Sponsored bills seek to close infrastructure funding gaps, bring needed reforms to clean fleet mandate

The two measures are part of over a dozen bills sponsored by Cal Cities

By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor, Damon Conklin, legislative affairs lobbyist

Legislators introduced over 2,000 bills before last Friday’s bill introduction deadline — including key infrastructure measures co-sponsored by Cal Cities.

SB 74 by Sen. Kelly Seyarto would establish a fund to cover funding gaps (up to 20%) for local infrastructure projects. Eligible projects would need to be 80% financed, with 10% coming from local funds. Gap Fund grants could be used once per project and the projects would need to be shovel ready.

Investing in local infrastructure is crucial not just for economic development and quality of life. It’s also vital to public safety. The devastating fires across the state and most recently in Southern California demonstrated how vulnerabilities in local infrastructure can snowball.

Sen. Melissa Hurtado introduced a bill that would improve the rollout of the state’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule. SB 496 would create an appeals advisory committee made up of state agencies, industry experts, fleets, and local governments to review denied petitions for exemptions and extensions to the regulation. The measure would also update several exemptions, including one for emergency vehicles. 

This common-sense reform would provide much-needed relief for agencies and fleet operators. There is currently little clarity on how the California Air Resources Board handles exemption requests nor is there an administrative review for any denials. Creating such a process would both create transparency and clearer, more feasible pathways for compliance.

The two bills are co-sponsored by other local government associations. Cal Cities is also sponsoring measures that would reduce fire risk near urban communities, resolve encampments faster, address concerns over recovery homes, as well as take on unlicensed short-term rental operators, copper wire theft that impacts public infrastructure, and forever chemicals.

In total, lawmakers have introduced over 2,300 bills this year, including around 900 with placeholder language. Measures must be in print for 30 days before legislators can amend them. For more information about the over a dozen bills Cal Cities is sponsoring, including how to support them, contact your regional public affairs manager.