2026 Advocacy Resources

California’s 483 cities are diverse and unique, but we are united with a clear message to the state: Cities are a smart investment for a strong California. City officials are focused on ensuring every resident has access to the local services they need and rely upon. But they cannot do it alone. To keep California strong and resilient, the state must partner with cities to support our unhoused residents, increase the supply of housing, fortify our infrastructure, and strengthen climate change resiliency.  

View our advocacy priority pamphlet.

Join us at the City Leaders Summit.

    Cal Cities’ Budget Priorities:

    1. Ongoing funding to address homelessness 
      Cities call on the Governor and the Legislature to invest a minimum of $1 billion in ongoing funding to the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program, which is the state’s largest source of funding to support local governments in addressing homelessness. The proposed January budget includes significant cuts to the HHAP, slashing funding for the program to $500 million, half of its historic funding levels.   
    2. Funding to implement the voter-approved public safety measure, Prop. 36.
      Cal Cities calls on the state to respect the will of the voters and provide the resources needed to fully implement Proposition 36. Specifically, we request the Legislature allocate $400 million for probation and other services to ensure that individuals are receiving the treatment needed and to hold those individuals accountable for their actions.   
    3. Cap and Invest Funding Priorities
      With the re-authorization of the Cap and Invest Program last year, the Legislature will continue to have $1 billion per year in discretionary funding. Cal Cities urges the Legislature to prioritize city efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission by funding $100 million to transition to clean public fleet and $29 million to divert organic waste from landfills through composting programs to reduce methane emissions.   

      Homelessness and Housing

      New Cal Cities survey on homelessness.

      SUPPORT

      AB 2296 (Papan): Cal Cities-sponsored bill that would allow cities to start drafting their housing elements six months earlier and requires the state to improve the housing element review process and provide greater certainty. 

      AB 1708 (Solache): Cal Cities-sponsored bill that would increase access to state homelessness funding for cities with populations under 300,000.

      AB 736 (Wicks) & SB 417 (Cabaldon): A $10 billion housing bond to finance affordable rental housing and homeownership programs. 

      SB 79 Clean-up legislation: Cal Cities is calling for a delay in the law’s implementation until the 7th Regional Housing Needs Allocation cycle to provide locals adequate time to plan, and to allow the state to develop clear guidance and technical assistance. Cal Cities strongly opposes any effort to expand SB 79 to include additional transit stops.  

      OPPOSE

      SB 866 (Blakespear): This bill would require all but 14 cities to add extensive homelessness reporting requirements to their housing elements – targeting cities that do not have access to state homelessness funding. 

      SUPPORT

      AB 2517 (Calderon): Cal Cities-sponsored bill that would require the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide consistent, timely public updates when developing the local responsibility area fire hazard severity zone maps to provide greater protections for communities from wildfire threats. 

      OPPOSE CHANGES TO WILDFIRE LIABILITY

      Cal Cities urges lawmakers to reject any changes to the state’s existing strict wildfire liability framework. Energy utilities must be held fully accountable for ensuring infrastructure safety, and victims and local governments must continue to receive full compensation for property damage caused by utility-related wildfires.  

      Fiscal Sustainability

      SUPPORT

      SB 922 (Laird): Cal Cities-sponsored bill that would clarify cities may recover the cost of street maintenance and road repair costs caused by public service operations, such as waste hauling, through service-related fees and charges.

      OPPOSE

      Unfunded Mandates: Local agencies are already owed over $1 billion in unfunded state mandates. This year, lawmakers have introduced over 300 new bills that create or expand state-mandated programs. The Legislature's priorities should not be funded on the backs of cities. 


      Public Safety

      SUPPORT


      SB 758 (Umberg): Cal Cities-sponsored bill that would ban the sale of nitrous oxide in retail establishments that have a tobacco license, except grocery stores.  

      E-bikes

      Cal Cities supports policies that encourage safe and responsible e-bike use. Cal Cities supports a balanced statewide framework that establishes clear device classifications, manufacturing and labeling standards, and rider eligibility, while allowing local governments to retain authority over operational rules on our local streets and public rights-of-way. 

      SUPPORT 

      AB 1569 (Davies): Cal Cities is urging lawmakers to support a suite of e-bike legislation, including AB 1569, which promotes responsible e-bike use by ensuring that students who bring these devices onto school campuses have received safety instruction and understand the rules of the road and path. 

      Cal Cities supports efforts that promote safe and responsible use of active transportation infrastructure and extend well-established safety standards to Class I bikeways.  

      AB 1614 (Dixon): Requires riders to remain seated on bicycles that are designed with seats, which promotes stability and control, particularly on multiuse paths where riders frequently encounter pedestrians, children, and other cyclists traveling at varying speeds. 

       

       

       

      Contact Staff


      Jason Rhine
      Senior Director of Legislative Affairs
      (916) 658-8264
      jrhine@calcities.org