DATE: December 16, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Update on State Advocacy and Legislative Developments for the 2025-26 Session
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Council receive an update from Townsend Public Affairs regarding state legislative and budget developments relevant to the City’s policy and operational priorities for the 2025-26 Legislative Session.
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SUMMARY
This report provides an update on state legislative actions and budget developments from the 2025 California Legislative Session that affect the City’s operations, funding opportunities, and policy responsibilities. Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) serves as the City’s state legislative advocate, supporting the City’s Legislative Platform by tracking state bill activity, monitoring budget deliberations, coordinating with legislative and agency staff, and identifying potential funding opportunities for City departments.
California’s Legislature operates on a calendar-year cycle. As a result, most early policy discussions, bill drafting, and negotiations occurred during FY 2024-25, with final votes, gubernatorial actions, and statewide budget decisions occurring in the current fiscal year. Many of the measures enacted during this session will take effect on January 1, 2026, positioning their impacts squarely within the City’s ongoing operational, planning, and service-delivery responsibilities.
Key developments affecting cities include modernization of the Brown Act, updates to land use and housing streamlining provisions, changes to labor and contracting requirements, regional transportation finance legislation, updates to immigration response policies, and significant fiscal actions related to climate and infrastructure, including the reauthorization and renaming of the State’s Cap-and-Trade program as Cap-and-Invest. These developments inform the City’s legislative engagement and highlight areas where state actions may influence local priorities and implementation timelines.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II 2025 State Legislative Overview Memorandum