MEETING DATE:
July 14, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-9641 - ADOPTING POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION PURSUANT TO THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
ADOPT a resolution taking a position on pending legislation in the California State Legislature that may have local impacts.
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not Applicable
Introduction
The City Council adopted the 2026 Legislative Platform to guide the consideration of state and federal bills that affect City operations. Legislators introduced approximately 1800 bills. Staff, lobbyist consultants and Cal Cities continue to review this legislation.
The Legislature is currently in summer recess and will reconvene on August 3rd.
2026 is also an election year, and the final year in Governor Newsom’s term.
Discussion
This report provides updates on legislation of concern in the second year of this legislative session. Staff continue to monitor these bills, and others as the legislative session continues. They will also collaborate with Cal Cities and our lobbyist teams on future City Council consideration for official positions on bills working their way through the legislative process.
Legislation of Importance:
Senate Bill (SB) 1164 (Cervantes) Elections, is currently in the Assembly Elections committee. According to the author, “this bill would enshrine many of the provisions prohibiting vote dilution, voter suppression, and other forms of voter discrimination that once existed in the federal VRA into state law. This bill will also ensure that California continues to lead on voting rights by providing the California Attorney General and individual California voters with improved means to enforce state elections laws his bill would repeal, and replace the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, with the California Voting Rights Act of 2026.”
While staff do not currently recommend that Council take a position on SB 1164, staff want to ensure that Council is aware of the potential negative outcomes from this legislation. It could open the city to injunctions, to lawsuits related to voter suppression, or vote dilution, and plaintiff’s cost recovery, among other potentially negative outcomes.
Legislation Aligned with State Legislative Priorities
The following bills best align with the City’s state legislative priorities, and staff believe that they would have a possible impact on the city.
Bill No. Author Title Position
|
AB 1738 |
Carillo |
State Housing Law: remote inspections. |
Oppose |
Staff recommend an Oppose position on AB 1738 because it would impose an unfunded statewide mandate for remote inspections, regardless of local best practices, staffing capacity, technology infrastructure, geographic realities, or community preferences.
Environmental Review
The proposed action does not constitute a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Sections 15000 - 15387), and is therefore not subject to environmental review pursuant to Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).
Fiscal Impact
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adopting the proposed resolution. Unknown fiscal impacts are associated with the bills noted in Attachment A. A more thorough analysis of each bill’s implementation requirements is needed to demonstrate total fiscal impact.
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
Attachment B: AB 1738 Oppose Letter
Prepared by: Michael Lieberman, Legislative Analyst
Reviewed by: Phil Scollick, City Clerk/Director of Legislative Affairs
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager