Take Action
Cal Cities’ advocacy efforts are strongest when joined by the
voices of city leaders. Below are letters to lawmakers on current legislative
proposals, budget requests, and other top priorities for cities. Some of these
letters are accompanied by a sample support or opposition letter and that’s
where we need local officials to act and send a letter, as well, to support our
cities top legislative priorities. Take a look and TAKE ACTION!
Action Items
AB 1951 (Grayson) Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption
AB 1951 would undermine local budgets and public services by converting the current state General Fund-only sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of manufacturing equipment into a full exemption, including locally-approved tax rates. The measure expands the exemption for five years.
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
SB 1186 (Wiener) Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act
Senate Bill 1186 would severely undermine local decision-making under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
SB 932 (Portantino): General plans: circulation element: bicycle and pedestrian plans and traffic calming plans
SB 932 would make significant, unprecedented, and overly prescriptive changes to the requirements of the circulation element of local general plans; impose costly, unfunded mandates for physical changes to local transportation infrastructure; and expose local governments to significant legal liability.
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED
AB 2011 (Wicks) Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022
This measure would require nearly all cities to ministerially approve, without condition or discretion, certain affordable and mixed-use housing developments in areas of a city where office, retail, or parking are principally allowed regardless of any inconsistency with a local government’s general plan, specific plan, zoning ordinance, or regulation.
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
State Budget Requests
New Housing and Economic Development Program State Budget Ask
Cal Cities is calling on lawmakers to allocate $500 million in the 2022-23 State Budget for a new housing and economic development program. This program would encourage partnerships between state and local agencies by providing matching funds to cities that adopt local tax increment financing tools to support affordable housing, upgrade essential infrastructure, and spur economic development.
Housing and Economic Development Program Letter to the Governor
Unfunded State Mandates State Budget Ask
Cal Cities, counties, and special districts are calling on the state to include in the 2022-23 State Budget reimbursements for $933.5 million owed to local governments for state-mandated program costs.
Regulation Comments
Cal Cities' advocacy efforts do not stop once bills are signed into law. Cal Cities' staff, members, and coalition partners work with state officials to make sure that local government interests are protected during the regulation-making process.
Environmental Quality
- Cal Cities Comments on AB 205 Emergency Rulemaking (September 30, 2022)
- Cal Cities Comments on Proposed Phase 2 Decision Revising Electric Rule 20 (September 15, 2022)
- Cal Cities Comment Letter on CCC Critical Infrastructure at Risk: Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Guidance - Public Draft (September 24, 2021)
- State Water Resources Control Board Proposed Statewide Construction Stormwater General Permit – Coalition Letter (August 13, 2021)
- Proposed Phase 1 Decision Revising Electric Rule 20 and Enhancing Program Oversight (April 27, 2021)
- California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 20 Rulemaking Letter (October, 10, 2020)
- CalRecycle Proposed 1383 Regulations Letter (May 17, 2020)
- SB 1383 - Fourth Round League Comments (May 13, 2020)
- SB 1383 - Local Services Rates Analysis Comment Letter (February 14, 2020)
- California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 20 Rulemaking Letter (April 20, 2020)
- SB 1383 Proposed Regulation Released June 2019 (July 16, 2019)
- SB 1383 - Third Round Cal Cities Comments (October 11, 2019)
- SB 1383 - Second Round Cal Cities Comments (July 16, 2019)
- SB 1383 - Coalition Comments (June 27, 2019)
- SB 1383 - First Round Cal Cities Comments (February 13, 2019)
- SB 1383 - Cal Cities Comments - (May 16, 2018)
Community Services
Housing, Community, and Economic Development
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.
How to Submit a Position Letter
- Visit the California Legislature Position Letter Portal to create an account and upload this letter. If you are having difficulty accessing the portal, please contact Meg Desmond.
- In addition to submitting the letter through the portal, please send a physical copy to your Legislator(s), and email a copy to Cal Cities, as well as your Regional Public Affairs Manager.