The following are federal and state bills that the City Council has taken a position on during the 2017-2018 State Legislative Session and 115th Congress. Included with each of the bills listed is a link to the bill language, the City’s staff report to the City Council regarding the measure, and letters to legislators communicating the City Council’s official position on each bill, which is reflective of the position adopted by the City Council.
View 2018 Legislative Platform
State Legislation
2017-2018 Legislative Session
AB 182: HEROIN AND OPIOID PUBLIC EDUCATION ACT
Authored by Assembly Member Marie Waldron (R-75-Temecula), Assembly Bill 182 requires the Department of Public Health to develop and oversee a comprehensive multicultural public awareness campaign, known as the Heroin and Opioid Public Education (HOPE) Program, to combat the growing heroin and opioid medication epidemic in the State.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on August 22, 2017.
AB 1172: SIERRA HIGHWAY RELINQUISHMENT
Authored by Assembly Member Dante Acosta (R-38-Santa Clarita), Assembly Bill 1172 authorizes the California Transportation Commission to relinquish to the City of Santa Clarita all or any portion of Sierra Highway that is under state ownership within the City of Santa Clarita.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on March 28, 2017.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 351, Statutes of 2017) on September 28, 2017.
AB 1250: COUNTIES AND CITIES – CONTRACTS
Bill Text (THIS BILL WAS AMENDED ON JUNE 21, 2017 TO REMOVE ANY IMPACT ON CITY GOVERNMENT).
Authored by Assembly Member Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-59-Los Angeles), Assembly Bill 1250 originally established requirements for the use of personal service contracts by cities and counties. The bill was amended on June 21, 2017 to only impact counties.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
AB 1350: LAND USE – REGIONAL HOUSING NEED ASSESSMENT
Authored by Assembly Member Laura Friedman (D-43-Glendale), Assembly Bill 1350 proposes to require a city or county, that has not met at least one-third of its share of the regional housing need assessment for low-income and very low income housing, to pay a penalty to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
The City Council opposed Assembly Bill 1350 at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
AB 1408: CRIMES – SUPERVISED RELEASE
Authored by Assembly Member Ian Calderon (D-57-Whittier), Assembly Bill 1408 requires the State Board of Parole Hearings to consider the entire criminal history of an inmate, including all current or past convicted offenses, in determining whether to grant parole. Additionally, this bill allows for a county to petition the court to revoke, modify, or terminate a person’s parole if they are found to have violated their parole for a third time.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on August 22, 2017.
Vetoed by Governor Brown on October 15, 2017.
AB 1734: FILM AND TELEVISION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
Authored by Assembly Member Ian Calderon (D-57-Whittier), Assembly Bill 1734 extends the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program for five additional years through June 30, 2025.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 12, 2018.
AB 2214: RECOVERY RESIDENCES
Authored by Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez (D-52-Pomona) and Melissa Melendez (R-67-Murrieta), Assembly Bill 2214 establishes a voluntary certification program for drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities. This bill would also require certified drug and alcohol residential recovery facilities to be prioritized above noncertified facilities in the case of referrals as a condition of an individual’s parole or release from custody.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on May 22, 2018.
AB 2268: LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE: PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ALLOCATIONS: VEHICLE LICENSE FEE ADJUSTMENTS
Authored by Assembly Member Eloise Reyes (D-47-San Bernardino), Assembly Bill 2268 revises the formula for allocating vehicle license fee adjustment amounts to restore revenues to cities that have annexed developed areas since the implementation of Senate Bill 89 (2011). This bill would rectify the effects of SB 89 (2011) and include annexed territories into the vehicle license fee revenues received by local jurisdictions.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on May 22, 2018.
AB 3162: RECOVERY FACILITIES
Authored by Assembly Member Laura Friedman (D-43-Glendale), Assembly Bill 3162 makes changes to the licensing process of alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 12, 2018.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 775, Statues of 2018) on September 26, 2018.
AB 190: LOCAL GOVERNMENT – DESIGN REVIEW
Authored by Assembly Member Marc Steinorth (R-40-Rancho Cucamonga), Assembly Bill 190 proposes to require a local agency’s planning department to process the design of a specific development project within 30 days. If an application is not approved or disapproved within 30 days, this bill would preempt local authority and approve the design of the development project on the 31st day.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
SB 34: RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES
Authored by Senator Patricia Bates (R-36-Laguna Niguel), Senate Bill 34 proposes to require the State Department of Health Care Services, no later than January 1, 2020, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding statewide capacity of residential alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on April 25, 2017.
SB 35: PLANNING AND ZONING – STREAMLINED APPROVAL PROCESS
Authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-11-San Francisco), Senate Bill 35 proposes to require a city or county to submit to the State Legislature, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Office of Planning and Research, an annual report regarding a local agency’s general plan related to housing. This bill also proposes to streamline the approval process for specific multifamily residential developments by eliminating the requirement of a conditional use permit by a local agency.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on April 25, 2017.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 368, Statutes of 2017) on September 29, 2017.
SB 146: WATER RESOURCES – PROTECTED SPECIES
Authored by Senator Scott Wilk (R-21-Antelope Valley), Senate Bill 146 originally proposed to require the State Water Resources Control Board to issue a notice and provide an opportunity for protests on any application to appropriate water that has not been rendered a final determination within 25 years from when the application is filed. This bill was amended on March 20, 2017 to prohibit the State Water Resources Control Board from issuing a new permit to appropriate water from any river or stream that has a population of unarmored threespine stickleback.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on February 14, 2017.
SB 167: HOUSING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-9-Berkeley), Senate Bill 167 requires local agencies to publish an analysis of the requirements of the Housing Accountability Act as part of its review of each application for a residential development project and imposes a minimum fine of $10,000 per housing unit in the housing development project if a court finds that a local agency violated the Housing Accountability Act.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on August 22, 2017.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 368, Statues of 2017) on September 29, 2017.
SB 540: WORKFORCE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ZONE
Authored by Senator Richard Roth (D-31-Riverside), Senate Bill 540 would establish a voluntary process for a city or county to adopt a Workforce Housing Opportunity Zone, which would authorize a streamlined process for the approval of residential developments close to jobs and/or public transit.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on August 22, 2017.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 369, Statutes of 2017) on September 29, 2017.
SB 634: SANTA CLARITA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
Authored by Senator Scott Wilk (R-21-Antelope Valley), Senate Bill 634 proposes to reorganize the Newhall County Water District and the Castaic Lake Water Agency into the Santa Clarita Valley Water District.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on March 28, 2017.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 833, Statutes of 2017) on October 15, 2017.
SB 649: WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
Authored by Senator Ben Hueso (D-40-San Diego), Senate Bill 649 proposes to reduce local control and fees over small cell siting in the public right-of-way. For purposes of this summary, “small cell” is defined as wireless telecommunications equipment used by cell providers to provide cell service. This bill grants cell providers access to locally owned infrastructure within the public right-of-way and in commercial and industrial zones and prohibits local discretionary zoning review.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on April 25, 2017.
Vetoed by Governor Brown on October 15, 2017.
SB 792: HOMELESS COORDINATING AND FINANCING COUNCIL
Authored by Senator Scott Wilk (R-21-Antelope Valley), Senate Bill 792 proposes to require the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan for addressing homelessness in California.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on July 10, 2018.
SB 827: PLANNING AND ZONING: TRANSIT-RICH HOUSING BONUS
Authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-11-San Francisco), Senate Bill 827 proposes to restrict local authority regarding density, height, parking, and design standards related to specific residential developments near a transit stop or transit corridor.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on March 27, 2018.
SB 828: LAND USE: HOUSING ELEMENT
Authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-11-San Francisco), Senate Bill 828 makes changes to the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Specifically, this bill would prohibit the prior underproduction or stable population of a city from a previous RHNA cycle from being used for a determination in a city’s share of regional housing need.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on May 22, 2018.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 974, Statues of 2018) on September 30, 2018.
SB 831: LAND USE: ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-10-Fremont), Senate Bill 831 preempts local land use authority related to accessory dwelling units (ADU). This bill revises laws related to the construction of an ADU, including requiring cities to waive some building code requirements for the construction of ADU’s.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on May 22, 2018.
SB 946: SIDEWALK VENDORS
Authored by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-33-Long Beach), Senate Bill 946 preempts local authority related to sidewalk vendors. This bill would prohibit cities from restricting sidewalk vendors from operating within a local jurisdiction and would require cities to adopt a sidewalk vending licensing program.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on May 22, 2018.
Approved by Governor Brown and chaptered by the Secretary of State (Chapter 459, Statues of 2018) on September 17, 2018.
SB 951: FILM AND TELEVISION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
Authored by Senator Holly Mitchell (D-30-Culver City), Senate Bill 951 extends the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program for five additional years through June 30, 2025.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 12, 2018.
SB 1317: RECOVERY RESIDENCES
Authored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25-La Cañada Flintridge), Senate Bill 1317 requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to develop guidelines by January 1, 2020 on reporting unlicensed residential alcoholism or drug abuse treatment facilities to the State Legislature.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 12, 2018.
Federal Legislation
115th Congress
HR 1557: SOLEDAD CANYON CONSISTENCY ACT
Authored by Representative Steve Knight (R-25-CA), House Resolution 1557 proposes to withdraw, from mineral entry, approximately 640 acres of the Soledad Canyon Sand & Gravel Mining Project Site. These lands were the subject of two cancelled mining contracts (CA-20139 and CA-22901) between the Bureau of Land Management and CEMEX. Enactment of the legislation will prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from entering into new contracts, leases or other conveyance for purposes of mining at the site in Soledad Canyon, which was the subject of the two contracts.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
HR 2116: PERCHLORATE RECLAMATION AND WATER REPLENISHMENT ACT
Authored by Representative Steve Knight (R-25-CA), House Resolution 2116 proposes to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in a series of water reclamation projects to provide a new water supply to communities previously impacted by perchlorate contamination plumes.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
HR 2156: SAINT FRANCIS DAM NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MONUMENT
Authored by Representative Steve Knight (R-25-CA), House Resolution 2156 proposes to establish a national memorial and national monument to commemorate the victims of the Saint Francis Dam collapse of March 12, 1928.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on June 13, 2017.
HR 3990: NATIONAL MONUMENT CREATION AND PROTECTION ACT
Authored by United States Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), H.R. 3990 proposes to amend and clarify the authority of the United States President with respect to designation of national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906 and authority of future Presidents to modify national monument designations established by their predecessors.
The City Council opposed this bill at the regular meeting on September 25, 2018
HR 4086: RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR PRESERVATION ACT
Authored by United States Congressman Adam Schiff (D-28-CA), H.R. 4086 expands the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by adding more than 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor and authorizes the National Parks Service to implement capital improvements and monitor wildlife in the identified portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on December 12, 2017.
S 1926: SAINT FRANCIS DAM DISASTER NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT
Authored by Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), S. 1926 proposes to establish a national memorial and national monument to commemorate the victims of the Saint Francis Dam collapse on March 12, 1928.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on March 27, 2018.
S 1993: RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR PRESERVATION ACT
Authored by United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), S. 1993 expands the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by adding more than 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor and authorizes the National Parks Service to implement capital improvements and monitor wildlife in the identified portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor.
The City Council supported this bill at the regular meeting on December 12, 2017.
