Advocacy Priorities
In setting the League of California Cities annual advocacy priorities, cities remain committed to resiliency, response, and recovery to strengthen our cities and move our communities forward. We stand ready to work collaboratively with the state governments and other stakeholders to accomplish our advocacy priorities in 2026.
2025-26 Advocacy Priorities
Protect and enhance local revenues and expand economic development tools.Californians are deeply concerned about affordability. Cities must safeguard local revenue streams, oppose unfunded mandates, and pursue new economic development tools that bolster local economies.
Strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety.The progress cities have been making to strengthen public safety must be sustained. Cities call on the state to respect the will of the voters and provide the resources needed to fully implement Proposition 36. Cities support sustained investments in police, fire services, and public works as a foundation of public safety.
Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.Secure ongoing funding to bolster all cities’ efforts to support unhoused residents and strengthen state and regional partnerships to expand access to wraparound services.
Secure ongoing funding to accelerate the construction of affordable housing and reform the Regional Housing Needs Allocation process.
Ensure cities have the flexibility and local decision-making authority to meet their community and state housing goals, as well as reduce homelessness.
Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness.
Cal Cities Delivers
Together, with our members, Cal Cities delivers major victories for cities year after year – protecting local control, securing billions of dollars in new funding, and preserving existing city resources.
100 +
bills/ballot measures passed or defeated to retain local control
$13 Billion
in new funding for cities in the past five years
$8+ Billion
in federal recovery funding in 2021
Curious why Cal Cities supports or opposes certain bills or measures? Advocacy efforts are determined by Annual Conference Resolutions or the Existing Policy and Guiding Principles.
Cal Cities' weekly hearings update — distributed via Cal Cities Advocate — highlights upcoming legislative hearings on the bills that matter most to cities. Read the report each Wednesday.
Laws affecting cities are made in the courts, as well as in the Legislature. Consequently, Cal Cities advocacy efforts extend to the appellate courts. The organization weighs in on legal issues where its participation is likely to help advance the legal interests of all California cities. Learn more about our Legal Advocacy efforts.