December 7, 2012
On Nov. 13, via webinar, and on Nov. 14, in Riverside, the League held its Annual Legislative Briefings. The presentations focused on the state budget and key developments from the 2011-12 legislative year.
December 3, 2012
On Dec. 13, the League will host a free webinar for members and League partners on SB 1186 (Steinberg and Dutton) implementation. Among other things, SB 1186 requires cities to collect an additional $1 fee for a local business license, equivalent instrument or permit beginning Jan. 1, 2013.
October 2, 2012
Last October, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 244 (Wolk), which requires cities to update the land use element of their General Plan by the next revision of their housing element to plan for disadvantaged unincorporated communities, including communities outside a city's boundaries if it is in the city's sphere of influence. This year, the League was able to make a small, but important clarification with regards to this onerous requirement.
October 1, 2012
On Sept. 30 Gov. Jerry Brown completed action on bills for the 2011-12 legislative session. The Governor in the end was consistent with 72.4 percent of the League’s 29 signature and veto requests.
September 28, 2012
This Sunday, Sept. 30 is the deadline for Gov. Jerry Brown to take action on the bills passed by the Legislature and sent to his desk at the end of August.
September 24, 2012
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a report earlier this month detailing potential federal cuts of approximately $109 billion that would be triggered if Congress fails to act on a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion in accordance with the Budget Control Act of 2011. Also referred to as “sequestration,” the act would impose a 9.4 percent reduction in non-exempt discretionary funding and an 8.2 percent reduction in non-exempt, nondefense discretionary funding.
September 21, 2012
Gov. Jerry Brown has until Sept. 30 to take action on hundreds of bills passed by the Legislature and sent to his desk. On Sept. 4, the League published a comprehensive list of bills of interest to cities and on Sept. 14 published subsequent actions taken by the Governor.
September 14, 2012
On Monday, Sept. 4, following the final night of the 2011-12 legislative session on Friday, Aug. 30, the League published a comprehensive list of bills of interest to cities which were passed by the Legislature and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown for action. City officials are still encouraged to immediately send request for signature or veto letters as indicated below, as the Governor could take action at any time before his Sept. 30 deadline.
September 12, 2012
The League has requested that the Governor veto AB 1616 (Gatto), which would require cities to issue permits to “cottage food operations” that operate out of a residence and deem them to be a permitted use of residential property for local zoning, building, and fire codes. Cities are encouraged to also send veto request letters immediately.
August 30, 2012
This year the League has been tracking a number of major bills which affect cities as reflected in its updated Aug. 10 Major Bills List. This week, the League also published a list of gut and amends that affect cities. The following actions have occurred for the bills the League is tracking.
August 28, 2012
On Monday, Aug. 27, the League reported on a number of gut and amend bills being analyzed by League staff for potential impacts to cities. Since then the following updates have occurred.
August 27, 2012
The last week of session is typically filled with last minute gut and amends. This year is no different. The following bills are still being analyzed by League staff for potential impacts to cities.
August 24, 2012
For the better part of a year, the League has been involved in a working group assembled to address issues surrounding the abuse of ADA lawsuits. SB 1186 (Steinberg), the vehicle for these solutions, will most likely be amended today and heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
August 20, 2012
Last week, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released its Draft Housing Element Update Guidance and is now soliciting public comment. The comment period will be open until Sept. 17.
August 10, 2012
The deadline to comment on underwriting standards for the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home one Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) relating to mortgage assets affected by Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs (PACE) has been extended from June 30 to Sept. 13.
July 6, 2012
This week the Legislature indicated it would take up a number of significant items before taking its summer recess, which starts Monday, July 9. The following actions were taken.
July 3, 2012
Today, League-opposed hot bill AB 904 (Skinner), which would have prescribed a one-size-fits-all parking standard for most infill projects on a statewide basis, was pulled from the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by the author when it appeared that the bill lacked the votes.
June 29, 2012
The League revised its major bills list this week. The following list represents the bills that League staff is following closely.
June 22, 2012
The National League of Cities recently announced the release of two new Municipal Action Guides from its Center for Research & Innovation. These guides may be useful to city officials dealing with infrastructure and housing and community development issues.
June 15, 2012
On Tuesday, AB 904 (Skinner) was gutted and amended from an energy bill into a revival of last year’s parking bill, AB 710 (Skinner).