Make your voice heard at the Capitol at the 2025 City Leaders Summit

Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor

Cal Cities’ biggest advocacy event — the City Leaders Summit — is two weeks away! The summit begins on April 23 with a day of lobbying and making your voice heard. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry: The day starts with a morning briefing.

After the briefing, head to the Capitol for a member rally and press conference urging legislators to listen to voters, fund what matters, and protect cities. Cal Cities is asking the Governor and lawmakers to provide ongoing funding to prevent and reduce homelessness, implement the public safety measure Proposition 36, and protect the voter-approved funding obligations in last year’s $10 billion climate bond.

That afternoon, four panel conversations will provide city leaders with an in-depth look at the top issues before lawmakers.

The afternoon starts with a detailed look at Prop. 36, which voters overwhelmingly approved last year. The state has yet to direct any money toward funding the measure, leaving many wondering how the state will implement Prop. 36. A panel of public safety experts will look at what is needed to successfully carry out the measure, how the measure has impacted the criminal justice system, and how cities can get involved.

Later, state lawmakers and local officials will focus on homeless encampments. Cities across the state are working to balance the needs of homeless residents, public safety concerns, shifting legal frameworks, and limited resources. The panel will explore what cities are doing, highlight best practices, and discuss a shared path forward.

Then after a short break, policy experts will examine this year’s state budget. In normal years, this would be a relatively easy budget to pass. But the federal government has signaled it may pause or withhold funding for California. The state receives around $150 billion in federal funding — mainly for health and human services programs — and needs billions more to help communities affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area.

The day wraps up with a look at wildfires and other natural disasters. From cities tucked in mountainous terrain to the urban interface, communities are worried about the increased pace and scale of natural disasters. State officials and lawmakers will arm cities with tips for planning and navigating the road to recovery.  

The full schedule and session descriptions are available in the “schedule” section of the summit event page. For more information about division lobbying, contact your regional public affairs manager.

Registration and hotel information

Registration for all three days starts at $650 for city officials from any member city. Summit registration includes admission to all educational sessions, the Wednesday reception, Thursday breakfast and lunch, and Friday breakfast. The deadline to register is April 16, after which officials must register on-site if space is available.

The City Leaders Summit will be at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown Sacramento across from the Capitol. The SAFE Credit Union Convention Center is just 15 minutes away from Sacramento International Airport.

For questions about registration, please contact conference registrar Megan Dunn. For questions on legislative meetings, please contact your Regional Public Affairs Manager. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amy Wade. For all other questions, please contact Event Program Manager Kayla Boutros.