
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 3 of 18
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with psychotic disorders. This would reduce burdens on frontline workers and unpaid
caregivers and reduce resources spent on incorrectly filed petitions.
IN THE DISTRICT: Special events and ongoing programs
• The Senator’s Champion of the month of April is Susan Parmalee, the Executive Director of
the Wellness and Prevention Center in San Juan Capistrano.
• Nominate Champions of the Month
Community Champion of the Month District 38 | California Senate District 38
Each month the Senator recognized a constituent who stands out for the excellence of their
work and commitment to improving the quality of life in our district in some way. You can
nominate a person you know through the Senator’s website.
• The Senator’s Non-Profit of the Year is Somos Tias, an organization that aids and supports
immigrant families experiencing challenges.
• The Senator honored over 70 Women Who Inspire, who were nominated by members of the
community, at receptions in Del Mar and Laguna Hills during Women’s History Month.
• The Senator hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Healthcare with state and regional
healthcare professionals on March 20th to discuss the impacts of federal cuts on providers
and patients and other important issues.
• Nominations volunteers in April, Volunteer Month, through her Cheers for Volunteers.
2026 Cheers for Volunteers Nominations | California Senate District 38
• Sign up for the Senior Series
The Senator’s office is hosting Senior Series of events that feature serves and resources
available in California and through local organizations and agencies that include tax
preparation assistance, CHP training that can help lower insurance costs and Senior
Scammers. If you know of an organization or community that would like to host an event,
please contact our district office in Carlsbad or Laguna Hills.
• The Senator hosts her Virtual My California Book Club each quarter: The next books is
Paved Paradise: How parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar. It is on April 18. Click here
to join the Zoom.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 4 of 18
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2026 SENATOR BLAKESPEAR’S ACTIVE BILLS
ENVIRONMENTAL
SB 954 - 131 CEQA Cleanup: Last year’s significant reforms to CEQA ignored necessary
protections for the environment as it related to the definition of advanced manufacturing. This bill
makes three significant changes to the definition of advanced manufacturing: (1) state intent to
list out the specific industries that are eligible for the advanced manufacturing exemption (2) add
environmental guardrails and (3) add requirements that advanced manufacturing facilities prove
that they are cutting edge on environmental and labor standards.
SB 955 - Reverse Vending Machines: This bill makes updates to AB 1013 (Atkins) that would
redefine a "supermarket" by increasing the threshold from $2M to $5M, as well as clarifies the
definition of collection service, by requiring machines are capable of capturing 100% of bottles
sold. Status: Referred to Committee on Environmental Quality
SB 1031 - Compostable Plastics Market: This bill is intended to support a California market for
compostable products like packaging and cutlery that are better alternatives than petroleum-
based products. Status: Introduced – Pending Referral.
SB 1046 - Tijuana River Valley Worker Protections: This bill would set clear standards for
workers exposed to hazardous, transboundary pollution that crosses the California-Mexico
border. Status: Introduced – Passed in committee
SB 1135 - Coexistence: This bill would establish and sustain a statewide Wildlife Coexistence
Program within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Status: Substantively Amended –
Pending Referral.
SB 1259 - Asset Retirement Obligations: This bill will protect taxpayers and communities by
mandating that refineries report their actual Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs) and submit
detailed plans to meet them. Those ARO estimates will be based on consistent technical
standards developed by the State Water Board. By daylighting these obligations and plans before
refineries actively start to close, California can hold polluters responsible while acquiring the data
necessary to plan for a safe and stable transition away from fossil fuels. Status: Set for hearing in
Sen. Environmental Quality Committee on April 9th.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 5 of 18
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HEALTH
SB 1088 - Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This bill would improve
clarity and consistency between the three types of advance care planning forms: advanced care
directives, prehospital do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, and physician orders for life sustaining
treatment (POLST). Specifically, the bill would require POLST forms from out of state to be
honored, allow physicians assistants and nurse practitioners to sign DNRs, explicitly authorize
electronic signatures on POLST forms to make it easier for healthcare providers to upload POLST
forms to the state POLST electronic registry, specify that POLST forms may not be a condition for
admission to hospitals or healthcare facilities, clarify which type of decisionmakers may sign a
POLST on a patient’s behalf, and rename the POLST form to “Portable Orders Listing Scope of
Treatment.” Status: Set for hearing in Sen. Health Committee on April 8.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
SB 866 - Interim Shelter Act: This is an intent bill that will be amended to require the Legislature
to award $500 million over 5 years to local governments for the purpose of constructing and
operating interim shelter for the homeless. To be awarded funding, applicants with overlapping
jurisdictions must collaboratively develop a plan to reduce unsheltered homelessness to
functional zero, must coordinate construction and service delivery via MOU, and adopt
encampment ban ordinances consistent with the Governor's model ordinance. Status: Introduced
– Pending Referral.
SB 967 - RHNA Interim Housing Eligibility: This bill would make interim housing (noncongregate,
relocatable low barrier navigation centers – i.e., tiny homes) eligible for credit toward Regional
Housing Need Allocation (RHNA), specifically up to 50% of the acutely low income category. It
would require local governments to provide committee support services to interim housing and
require shelter obligation needs be met before interim housing could count for RHNA credit.
Status: Set for April 15 in Senate Housing Committee.
JUDICIARY
SB 99 - Military Protective Orders: This bill strengthens coordination between military and
civilian law enforcement to better protect against interpersonal violence. It explicitly allows
military protective orders (MPOs)--which are similar to civil restraining orders–to be used as
evidence in seeking a civil restraining order, requires civilian law enforcement to notify the military
when they believe an MPO has been violated, and allows law enforcement agencies to enter an
MOU with the military on coordinated response and data sharing for violations of MPOs off base
and civil restraining orders on base. Status: Passed Senate Public Safety 5-0; passed Senate
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 6 of 18
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Judiciary 12-0; passed Senate Appropriations 7-0; passed Senate Floor 40-0; now to the
Assembly!
SB 989 - Screening for CARE Court Petitions: This bill would require counties to review and file
CARE Court petitions for first responders, family members, and roommates of individuals with
psychotic disorders. This would reduce burdens on frontline workers and unpaid caregivers and
reduce resources spent on incorrectly filed petitions. Specifically, this will relieve first responders
of a court appearance and allow family members and roommates to file a referral confidentially
with the county without damaging the relationship with their relative. Status: Intent language in
print – Pending Referral.
SB 1016 - CARE Bridge Act: The bill would allow family members and supporters to initiate the
5200 Gravely Disabled evaluation, separate from the 5150 referral process. Status: Spot Bill
Introduced – Pending Referral.
SB 1237 - Pay Equity: This bill would strengthen enforcement of California’s pay equity reporting
law to ensure the state’s regulators have adequate data to take effective action against wage
discrimination. Specifically, this would increase civil penalties (from $200 per employee to $1000
per employee) for employers that repeatedly fail to submit pay data reports to the Civil Rights
Department (CRD) and require CRD to publish data on penalties assessed, collected, and used .
Status: Set for April 7 in Senate Judiciary Committee.
TRANSPORTATION
SB 1167 - E-bikes and e-motos: This bill makes changes to multiple sections of the Vehicle Code
to target “e-motos,” which are motor vehicles that are misleadingly sold as e-bikes, but are too
fast/powerful to be e-bikes. Changes include adding electric motor power equivalents for
motorcycles and mopeds, requires notice to consumers that e-motos are motor vehicles and
subject to licensing and registration requirements, regulates manufacturers and sellers as motor
vehicle manufacturers and sellers, and adds safety equipment standards to e-motos. Status:
Introduced– double referred to Senate Transportation Committee and Senate Natural Resources
Committee; Passed in Committee April 7 in Transportation and April 14 in NRW.
SB 1136 - Intercity and Regional Rail: Event Service Planning: This bill improves the planning
and management of rail services to heavily attended regional events in close proximity to a
station. SB 1136 adds clear requirements to the authority vested from the state to local managing
agencies responsible for intercity Amtrak services (Pacific Surfliner, Gold Runner, Capitol
Corridor) to facilitate special event service planning. The bill also requires regional operators
(Metrolink, COASTER, Caltrain, ACE and SMART) that connect to another regional operator to
conduct special event service planning to be eligible for State Rail Assistance program funding.
This would impact COASTER/Metrolink connecting at Oceanside and Caltrain/ACE connecting at
San Jose and Santa Clara. Status: Introduced–referred to the Transportation Committee.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 7 of 18
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SB 1324 - LOSSAN Performance and Management: This is an intent bill. Status: Introduced–
pending referral.
PUBLIC SAFETY
SB 936 - Banning Nitrous Oxide: This bill would ban the sale of nitrous oxide, with limited
exemptions for medical, dental, culinary, and automotive applications, in tanks over 8g that have
not been rendered unfit for human consumption. Status: Referred to Committee on Public Safety,
and Business, Professions, & Economic Development. Passed in Comittee
Education
SB 965 - Library Cards for Minors: This bill that would allow 16 and 17 year-olds to get a library
card without the need for a parent/guardian to be physically present. Status: Introduced - Pending
Referral
BONDS THE SENATOR SUPPORTS
SB 417 Cabaldon (Senator Blakespear Coauthor) - The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026:
This bill authorizes the $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 for the November 2026
ballot to specifically finance affordable housing construction, preservation, supportive housing,
and homeownership assistance statewide. In addition to housing investments, the bill uniquely
includes dedicated funding for wildfire-related housing needs and a resilience-oriented
approach that supports local governments and climate-impacted communities. Status: In
Assembly. Read first time held at desk
AB 736 Wicks (Senator Blakespear Principal Coauthor) - The Affordable Housing Bond Act of
2026: This bill authorizes the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, placing a $10 billion general
obligation bond before voters to fund affordable housing production, preservation, supportive
housing, and homeownership programs, with a strong emphasis on affordability. The bill
prioritizes multifamily housing and supportive housing, requires at least 10 percent of units to
serve extremely low-income households, and provides operating support for supportive housing
developments for long-term stability. Does not include provisions for Wildfire Prevention.
Status: In Senate. Read first time. Sent to Rules for assignment
SB 895 Wiener (Senator Blakespear coauthor) - California Science and Health Research Bond
Act: This bill will create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research to fund
scientific research through grants and loans to universities, research institutions, and companies
in areas such as biomedical, behavioral, and climate science. This bill would place a $23 billion
general obligation bond on the November 2026 ballot to finance these research projects and
related facilities. Status: Double referred. Senate Committee on Health and Senate Committee on
Natural Resources.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 8 of 18
Office of Senator Blakespear
SB 866 Factsheet | Updated April 7, 2026
SB 866: Homelessness Planning
Requirements
SUMMARY
SB 866 strengthens local homelessness
planning by requiring jurisdictions that do
not receive Homeless Housing,
Assistance and Prevention (HHAP)
funding to include comprehensive
homelessness data, strategies, and
regional coordination efforts in their
housing elements.
BACKGROUND
On any given night, at least 123,000
Californians are unsheltered. While
permanent housing remains the best
long-term solution, the reality is that
thousands of individuals continue to
sleep on streets, in parks, along riverbeds,
and in other unsafe conditions as the
state works to build new housing. This
urgent crisis demands immediate,
practical interventions to bring people
indoors and connect them to services.
California has made historic investments
to address homelessness, including the
Homeless Housing, Assistance and
Prevention (HHAP) program, which funds
local efforts to expand housing,
outreach, and supportive services.
However, not all cities and counties
receive HHAP or Regionally Coordinated
HHAP funding. As a result, some
jurisdictions lack consistent, standardized
requirements to plan for and address
homelessness in a coordinated, data-
driven manner.
Housing elements serve as a key
planning tool for local governments,
guiding how jurisdictions meet housing
needs across income levels. While they
require planning for housing production,
they do not consistently require detailed
planning specific to homelessness,
particularly for jurisdictions outside of
HHAP funding structures.
PROBLEM
Without consistent planning
requirements, many jurisdictions lack
clear, data-driven strategies to address
homelessness. This results in incomplete
or inconsistent data on homelessness
trends, service utilization, and outcomes,
making it difficult to measure progress or
ensure accountability.
Additionally, coordination among cities,
counties, and regional partners is often
fragmented, leading to gaps in service
delivery.
SOLUTION
SB 866 requires jurisdictions that do not
receive HHAP funding to incorporate
comprehensive homelessness planning
into their housing elements. This includes
identifying available housing, shelter,
and behavioral health resources,
outlining how individuals are connected
to those services, and reporting
standardized data on homelessness
trends and outcomes to improve
transparency and accountability.
The bill also requires jurisdictions to outline
actions to reduce homelessness,
improve regional coordination, and
implement prevention strategies for
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 9 of 18
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
SB 866 Factsheet | Updated April 7, 2026
vulnerable populations, such as foster
youth, veterans, and individuals exiting
institutions. Together, these requirements
promote a more consistent and
coordinated statewide approach.
STAFF CONTACT
Samantha Samuelsen | Legislative Director
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
Samantha.Samuelsen@sen.ca.gov | 916-651-
4038
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 10 of 18
Office of Senator Blakespear
SB 1053 Factsheet | Updated April 6, 2026
SB 936: Nitrous Oxide
SUMMARY
SB 936 would prohibit the public retail
sale of nitrous oxide (laughing gas or
N2O) tanks, with limited exemptions for
medical, dental, culinary, and
automotive applications.
Nitrous oxide tanks are defined as any
size canister or tank larger than the
standard 8-gram whipped cream
charger.
BACKGROUND
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is increasingly
popular as an illegal recreational drug in
California. Canisters of these products
are commonly used as recreational
party inhalants and present serious
public health, safety and waste
management challenges.
In 2025, the Food and Drug
Administration issued a consumer
warning that N2O has several negative
short-term health impacts, including
dizziness, impaired brain function,
possible asphyxia or death, as well as
long-term complications, such as
neurological and organ damage. Drug
users in recovery have compared the
addictiveness of nitrous oxide to that of
crack cocaine.
Nitrous oxide has a range of legitimate
applications, including culinary use (e.g.,
whipped cream), medical use (e.g.,
anesthesia), and automotive
engineering and manufacturing (e.g.,
engine propellant), which has historically
contributed to its broad availability in the
retail market. However, most legitimate
large-scale users obtain nitrous oxide
through authorized, licensed distributors
rather than retail outlets.
PROBLEM
Under current law, it is illegal to sell N2O
to minors, regardless of size. However,
large tanks labelled for “culinary use” are
often marketed towards children with
flavors like cherry, bomb pop, vanilla,
etc. Additionally, retailers have gone
further with names like “Baking Bad” and
similar slogans that intentionally blur the
line between legitimate culinary use and
recreational inhalation.
As a result, the retail sale of nitrous oxide
has been banned in the California
counties of Orange, San Mateo,
Humboldt, and Santa Cruz. In addition, it
has been banned in the cities of Santa
Ana, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach,
as well as the state of Louisiana and
Nebraska.
Nitrous oxide cylinders also present a
growing waste management problem
for local agencies. While these cylinders
typically cost consumers $30-$50 to
purchase online, they regularly cost local
governments $50-$75 each to dispose of.
Some Household Hazardous Waste
(HHW) facilities have reported residents
dropping off several large cylinders at a
time. This cost burden has been unfairly
falling on haulers and counties, which in
turn pass the cost to consumers.
SOLUTION
SB 936 would prohibit the public sale of
nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 11 of 18
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
SB 1053 Factsheet | Updated April 6, 2026
grams, with exceptions for legitimate
usage.
SUPPORT
Rural Counties Representatives of
California (Co-Sponsor)
National Stewardship Action Council
(Co-Sponsor)
County of Orange (Co-Sponsor)
San Diego County District Attorney,
Summer Stephan (Co-Sponsor)
California Association of Alcohol and
Drug Program Executives, Inc.
California Cannabis Operators
Association
California District Attorney’s Association
California Narcotic Officers’ Association
California Product Stewardship Council
Californians Against Waste
City of Escondido
CleanEarth4Kids.Org
City of Costa Mesa
County of Humboldt
County of Mendocino
County of Santa Barbara
County of Santa Clara
Del Norte Solid Waste Management
Authority
Douglas County Environmental Services
Facts Families Advocating for Chemical
and Toxics Safety
Good Farmers Great Neighbors
League of California Cities
Los Angeles Couty Sanitation Districts
Merced County Regional Waste
Management Authority
Nug, Inc.
Recology
ReGen Monterey
Republic Services
Resource Recovery Coalition of
California
Rethink Waste
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
Sacramento County District Attorney
Santa Clara County Recycling and
Waste Reduction Commission
The Last Plastic Straw
Town of Apple Valley
Urban Counties of California
Western Placer Waste Management
Authority
Wilton Rancheria
Zero Waste Marin Joint Powers Authority
Zero waste Sonoma
STAFF CONTACT
Annika Olsen | Senate Fellow
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
Annika.Olsen@sen.ca.gov | 916-651-4038
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 12 of 18
Office of Senator Blakespear
SB 967 Factsheet | Updated April 7, 2026
SB 967: Promoting Homeless-Serving Interim
Housing Construction
SUMMARY
SB 967 would encourage the
development of more interim housing to
address the immediate needs of the
unsheltered homeless population.
Specifically, this bill would allow local
governments to count interim housing
units under the state’s housing planning
process, known as the Regional Housing
Needs Allocation (RHNA).
BACKGROUND
California faces a severe housing
shortage, especially for lower income
households. The housing market,
including high rent levels and low
vacancy rates, are a key driver of
homelessness.
The state has taken various actions to
spur housing development. For example,
every city and county must develop a
long-term plan for addressing its share of
housing needs and obtain the approval
of the California Department of Housing
and Community Development (HCD).
This plan is known as the housing element
and is part of the jurisdiction’s general
plan.
Housing elements are generally updated
every eight years following the two-step
RHNA process. First, HCD determines the
aggregate housing needs for a region,
and then each city and county within
the region is assigned their allocation. To
ensure there is enough housing for
households across the income spectrum,
quotas are assigned by income
category.
In 2024, the Legislature passed AB 3093
(Ward), which added two new income
categories, acutely low income (ALI)
and extremely low income (ELI)—
defined as 0-15% and 15-30% of the area
median income, respectively—to ensure
local governments were specifically
planning for the housing needs of those
experiencing homelessness or at risk of
becoming homeless.
PROBLEM
More than 120,000 Californians do not
have an indoor place to sleep on any
given night. Access to homeless-serving
housing is sparse, with only 2 shelter beds
for every 5 people in need.
The lack of shelter has high social costs.
On average, people living outside die 17
years earlier than the general public.
People camping near rivers and streams
contaminate water supplies. In San
Diego and Los Angeles, over 300 fires
have been started by homeless
encampments. Encampments in
neighborhoods reduce home values
and drive down revenue for local
businesses.
Local governments, like San Jose, San
Francisco, and Santa Barbara, are using
tiny homes and modular housing to serve
as a bridge between living on the street
and in permanent housing. These interim
housing projects have been associated
with a 10% decrease in unsheltered
homelessness in San Jose.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 13 of 18
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
SB 967 Factsheet | Updated April 7, 2026
Housing options for people experiencing
homelessness are extremely limited.
Interim housing is an essential
component of preventing people from
falling into homelessness and assisting
those who are unsheltered. Rather than
languishing outdoors or choosing to stay
in congregate shelter, interim housing
can immediately address housing needs
while waiting for somewhere permanent.
However, interim housing does not
qualify under RHNA because it is not
permanent, ignoring the realities of what
types of housing can be made available
for people at acutely low-income levels.
SOLUTION
SB 967 would incentivize the
development of interim housing to
address the immediate needs of
unsheltered homeless population by
allowing interim housing to qualify under
RHNA, provided certain safeguards are
met.
Specifically, this bill:
1. Defines interim housing as
noncongrate relocatable low
barrier navigation centers. This
would include tiny homes and
relocatable cabins and a private
living space ensures dignity.
2. Requires local governments to
commit to providing supportive
services for their interim housing
units. This mirrors the requirements
for preserved affordable housing
units to count.
3. Allows up to 50% of a jurisdiction’s
ALI quota to be filled by interim
housing, provided that the shelter
capacity requirement has
already been met. This prevents
the double counting of interim
housing units.
4. Requires HCD to include
information on counting interim
housing in the AB 3093 guidance.
Together, SB 967 would incentivize cities
and counties to plan and develop
sufficient interim housing to reduce
preventable deaths and lower the
burdens on the public safety net.
STAFF CONTACT
Samantha Samuelsen | Legislative Director
Nadia Mahallati | Policy Analyst
Office of Senator Catherine S. Blakespear
Nadia.Mahallati@sen.ca.gov| 916-651-4038
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 14 of 18
Office of Senator Blakespear
SB 989 Factsheet | Updated March 25, 2026
SB 989: Expanding Access to CARE
Court
SUMMARY
SB 989 would improve access to CARE
Court and help more people get the
mental health treatment they need. This
bill would authorize first responders to
request counties to review and file CARE
Court petitions on their behalf, rather
than requiring them to file directly with
the court.
Counties must assess each request and
file a petition if eligibility criteria are met.
The bill also establishes clear timelines,
accountability measures, and an
appeals process to ensure counties act
in a timely and consistent manner.
BACKGROUND
Left untreated, psychotic disorders like
schizophrenia can upend people’s lives.
Individuals often cycle repeatedly
through police encounters, emergency
departments, and jail visits for nonviolent
and non-emergency issues rather than
receiving sustained care. Not only does
this cost public agencies dearly but the
lack of sustained treatment also shortens
their lives – mortality rates among this
population are approximately three
times higher than the general
population. Proper treatment is effective
at restoring stability and social function in
people’s lives, but only 25% of adults with
psychotic disorders receive minimally
adequate treatment.
In 2022, the Legislature created the
Community Assistance, Recovery, and
Empowerment (CARE) Court program to
improve access to care for individuals
with certain psychotic disorders. This
program is operated at the county level
by behavioral health agencies and
enables the high level of coordination
and structure needed to treat individuals
with psychotic disorders. Early reports
show the program is achieving positive
results.
Under current law, mental health
hospitals can refer individuals to county
behavioral health agencies, which are
required to investigate and file petitions
on their behalf. First responders, family
members, and roommates can also
access the CARE Court program for an
individual they are concerned about,
but they must file a petition themselves.
To file a petition form, a petitioner must
provide the court records of two
behavioral health hospitalizations. They
are also required to appear in court for
the initial hearing and publicly explain
why they believe an individual is not
mentally stabilized.
One third of petitions filed are ultimately
dismissed because an individual does
not meet eligibility criteria for the CARE
Court program.
PROBLEM
First responders face barriers to
accessing the CARE Court program that
block many individuals who need the
court’s services from getting assistance.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 15 of 18
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
SB 989 Factsheet | Updated March 25, 2026
First responders respond to thousands of
repeat calls from individuals with
psychotic disorders who are
undertreated. Most first responders have
not been provided adequate
information about the CARE process,
how it can help their community, or what
role first responders can play in filing a
CARE petition. In addition, first
responders often do not have access to
the detailed hospitalization records that
must be submitted to the court, and it is
often infeasible for first responders to
appear in court as required by law.
SOLUTION
SB 989 makes the CARE Court petition
process more accessible and efficient by
creating a structured referral pathway
through county behavioral health
agencies rather than requiring direct
court filing.
1) This bill would authorize first
responders to request that a county
behavioral health agency file a CARE
petition on their behalf. Counties
must assess the individual within 30
business days and file a petition if the
individual meets or is likely to meet
eligibility criteria.
2) If the county fails to act, the first
responder may seek a court order
requiring a county investigation. If the
county declines to file a petition, the
requester may appeal to the court
and request an investigation.
3) Lastly, this bill would require the
Department of Health Care Services
to develop a standardized referral
form for first responders, issue
guidance on referral procedures,
and establish data reporting
requirements for counties.
SUPPORT
California Professional Firefighters
(Sponsor)
STAFF CONTACT
Samantha Samuelsen |Legislative
Director
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
Samantha.Samuelsen@sen.ca.gov| 916-
651-4038
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 16 of 18
Office of Senator Blakespear
SB 1136 Factsheet | Updated March 9, 2026
SB 1136: Special Event Intercity and
Regional Train Services
SUMMARY
SB 1136 would improve rail service for
large special events by requiring better
planning and coordination among
transit agencies for such events.
BACKGROUND
Types of Rail Service
There are two kinds of passenger rail
services in California – intercity (Pacific
Surfliner, Capitol Corridor and Gold
Runner) and regional rail (Metrolink,
COASTER, SMART, ACE and Caltrain).
Some rail corridors are served by a single
operator, while others have overlapping
intercity and regional rail service
operating on the same tracks.
Intercity Rail Services
Intercity rail services typically connect
passengers between cities over longer
distances, generally along single rail
corridors. The operations of intercity
services are fully state funded and locally
managed by Joint Powers Authorities
(JPAs).
These JPAs function under Interagency
Transfer Agreements (ITAs) that delegate
certain responsibilities for operating
intercity rail services from the state
Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
to the local JPAs.
Each JPA must prepare an Annual
Business Plan (ABP) for state approval
that outlines service planning, required
state funding support and expected
ridership.
Regional or Commuter Rail Services
Regional or commuter rail provide
passenger service over shorter distances,
primarily within a metropolitan area or
region, often focused on daily travel
needs. These services are locally
managed and funded through a
combination of state transit assistance,
local subsidies and fare revenues. Transit
districts and JPAs operate regional rail
services on fixed routes within locally
defined service areas.
PROBLEM
Even though rail is ideal for moving large
numbers of people to events, it is often
not easy for passengers to buy tickets
and figure out what routes and transfers
are needed – especially when using
multiple rail systems. Not only is this
inconvenient, but it limits the number of
people who take rail when its service is
most needed to help a region handle a
large number of commuters to an event.
For example, a passenger traveling from
south Orange County to San Diego for a
concert or sporting event must either
take one available Pacific Surfliner train
or transfer between Metrolink and
COASTER, which requires purchasing two
separate fares and navigating service
schedules that are not designed for
seamless transfers.
SOLUTION
SB 1136 requires improved planning and
coordination to make taking rail to large
events easier and more convenient for
passengers.
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 17 of 18
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
SB 1136 Factsheet | Updated March 9, 2026
This bill requires Interagency Transfer
Agreements for state-supported intercity
rail to include service planning for heavily
attended events located within one mile
of an intercity rail station. In addition,
Annual Business Plans must include
detailed operating information for
special event service.
This bill will ensure regional rail services
that share a station will adopt a special
event service plan that allows
passengers to travel directly to events
within one mile of a station without
having to transfer trains, when a transfer
would otherwise be required.
STAFF CONTACT
Alex Davis | Principal Consultant
Office of Senator Catherine Blakespear
Alex.Davis@sen.ca.gov | 916-651-4038
April 14, 2026 Item #1 Page 18 of 18