MEETING DATE:
September 22, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
PRELIMINARY END OF SESSION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
Note and File
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 and lobbyist consultants have tracked all the bills on which council has taken a position for the 2026 legislative year.
• The Legislature’s last day was August 31, 2026.
• The Governor has until September 30, 2026, to sign bills on his desk.
• 2026 is also an election year, and the final year in Governor Newsom’s term.
Discussion
This report provides updates on legislation that made it to the Governor’s desk during the 2026 legislative session. Staff continues to monitor these bills, and others as Governor makes his final signing, or veto decisions. They are also collaborating with Cal Cities and our lobbyist teams to submit letters requesting signatures, or vetoes for bills on which the council took a position. The deadline for the Governor to sign or veto bills is September 30th.
The Legislature will reconvene after the November elections, in January of 2027. During the remainder of the year, our state legislators will be working from their district offices, meeting with the community, and beginning to plan for next year’s bills
Legislation of Importance:
Assembly Bill (AB) 1383 (McKinnor) Public employees’ retirement benefits, was passed by both houses of the legislature, and is currently on the Governor’s desk, awaiting signature. It is unclear whether he will sign or veto it.
This bill would establish new retirement formulas, for employees first hired on or after January 1, 2027, as 2.5% at age 55, 2.7% at age 55, or 3% at age 55, subject to certain exceptions. For new members hired on or after January 1, 2013, who are safety members, the bill would require employers to adjust the formulas for service performed on or after January 1, 2027, to offer the formula that has the same fraction at age 55 as the fraction at age 57 in the formula the employer offered pursuant to existing law.
While staff did not recommend that Council take a position on AB 1383, staff want to ensure that Council is aware of the potential negative outcomes from this legislation. AB 1383, if signed, would present a significant initial financial cost to the city, and additional ongoing costs.
Legislation Aligned with State Legislative Priorities
The Governor’s signing deadline is September 30th. After this deadline passes, staff will provide council with a final update on the outcome of positioned legislation.
Status of Positioned Legislation as of 9/22/2026
|
Bill Number |
Bill Title |
Bill Author |
Position |
Date Approved |
Outcome |
|
SB 722 |
Transit-oriented housing development: excluded parcels and sites. |
Wahab |
Support |
2/10/2026 |
Chaptered |
|
AB 748 |
Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans. |
Harabedian |
Oppose |
3/24/2026 |
Held |
|
AB 1564 |
Employer-employee relations: confidential communications. |
Ahrens |
Oppose |
4/14/2026 |
Held |
|
AB 1995 |
State Fire Marshal: lithium battery working group: membership: funding. |
Patel |
Support |
4/14/2026 |
Held |
|
AB 2179 |
Workplace violence: restraining orders. |
Patel |
Support |
4/14/2026 |
Governor |
|
AB 2596 |
Mobilehome parks: federally approved housing programs: compliance with state and local laws. |
Gipson |
Support |
4/28/2026 |
Governor |
|
AB 1821 |
California Public Records Act: agency response time. |
Pacheco |
Support |
5/12/2026 |
Governor |
|
AB 2517 |
Fire safety: fire hazard severity zones. |
Calderon |
Support |
5/28/2026 |
Held |
|
AB 1567 |
General plan: annual report: congregate and residential care for the elderly |
Ta |
Support |
6/9/2026 |
Governor |
|
AB 1883 |
Workplace surveillance tools |
Bryan |
Oppose |
6/9/2026 |
Governor |
|
SB 866 |
Planning and zoning: annual report: emergency shelter. |
Blakespear |
Oppose |
6/23/2026 |
Held |
|
SB 1117 |
Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. |
Cervantes |
Oppose |
6/23/2026 |
Governor |
|
AB 1738 |
State Housing Law: remote inspections. |
Carillo |
Oppose |
7/14/2026 |
Governor |
Status of 2-Year Bills that moved from committee
|
Bill Number |
Bill Title |
Bill Author |
Position |
Date Approved |
Outcome |
|
AB 956 |
Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. |
Quirk-Silva |
Oppose |
6/24/2024 |
Governor |
Fiscal Impact
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with filing this report.
Attachments
None
Prepared by: Michael Lieberman, Legislative Analyst
Reviewed by: Phil Scollick, City Clerk/Director of Legislative Affairs
Approved by: Michelle Bender, City Manager