Office of Legislative Affairs - "The Friday Wrap-Up"

 
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CEO/Office of Legislative Affairs - The Friday Wrap-Up
October 2, 2026 Volume 12 Issue 39
 
Board Actions

The Board of Supervisors met on September 29, 2026, at 9:30 am. Notable actions include the following:

Discussion Items

23. County Executive Office - Approve grant applications/awards submitted in 9/29/26 grant report and other actions as recommended - All Districts (Click for Files) APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.

24. County Executive Office - Approve recommended positions on introduced or amended legislation and/or consider other legislative subject matters - All Districts (Click for Files) DELETED.

The next Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2026, at 9:30 am.

 
Table of Contents
orange arrow Board Actions
orange arrow County Legislation Position
orange arrow Sacramento Update
orange arrow Washington D.C. Update
orange arrow Weekly Clips
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County Legislation Position

County-Position-Matrix-10.2.26
County-Position-Matrix-10.2.26
County-Position-Matrix-10.2.26

 
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Sacramento Update
Prepared by Precision Advocacy

With the 2025-26 legislative session now concluded and the governor’s September 30 deadline for acting on legislation reached, this update reviews several significant developments affecting Orange County and the broader state policy landscape. The report begins with final action on County priority legislation, including Orange County-sponsored measures and other bills the County supported or opposed during the session.

The update also examines California’s rapidly evolving approach to artificial intelligence, with particular attention to potential implications for the County as an employer, purchaser and user of technology, provider of public services, and custodian of sensitive information. Additional sections highlight recent statewide housing data from the Public Policy Institute of California, and the latest Department of Finance and State Controller revenue reports, which show General Fund revenues running above Budget Act projections through August while underscoring continued uncertainty in the state’s longer-term fiscal outlook.

Governor’s Action on County Priority Legislation

The 2025-26 legislative session has concluded, and the governor’s September 30 deadline for acting on legislation marked the final stage for measures on which Orange County took a position this year. Of particular importance are the County’s sponsored measures addressing Homekey adaptive reuse and nitrous oxide, along with legislation affecting public-entity liability, transportation planning, veterans, behavioral health, wildfire resilience, and other County priorities. The following provides an updated status and brief summary of the measures that reached the governor.

County Sponsored Legislation

AB 2320 (Ta) allows qualifying Homekey adaptive-reuse projects involving substantial rehabilitation, reconstruction, or demolition to be considered for the same expenditure timelines available to new construction projects.

Status: Signed into law

SB 758 (Umberg) restricts the sale of nitrous oxide by cigarette and tobacco retailers, while preserving the ability of local governments to adopt stronger restrictions.

Status: Signed into law

SB 936 (Blakespear) restricts the sale and distribution of large, flavored, and inhalation-oriented nitrous oxide products and establishes related penalties and enforcement provisions.

Status: Signed into law

Other Orange County Position Bills Sent to the Governor

AB 28 (Schiavo) establishes requirements related to monitoring and responding to elevated subsurface temperatures at solid-waste landfills.

County position: Oppose – Orange County opposed AB 28 because, despite amendments narrowing its scope, the bill continued to duplicate existing landfill monitoring and regulatory requirements while granting CalRecycle broad new authority and exposing landfill operators to penalties of up to $100,000 per day.

Status: Signed into law

AB 35 (Alvarez) exempts specified Proposition 4 program guidelines and selection criteria from Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking requirements to facilitate implementation of climate-bond programs.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 760 (Ta) would have excluded specified settlement payments associated with the 2026 Garden Grove chemical leak from state income taxes.

County position: Support

Status: Vetoed – The governor stated that he supported the intent of the bill but believed tax exclusions with General Fund implications should be considered through the annual budget process and encouraged the legislature to include the proposal in next year’s budget framework.

AB 762 (Irwin) prohibits specified disposable vapor-inhalation devices containing embedded batteries and establishes related penalties and disposal requirements.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 1567 (Ta) would have expanded annual general-plan reporting requirements related to congregate-care and residential-care facilities for the elderly.

County position: Support

Status: Vetoed – The governor raised concerns that the bill could allow jurisdictions to receive lower-income RHNA credit for facilities that are not affordable to lower-income residents and did not establish sufficiently clear standards for how beds and units would be counted or how duplicative credit would be prevented.

AB 1602 (Blanca Rubio) would have established disaster-aid assistance provisions for foster youth affected by emergencies and disasters.

County position: Support

Status: Vetoed – The governor cited the lack of an identified funding source, noting that the measure would create a new unfunded grant program and significant ongoing General Fund pressures associated with annual local-assistance costs.

AB 1617 (Alanis) revises reporting requirements related to household hazardous waste.

County position: Support.

Status: Signed into law

AB 1619 (Valencia) increases the per-meeting compensation for specified members of the CalSTRS and CalPERS boards from $100 to $320 and allows county retirement boards operating under the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 to increase compensation for eligible board members to as much as $320 per meeting. For county systems, including OCERS, the higher rate would take effect only after public notice and approval by a majority of the board of supervisors.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 2051 (Wicks) establishes a Coastal Resilience Permitting Working Group to improve coordination and permitting for coastal-resilience projects.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 2076 (Lowenthal) establishes restrictions and accountability requirements for online marketplace sales of nitrous oxide, including provisions intended to prevent unlawful sales to minors.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 2194 (Valencia) makes Orange County-specific changes to the governance of CalOptima, including staggered terms and term limits for certain board members and a requirement for an independent external audit of CalOptima’s governance, contracting, procurement, conflict-of-interest, and oversight practices.

County position: No Position – While Orange County ultimately took no position on AB 2194, the final bill retained the County-sponsored proposal to stagger certain CalOptima board terms to improve continuity and reduce the risk of simultaneous turnover.

Status: Signed into law

AB 2513 (Petrie-Norris) expands eligible activities and grant authorities under state wildfire and forest-resilience programs, including regional landscape grants.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

AB 2562 (Dixon) establishes suicide-prevention requirements for specified licensed or certified alcohol and other drug recovery and treatment programs and facilities.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

SB 296 (Archuleta) expands property-tax relief for qualifying disabled veteran homeowners.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

SB 329 (Blakespear) strengthens investigation and enforcement requirements for licensed alcohol and drug treatment facilities and certified programs.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

SB 417 (Limón) places the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 on the November ballot, authorizing $10 billion for affordable housing programs and $1.25 billion for CalVet home loans.

County position: Support if Amended – Orange County supported the bond but asked that the final package make the Local Housing Trust Fund and California Housing Accelerator eligible for funding, reflecting the County’s interest in directing bond resources through locally driven housing programs. The final measure included funding for local housing trust funds, along with major investments in the Multifamily Housing Program, supportive housing, HomeKey, CalHome, farmworker and tribal housing, and other affordable housing programs.

Status: Signed into law

SB 577 (Laird) revises public-entity liability for childhood sexual-assault claims, including eliminating treble damages against public entities and establishing additional prevention, training, and oversight requirements.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law – In his signing message, the governor emphasized the need to balance compensation and protection for survivors of childhood sexual abuse with the financial stability of public institutions. He described the bill as an important first step in reforming the law, while urging the legislature to continue addressing concerns about potentially fraudulent or abusive claims.

SB 907 (Archuleta) strengthens consequences for repeat DUI offenders. Among other provisions, it requires drivers whose DUI charges are reduced to a lesser offense to receive an advisement that a future impaired-driving offense resulting in death could support a murder charge.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

SB 1087 (Cabaldon) revises sustainable communities strategy and regional transportation-planning requirements and their relationship to transportation funding programs.

County position: Oppose Unless Amended – Orange County opposed SB 1087 because of concerns that its changes to regional planning and greenhouse gas reduction requirements could negatively affect regional housing and transportation planning and reduce housing availability and access for County residents.

Status: Signed into law – In his signing message, the governor characterized the bill as the most significant update to the Sustainable Communities Strategy framework since SB 375. He emphasized that the measure is intended to shift regional planning toward implementation, extend the planning cycle from four to eight years, better align transportation investments with regional priorities, and preserve local land-use authority; he specifically stated that the bill does not give the California Air Resources Board authority over local zoning, project entitlements, or housing approvals.

SB 1167 (Blakespear) revises state electric-bicycle laws, including requirements governing vehicles marketed or sold as electric bicycles and related safety provisions.

County position: Support

Status: Signed into law

Artificial Intelligence Update

California’s artificial intelligence (AI) landscape changed significantly during the closing weeks of the 2026 legislative session. The state has moved beyond primarily transparency-focused regulation toward a broader framework addressing independent auditing, frontier-model safety, workplace surveillance, employment practices, privacy, advertising, and government use of AI. Governor Gavin Newsom has also directed state agencies to develop additional AI safety proposals that could become legislation in 2027.

For Orange County, the most immediate issues are less about regulation of large AI developers and more about the County’s roles as an employer, purchaser and user of technology, provider of public services, and custodian of significant amounts of personal information. The County should particularly track employment restrictions, automated decision-making and privacy requirements, procurement practices, and anticipated future legislation.

Newsom Executive Order and New State AI Safety Framework. On September 18, Newsom issued an executive order accelerating implementation of two newly enacted AI oversight laws, SB 813 (McNerney) and AB 1405 (Bauer-Kahan), while directing the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), to develop recommendations for stronger AI safety requirements.

SB 813 establishes a framework for independent verification organizations that can evaluate AI systems and models for safety and risk, including qualification and independence standards and stakeholder working groups to identify appropriate safety standards. AB 1405 creates a state registry for AI auditors and establishes independence, transparency, and integrity requirements.

The executive order also directs GovOps and Cal OES to consider whether California should require developers of the most advanced AI models to use independent evaluators within their laboratories; independently verify safety frameworks, transparency reports, and risk assessments; create emergency shutdown mechanisms or “kill switches;” and expand reportable AI safety incidents. GovOps is expected to submit recommendations to the governor’s office by November 16.

The distinction between current law and future proposals is important. California has established a framework for independent AI evaluation, but mandatory independent evaluations, kill switches, and similar requirements remain under development. The new auditing laws regulate third-party monitors but do not currently require AI companies to use them.

The executive action is also likely to generate legislation. Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) has said he intends to introduce legislation implementing the forthcoming recommendations on AI safety standards and mandatory safety assessments. Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Chair Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo) has also identified AI legislation as a priority for 2027, including possible requirements involving independent auditors, shutdown mechanisms, open-source AI, and liability when AI systems engage in unlawful activity.

These provisions generally regulate AI developers rather than counties. However, the state’s growing emphasis on independent verification could eventually affect public-sector procurement, particularly for higher-risk systems. Counties should watch whether future legislation extends certification, audit, or risk-assessment requirements to public agencies purchasing or using advanced AI systems.

AI in the Workplace. The 2026 session also produced legislation directly relevant to public employers.

AB 1883 (Bryan) prohibits employers from using AI-powered workplace surveillance tools to recognize or infer an employee’s emotional state or collect neural data. The bill broadly defines workplace surveillance tools to include systems that collect information about employee activities, communications, biometrics, or behavior, including video and audio surveillance, continuous time tracking, geolocation, and other tracking technologies.

The bill includes an exception allowing workplace surveillance tools to be used to “ensure safety,” although that term is not defined. The exception could be relevant to applications such as detecting driver fatigue, impairment, or employee distress when tied to an immediate workplace safety concern.

AB 1883 is particularly significant because it includes a private right of action, with potential injunctive relief, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and penalties of up to $500 per violation. The legislation does not clearly specify whether separate violations would accrue by employee, incident, or another measure.

Potentially affected County systems could include AI-enabled cameras, workforce-management software, employee analytics, biometric tools, and certain safety-monitoring applications. The safety exception may be particularly important for public safety, health care, transportation, and field operations.

Automated Decision-Making and Privacy. California’s AI framework is also increasingly intersecting with the California Consumer Privacy Act. California Privacy Protection Agency regulations addressing automated decision-making technology became effective January 1, 2026. Among other provisions, the regulations establish consumer rights relating to access and opting out of certain uses of automated decision-making technology, along with risk-assessment and cybersecurity-audit requirements for covered businesses.

Although these regulations do not necessarily apply directly to County operations, they are helping establish broader expectations for consequential automated decisions. Disclosure, risk assessment, human review, data minimization, and the ability to challenge automated outcomes are likely to remain important as the legislature considers government use of AI.

County use cases involving benefits eligibility, hiring, employee management, contracting, fraud detection, public safety, behavioral health, and constituent services are therefore particularly important to monitor. Before deploying consequential AI tools, the County may want its procurement process to identify what information a system uses, whether decisions can be independently reviewed, how vendors retain County data, whether vendors use County data to train their models, and what audit or appeal mechanisms are available.

AI-Generated Advertising. Newsom also signed SB 1050 (Ashby), establishing disclosure requirements for advertisements featuring AI-generated “synthetic performers.” The law applies when a synthetic performer is prominent in an advertisement, including when an AI-generated person demonstrates a product, delivers the commercial message, or provides narration.

The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires a clear and conspicuous disclosure substantially similar to “this performance features a synthetic performer” or “no human performer is depicted.” The requirement applies to audio narration as well as visual representations.

The statute allows private enforcement through California’s false-advertising and unfair-competition laws rather than establishing a fixed statutory penalty.

Whether SB 1050 applies directly to government communications may depend on whether a particular communication qualifies as covered advertising. Nevertheless, the legislation reflects a broader state policy favoring disclosure when realistic AI-generated people or voices are presented to the public. The County may therefore want to consider standards for use and disclosure of AI-generated spokespersons, voices, and imagery even where SB 1050 does not expressly apply.

Key 2026 California AI Legislation.

  • AB 1159 (Addis) expands student-data privacy protections, including restrictions on using student information to train generative AI or develop AI systems, and establishes privacy protections for higher-education students.
  • AB 1405 (Bauer-Kahan) establishes a state registry for third-party AI auditors and standards governing auditor independence, transparency, and integrity. The September 18 executive order accelerates implementation to December 1, 2027.
  • AB 1609 (Zbur) requires certain large businesses using customer-service chatbots to disclose that customers are interacting with a chatbot and make a good-faith effort to connect customers requesting a human representative within 15 minutes or schedule an appointment.
  • AB 1651 (Dixon) requires the State Bar of California to disclose use of artificial intelligence in development of the California bar examination.
  • AB 1883 (Bryan) restricts employer use of AI-powered workplace surveillance, including systems used to infer emotional states or collect neural data. Importantly for Orange County, the bill expressly includes governmental entities within its definition of employer. In his signing message, the governor said the bill’s restrictions are appropriate guardrails as workplace surveillance technology becomes more sophisticated, particularly to protect employees from manipulative or abusive uses of personal data. At the same time, he urged the legislature to refine the measure to address ambiguities and unintended consequences, noting that AB 1883 lacks key definitions that could create uncertainty about which surveillance tools are covered.
  • AB 2504 (Bauer-Kahan) creates, subject to appropriation, a community-college pilot program addressing AI and the future of creative industries, with participation by up to 10 colleges.
  • SB 813 (McNerney) establishes California’s framework for qualifying independent verification organizations to evaluate AI systems and models for safety and risk. The September 18 executive order accelerates implementation to May 1, 2027.
  • SB 867 (Padilla) establishes protections involving toys that incorporate companion-chatbot technology.
  • SB 1050 (Ashby) requires disclosure when covered video or audio advertising prominently uses an AI-generated synthetic performer.
  • SB 1119 (Padilla) establishes safety requirements for companion chatbots used by children, including safety protocols and parental protections.

Of these measures, AB 1883 presents the most immediate County employment issue because it expressly applies to governmental employers. The County should also watch implementation of AB 1405 and SB 813 for any eventual effect on public-sector procurement or vendor requirements. More broadly, the legislation reflects increasing state attention to auditing, data use, risk assessment, human oversight, and restrictions on the information used to train or operate AI systems.

Broader Direction for 2027. California’s AI debate is evolving quickly. Newsom initially considered a special session, additional executive action, or use of existing regulatory authority in response to concerns about increasingly autonomous AI systems. His September 18 executive order addressed some issues administratively while leaving more significant mandates for recommendations and possible legislation.

The policy debate is also expanding beyond the most advanced AI models. California now has AI laws or regulatory activity addressing workers, privacy, cybersecurity, children, fraud, government deployment, independent auditing, and frontier-model safety, and lawmakers are already discussing another significant round of legislation in 2027.

The November 16 GovOps recommendations are the next major state-policy milestone and should provide a clearer indication of whether California’s next phase of AI regulation will remain focused primarily on large AI developers or begin imposing broader requirements affecting local government procurement, deployment, risk assessment, and oversight of AI systems.

PPIC Releases Fact Sheet on Housing in California

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) recently released a fact sheet examining California’s housing market, affordability challenges, and changing housing needs. The report underscores the continued gap between California and the rest of the country. The typical middle-tier home was valued at roughly $776,000 during the first seven months of 2026, compared with $372,000 nationally, while rents were more than 30% higher. In 2024, 28% of renters and 14% of homeowners spent more than half of their income on housing. PPIC notes that California’s housing shortage is generally estimated at more than 1 million units, with some estimates reaching 3.5 million.

Other key findings include:

  • Homeownership remains difficult, particularly for younger Californians. California’s homeownership rate is 56%, the second lowest among states, while only 31% of Californians own a home by age 35, compared with 48% nationally. Nearly half of housing built since 2010 has been in multi-unit buildings, and 97% of multi-unit housing built since 2020 has been rental housing rather than ownership units.
  • Housing costs are contributing to broader economic and demographic pressures. PPIC identifies housing as a significant factor in California’s net loss of nearly 900,000 residents to other states since 2015, and 34% of Californians report having seriously considered leaving because of housing costs.
  • Homelessness and long commutes remain significant consequences. California ranks third among states in the share of workers commuting more than an hour. In January 2025, approximately 182,000 Californians were estimated to be experiencing homelessness, with nearly two-thirds unsheltered.
  • Housing demand remains strong despite slow population growth. California added approximately 792,000 housing units between January 2019 and January 2026 while its population grew by only about 89,000. PPIC attributes continued demand in part to low vacancy rates, overcrowding, pent-up demand, and declining household size as the population ages and birth rates fall.
  • Housing pressures vary considerably by region. Coastal metropolitan areas continue to have the highest costs, while the Inland Empire, portions of the San Joaquin Valley, and Greater Sacramento are experiencing increasing affordability pressures as households relocate inland. In parts of northern California, housing may be less expensive, but rising wildfire risk and insurance costs are creating additional challenges.
  • The state continues to expand its role in local housing policy. PPIC highlights stronger state housing-planning requirements, streamlined approval processes, policies encouraging affordable and transit-oriented development, and laws facilitating ADUs and lot splits while limiting some local land-use and environmental review requirements. PPIC notes that the full effects of these changes are still developing, although ADU production has increased substantially.

Overall, the fact sheet portrays California’s housing challenge as broader than simply producing more units. Affordability, the mix of rental and ownership housing, regional differences, demographic change, construction costs, and state-local land-use policy are all contributing factors.

August Revenues

The Department of Finance (DOF) and State Controller have released their latest cash reports covering August 2026, the second month of the 2026-27 fiscal year. The table below shows DOF’s August-only results and fiscal year-to-date variances through August, together with the Controller’s fiscal year-to-date figures through August.

 

Tax Revenues

DOF August

DOF FYTD Through August

Controller FYTD Through August

Personal Income

$1.473 billion above projections

$1.053 billion above projections

Nearly $1.6 billion above projections

Corporation

$56 million above projections

$490 million above projections

$591.6 million above projections

Sales and Use

$19 million above projections

$93 million above projections

$106.1 million above projections

Total Revenues

$1.527 billion above projections

$1.522 billion above projections

$2.7 billion above projections

DOF reported preliminary General Fund agency cash receipts of $15.5 billion in August, $1.527 billion, or 10.9%, above the $13.973 billion Budget Act forecast. The August overage was driven primarily by personal income tax receipts, which were $1.473 billion above forecast, including $1.446 billion in stronger-than-expected withholding. Corporation tax receipts were $56 million above forecast and sales and use tax receipts were $19 million above forecast. Through August, DOF reports fiscal year-to-date agency cash receipts of $27.247 billion, $1.522 billion, or 5.9%, above forecast.

The Controller reports that General Fund receipts through August were $2.7 billion, or 10.5%, above 2026-27 Budget Act estimates. Personal income tax receipts were nearly $1.6 billion, or 9%, above projections; corporation tax collections were $591.6 million, or 44.7%, above projections; and retail sales and use tax receipts were $106.1 million, or 1.9%, above projections. The Controller also reported $86.5 billion in unused borrowable resources in special funds as of August 31, available for short-term General Fund cash-flow needs.

The difference between the DOF and Controller totals reflects their different reporting methodologies and timing. DOF measures agency cash receipts and notes that its data may differ from the Controller’s report when cash received by agencies has not yet been recorded by the Controller. For the month of August specifically, DOF reported total General Fund agency cash receipts $1.527 billion above forecast, led by personal income tax receipts $1.473 billion above forecast. Both reports show revenues running above the enacted budget forecast through August. DOF cautions that August is not a particularly significant month for personal income and corporation taxes because there are no major payment due dates during the month, so the early-year results should not be viewed as a definitive change in the state’s longer-term fiscal outlook.

 

Upcoming Hearings

Agendas are typically posted on the committee websites in the Assembly and Senate a few days prior to the hearings. To view hearings after they take place, you may access them in the Assembly or Senate media archives where they are generally available within a few hours of committee adjournment.

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.

Assembly Joint Hearing Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events: Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup Soccer and Joint Committee on the Arts

Donald P. Loker Conference Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles

Informational Hearing: The Cultural Olympiad, Community Festivals, and Arts and Cultural Plans for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games

 

Grant Opportunities

Below is a list of the latest grant opportunities released by the state. All opportunities for local jurisdictions may be found here.

 

Application Deadline: 12/18/26 17:00

Title: 2027 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Grant Program – Clean Water Act section 319(h)

State Agency / Department: State Water Resources Control Board

Match Funding? 25%

Estimated Total Funding: $3,500,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

 

Application Deadline: 11/3/26 17:00

Title:2026 California Nutrition Incentive Program

State Agency / Department: CA Department of Food and Agriculture

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $13,500,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

 

Application Deadline: 10/27/26 23:59

Title: Emergency Medical Services Technical Assistance (EMS TA) Solicitation for Proposals (SFP) for Program Year 2026 (PY 26-27)

State Agency / Department: Employment Development Department

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $1,500,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

 

Application Deadline: 10/29/26 23:59

Title:Increased Recycling of Empty Glass Beverage Containers Grant Program, FY 2026-27

State Agency / Department: Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

Match Funding? 100%

Estimated Total Funding: $14,198,550

Funding Method: Advances & Reimbursement(s)

 

Application Deadline: 11/4/26 23:59

Title: Youth Community Access Grant Program (Round 4)

State Agency / Department: CA Natural Resources Agency

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: Approximately $15 million is available for local assistance.

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

 

Application Deadline: 10/26/26 17:00

Title: Scaling Dyadic Care Grant Program

State Agency / Department: Department of Health Care Services

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $17,000,000

Funding Method: Awards are tiered based on pediatric Medi-Cal volume and implementation readiness. Funding is distributed via upfront and milestone-based payments.

 

Application Deadline: 10/30/26 12:00

Title: Division of Boating and Waterways Aquatic Center Boating Safety Education Grant FY26

State Agency / Department: Department of Parks and Recreation

Match Funding? No

Estimated Total Funding: $1,400,000

Funding Method: Reimbursement(s)

 

Governor’s Press Releases

Below is a list of the governor’s press releases beginning September 23.

 

September 30: At the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Governor Newsom signs his final bill — investing in California’s next generation of innovation

September 30: Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.30.2026

September 30: California’s nation-leading AI framework just got stronger, Governor Newsom signs more first-in-the-nation worker protections and more

September 30: Governor Newsom proclaims a Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools

September 30: Governor Newsom signs bill to ban child marriage

September 30: Governor Newsom signs bill strengthening local journalism, defending a free press as cornerstone of democracy

September 30: Governor Newsom signs bills to protect sexual assault survivors and increase safety on college campuses

September 30: Governor Newsom signs legislation to accelerate California’s fusion industry, announces major investment for quantum research

September 30: Governor Newsom signs historic law to stop big business from shutting out competition, cuts red tape to speed up business permitting

September 30: Governor Newsom announces appointments

  • Jason Kenney of Carmichael has been appointed Director of the Department of General Services.
  • Patricia Barahona, of Modesto, has been reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California, where they have served since 2023.
  • Jose Cisneros, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California, where he has served since 2019.
  • Ajay Bhutoria, of Fremont, has been appointed to the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.

September 29: Governor Newsom signs bills to push back on Trump’s Orwellian immigration tactics to protect immigrant communities

September 29: State leaders agree: Governor Newsom’s signature on federal immigration enforcement bills protects Californians

September 29: Governor Newsom signs housing legislation, cementing California’s record progress to reduce unsheltered homelessness and build more homes

September 29: Governor Newsom signs legislation to accelerate wildfire prevention projects, strengthen fire response, and harden communities against future disasters

September 29: As Trump targets public lands, Governor Newsom expands free state parks access, announces record conservation progress, and signs legislation protecting California’s coast and wildlife

September 29: Governor Newsom signs historic legislation designating California Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander-serving institutions

September 29: Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.29.26

  • Tara Fouch-Moore, of Mariposa, has been appointed to the Native American Heritage Commission.
  • Thomas Gibson, of West Sacramento, has been appointed to the Wester States Water Council.
  • Jacqueline Francis, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California African American Museum Board of Directors.

September 28: Governor Newsom honors fallen California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Liles

September 28: Governor Newsom signs commonsense legislation to make your life easier

September 28: Governor Newsom signs legislation protecting parents’ rights in youth football

September 28: Governor Newsom takes action to help lower prices amid Trump’s nationwide gas and diesel price spike

September 28: Governor Newsom signs legislation supporting veterans, servicemembers

September 28: Governor Newsom signs legislation creating non-UPF label, other health bills advancing September 28: California’s nation-leading healthcare strategy

September 27: Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.27.2026

September 27: Governor Newsom signs bills to strengthen accountability for cold storage facilities, following emergency in Boyle Heights

September 27: THE OPPOSITE OF TRUMP! Governor Newsom signs bills to crack down on corruption, including meme coins by public officials

September 27: Legislators, survivors and gun-safety advocates support Governor Newsom’s signature on September 27: California’s latest gun-safety package

September 27: Governor Newsom signs new laws expanding California’s nation-leading reproductive freedom and care

September 26: Governor Newsom signs legislation protecting the LGBTQ community, pushing back on attacks by the Trump administration

September 26: Governor Newsom signs new bills to further prevent gun violence and strengthen September 26: California’s gun safety leadership

September 25: California delegation wraps historic participation at Climate Week NYC — demonstrating strong climate and economic leadership on the world stage

September 25: Governor Newsom proclaims Dolly Parton Day

September 25: Governor Newsom signs legislation supporting California Native Americans

September 25: Governor Newsom proclaims Native American Day

September 25: Governor Newsom signs “Braun’s Law,” and package of bills to crack down on DUI offenders

September 25: Governor Newsom signs bills to keep strengthening security and safe access for

September 25: California’s faith and nonprofit communities

September 24: Governor Newsom applauds federal film and TV tax credit bill, answering his call to keep production in America

September 24: NEW: Report shows major progress in California on preparing for wildfire, avoiding millions of tons of carbon pollution and toxic smoke

September 24: Governor Newsom on the California Supreme Court ruling Sheriff Bianco illegally seized ballots

September 24: California’s largest new water storage project takes a major step forward

September 23: During Climate Week NYC, Governor Newsom announces major development for California’s carbon market, deepens cooperation with Australia, signs new Finland partnership

September 23: Governor Newsom calls out Trump’s climate failure at the United Nations

 
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Washington D.C. Update
Prepared by Townsend Public Affairs

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

Senate Passes College Athletics Regulations, Turns to Permitting Reform

The Senate remained in session this week, advancing a number of nominees, S 4668, passing a bill to regulate college athletics, and finalizing negotiations on federal permitting reform package, introduced on September 30 as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026.

The release of the package caps months of negotiations after the House passed HR 4776, the SPEED Act, last December. Both bills include significant reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which together govern environmental reviews for nearly all federally funded projects. Among the reforms most relevant, both bills would create functional equivalency between California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and NEPA reviews, allowing CEQA to serve for NEPA. NEPA is oftentimes more costly and more time-consuming than CEQA, despite enforcing a lower overall standard. The bill also includes mandatory timelines for NEPA completion, including requirements for CEQ to notify applicants of deficiencies in their reviews in a timelier manner, alongside a wider set of exemptions from mitigation requirements.

The bill also includes stronger language providing public utilities actual statutory authority to charge data centers and other large load users higher rates for electricity to recover the cost of infrastructure improvements needed to support them. While the Senate left DC until after the midterm elections in November, they are expected to take action on the bill in the lame duck session. Passage in the House is unclear, as the bill contains both House Republican priorities and certain provisions allowing clean energy projects to proceed that had been a sticking point in negotiations.

Fiscal Year 2026 Ends Without a Shutdown, No Action on FY27 Senate Appropriations Bills

On September 30, the Senate left Washington, DC until after the midterm elections and Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) officially ended. Despite not having full-year appropriations bills, Congress passed HR 6500, a Continuing Resolution (CR) keeping the government open and funded at FY26 levels through December 11. The CR also pushes back the deadline to act on surface transportation reauthorization (last called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)), certain agricultural programs, and an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Proposed Rule that could give the Administration significantly greater control over federal funding.

The Senate is expected to return alongside the House on November 9, and immediately jump into finishing the appropriations process. The House has completed their work on all 12 bills, the Senate has yet to markup their counterparts. Senate bills are required to be bipartisan, as they need 60 votes in the Senate to proceed, absences and disagreements over the split between defense and non-defense spending have delayed the process, which usually advances ahead of the August recess.

Additionally, this year’s lame duck session is expected to be busy, as Congress will need to act to extend or pass legislation covering a Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act (IIJA), Farm Bill, Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ahead of the end of the calendar year. They are also expected to work towards permitting reform, and other legacy bills for members not returning for the 120th Congress in January.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

HR 1 SNAP (CalFresh) Administrative Cost Share Changes Begin on October 1

On October 1, HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBBA) changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/CalFresh) administrative cost sharing went into effect, reducing the federal share of administrative costs for the program from 50% to 25%. Before the change, in California the State would cover 35% and each County 15% of the administrative cost share, under the new budget, the State will cover 52.5%, Counties 22.5% and the Federal government 25%.

Earlier this year, other provisions requiring restricting benefit increases and some recipients on the edge of qualifying for the program went into effect, and benefits cost sharing is slated to be introduced based on the State’s payment error rate in October 2027.  Early California Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) estimates from February of this year put immediate fiscal impacts on CalFresh at $2 billion.

The effects of HR 1 on counties are expected to increase, alongside major changes to Medicaid and Medi-Cal availability and costs significantly impacting the state, which will have to continue to act to fill the deficits left by the federal government.

Supreme Court Temporarily Allows Counties to Use DHS and SSA Data to Verify Voter Eligibility

On September 25, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify voter eligibility. DHS began offering SAVE access to county registrars of voters in 2025 following Executive Order (EO) 14248, titled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.

The ruling allows county officials to continue submitting voter registration data to DHS, which will confirm with SSA and their own records a voter’s citizenship status, and return to the county a list of any voters without corresponding documentation in their records. The registrars are generally required to allow the voter to provide proof of citizenship before denying or modifying their current registration.

On September 28, the Department of State (DOS) discussed a potential Federal Register notice to allow DHS to access passport data as a means of verifying citizenship for voters. While counties would not control which agencies DHS uses to support SAVE verification, they could change their participation in the program depending on which agencies are consulted.

White House Publishes “Pocket Rescissions” Package, GAO Reaffirms Illegality

On September 25, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a list of 11 rescissions of budgetary authority totaling $810 million ahead of the end of Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) on September 30. The rescissions covered certain programs the Administration argues provided services to undocumented immigrants under the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Homeland Security. Other rescissions covered the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, the Minority Business Development Agency, and other programs labeled as being based on, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” principles. OMB simultaneously submitted notice to Congress reapportioning the funds and withholding them from grantees under the programs.

Presidential rescissions of budgetary authority provided by Congress via the appropriations process are permitted under certain circumstances, but generally require that the agencies have fulfilled the purpose of the program for less money than was allocated by Congress. OMB’s argument that the funding expires at the end of the Fiscal Year and is therefore rescindable without Congressional approval, which has been dubbed a “pocket rescission.” The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a legislative branch watchdog, found the practice illegal again, and noted that this Congress previously approved a rescissions package via the regular process.

It is likely that the forthcoming bipartisan appropriations bills for FY27 in the Senate will attempt to address this issue among others, it is also likely that program recipients will file a lawsuit asking a judge to invalidate the practice. The appropriations process has been delayed in the Senate until after the midterm elections, the federal government is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution until December 11.  

Orange County Delegation Press Releases

Legislation Introduced by the Orange County Delegation

Bill Number      

Bill Title      

Introduction Date      

Sponsor     

Bill Description      

Latest Major Action      

S.5585

Dependents Going to Civilian Environments (BRIDGE) Act of 2026

09/29/26

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

A bill to require a pilot program to support members of the Armed Forces and military families transitioning to civilian life, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5172), 09/29/26

S.RES.919

No Short Title Available.

09/29/26

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

A resolution honoring the leadership of Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and recognizing his career as a public servant and the enduring value of the Smithsonian Institution to the people of the United States.

Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S5174), 09/29/26

S.5569

No Short Title Available.

09/28/26

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a fee on excess oil profits.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance., 09/28/26

H.R.10613

Housing COST Act

09/24/26

Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA-45)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow for a credit against tax for rent paid on the personal residence of the taxpayer.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means., 09/24/26

H.R.10579

Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026

09/24/26

Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47)

A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a final rule relating to the interconnection of large load facilities with the transmission system, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned., 09/24/26

H.R.10578

AI DATA Act

09/24/26

Rep. Dave Min (D-CA-47)

A bill to authorize certain labor market data collection activities and to improve Federal measurement of the workforce impacts of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned., 09/24/26

S.5558

Barriers to Suicide Act

09/24/26

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, on certain infrastructure, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5004), 09/24/26

S.5563

Ocean Protection and DDT Reduction Act

09/24/26

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

A bill to direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study the impacts of the dumping of certain waste in the San Pedro Basin, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5005-5006), 09/24/26

H.RES.1579

No Short Title Available

09/24/26

Rep. Young Kim (R-CA-40)

Expressing support for the recognition of September 2026, as "National Children's Emotional Wellness Month" and for increased public awareness regarding children's emotional health and wellness.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform., 09/24/26

S.5559

Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act

09/24/26

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

A bill to provide for the basic needs of students at institutions of higher education.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5004), 09/24/26

 

 
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Weekly Clips

Friday 10/02/2026

California’s economic growth expected to continue, but slowly and with few jobs gains -- Boosted by investments in AI, a revitalized aerospace industry and a growing U.S. defense budget, California’s economic growth is expected to continue outpacing the nation, according to a forecast from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Laurence Darmiento in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/2/26

California just changed the way you shop for food -- California is now on track to be the first state to create a front-of-package label to help consumers identify foods in grocery store aisles that are not ultraprocessed. Karen Garcia in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/2/26

California’s new used-car law takes effect today. Here’s how it helps buyers -- Starting today, Californians experiencing buyer’s remorse over a used car will get three days to change their minds. Jessica Roy in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/2/26

Thursday 10/01/2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs laws to protect workers from AI risks -- The laws ban employers from using the technology to predict a worker’s emotional state by using their biometric data, require employers to send written notices to workers if AI is responsible for mass layoffs and ban employers from relying on AI to decide to fire someone. Sophie Austin Associated Press -- 10/1/26

Native American Day is new paid state holiday in California -- Native American Day is now a paid state holiday in California, thanks to a bill proposed by an Inland Empire lawmaker. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill to create the holiday, which will be the fourth Friday of September. Allyson Vergara in the LA Daily News -- 10/1/26

After ban threats, TikTok touts a $12-billion boost to California businesses -- A report commissioned by TikTok says the platform helped generate $12 billion in advertising and merchandise sales for nearly 920,000 California businesses in 2025, supporting 52,000 jobs. Cerys Davies in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/1/26

Wednesday 09/30/2026

A Kelvin Wave Is Heading Toward the California Coast, Bringing Trouble -- In the coming days, sea levels off Southern California are expected to begin rising by half a foot or more and then stay elevated for months, as an enormous pulse of wave energy generated by El Niño travels up the coast, lifting the water as it goes. Raymond Zhong in the New York Times -- 9/30/26

California on track to conserve 30% of its land, but is lagging on coastal waters -- The state added more than 1 million acres this last year toward its goal of conserving 30% of it land by 2030. It made no progress toward conserving 30% of its coastal waters in the same time frame. Noah Haggerty in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/30/26

How the U.S. got oil shipments moving and what it would take to bring prices down -- But the forces driving high fuel prices are not receding along with the development. That will require a lot more than the costly military campaign that is clearing the way for passage of one product at one particular moment in the war. Evan Halper in the Washington Post -- 9/30/26

Tuesday 09/29/2026

California’s plan to save coastal homes from El Niño could end up killing beaches -- With California’s coast getting pounded by strong waves amid a strengthening El Niño, residents and government leaders are turning to big rocks and seawalls to protect homes and keep a railroad from falling into the sea. But there is growing concern this defensive strategy will end up harming California’s famed sandy beaches. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/29/26

Kaiser lays off 147 employees across California, including in Oakland and Pleasanton -- The workers are in business and administrative functions and do not affect patient care, Kaiser said. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/29/26

Paramount, states reject calls for deeper review of merger deal -- Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery and 12 state attorneys general asked a federal judge to approve their antitrust settlement, rejecting Sen. Cory Booker’s call for a deeper “public-interest review.” The companies and states defended the deal’s penalties and five-year term, which Booker and outside groups have called too weak. Samantha Masunaga in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/29/2

Monday 09/28/2026

Sea level rise is reshaping a California beach town and threatening a key rail line -- For years, residents of this Southern California beach town could walk a mile along a stretch of cream-colored sand and dip their toes in the waves lapping ashore. That trip has been cut short. Amy Taxin Associated Press Jill Cowan in the New York Times -- 9/28/26

AI is changing higher education. Here’s how California schools are responding -- While the California State University system declared itself “AI-empowered” a year and a half ago, the University of California began working on its systemwide strategy recently. The California Community Colleges system, meanwhile, is hoping to secure the funding it believes it needs for AI adoption in the next state budget cycle. Tarini Mehta in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/28/26

Weekend 09/26-09/27/2026

El Niño threatens the beloved Pacific Surfliner. Can the iconic train survive the winter? -- For years, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner has been portrayed as the civilized way to travel to and from San Diego. No gridlock on Interstate 5. Glorious views of the Pacific Ocean. Even the chance to grab a drink and relax. Summer Lin in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/26/26

How ‘AI boom,’ events help spur success for Bay Area hotels after major sporting spectacles end -- Bay Area hotels continued to post strong performances this year after major sporting events came and went in the region, data shows, including a 16% increase in August in the San Jose market. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury -- 9/26/26

Hurricanes bring heavy surf to Southern California, rain to parts of the Southwest -- Two hurricanes churning in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico are sending high surf toward Southern California that will overlap with unusually high tides, bringing hazards for beachgoers and possible coastal flooding. Ian James in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/27/26

 
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