April 25, 2024

The 2024 Legislative Session – How’s it going so far?

With the passage of the deadline for bill introductions falling on February 16^th, we saw a flurry of bills introduced (2,124): brand new policies, rehashes of bills that died or were vetoed, and a flurry of spot bills. The Government Finance and Administration policy team is tracking 423 bills and has to date taken positions on 38 bills. April 26 is the next key deadline to monitor, as it is the last day for policy committees to hear and report on fiscal bills introduced in their house. After that, the next key deadline will be May 17, the last day for fiscal committees to consider bills introduced in their house.

CSAC maintains reports on legislative advocacy on the Government Finance and Administration Policy Committee webpage. Please use the links below to access reports of legislation relevant to government finance and administration:

• All tracked bills for the CSAC GFA policy portfolio (excludes Chaptered, Vetoed, or Dead bills).
• Bills with active positions for the CSAC GFA policy portfolio.  

CSAC staff work diligently with legislators and their staff, as well as with local government partners to help shape the bills that impact counties. Throughout 2024, CSAC will continue to engage with the Legislature and advocate on behalf of counties to empower and elevate our collective county voice.

Looking Ahead – The State’s Fiscal Condition and the 2024-25 May Revision

Last week, on April 15^th, Governor Newsom signed AB 106, which includes about $17.3 billion in budget savings for 2024-25. The bill includes $3.6 billion in mostly one-time funding reductions, $5.2 billion in revenue and borrowing, $5.2 billion in delays and deferrals, and shifts $3.4 billion from the general fund to other state funds. The bill also authorizes the Department of Finance to suspend any one-time spending authorized in the Budget Acts of 2021, 2022, or 2023. We will continue to provide updates on the budget, from now through the May revision, and until the budget is signed.

Changes to Senate Leadership

On February 5, 2024, Senator Mike McGuire was sworn in as the new Senate President pro Tempore, replacing Senator Toni Atkins. Soon after, pro Tem McGuire announced changes to Senate leadership and Senate committees, including the separation of the former Senate Committee on Governance and Finance into two committees: the Senate Committee on Local Government, chaired by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation, chaired by Senator Steve Glazer. 

GFA Policy Committee Meeting – April 18, 2024

During the GFA Policy Committee Meeting at the CSAC Legislative Conference, a robust discussion on the local and state perspectives on state-mandated programs was led by our three speakers, Camille Shelton, Chief Legal Counsel, Commission on State Mandates, Sierra County Supervisor and State Mandates Commissioner Lee Adams, and CSAC’s Chief Policy Officer Jacqueline Wong-Hernandez. The panelists presented the differences between SB 90 and what the courts now require to find a reimbursable state-mandated program under Article XIII B, section 6 of the California Constitution, and identified the case law to date. Additional discussion topics were the Commission’s composition, who is eligible to be a Commissioner, who staffs the Commission, and the difference in the roles between the Commission, the Department of Finance, and the State Controller’s Office. Lastly, Ms. Shelton discussed the high-level test claim process and what happens if a test claim is approved.

The second panel discussed the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,” a ballot measure opposed by the CSAC Board of Directors. The panel featured Keely Martin Bosler, Founder and CEO, Keely MB Strategies & Former Director of Finance; Kyle Packham, Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs, California Special Districts Association; and Matthew Slentz, Associate, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley. Each panelist shared their perspectives on how the measure will impact the state and local governments by discussing what’s in the measure and what it means for counties and all levels of government in California.

The meeting concluded with a brief update on priority legislation, presented by Kalyn and Eric, CSAC’s Government Finance and Administration’s Legislative Advocates.

CSAC Board of Directors Adopts Support Positions on ACA 1 and ACA 13

On April 19, the CSAC Board of Directors adopted support positions on two ballot measures set for the November ballot: ACA 1 and ACA 13.

Educational Materials on “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” Ballot Measure

GFA staff distributed educational materials on the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act,” a ballot measure opposed by the CSAC Board of Directors. GFA staff shared a staff memo, a sample county resolution, and a sample opposition letter counties may use if they are considering adopting a formal position on the measure.

GFA Staff request your feedback on the following bills: (Are any counties submitting individual letters in support or opposition? How will these bills negatively impact your county?)

Retirement

• AB 2284 (Grayson) County employees’ retirement: compensation.
• AB 2474 (Lackey) Retirement: County Employees Retirement Law of 1937: benefit payments and overpayments.
• AB 3025 (Valencia) County employees’ retirement: disallowed compensation: benefit adjustments. 

Broadband/Telecommunications

• SB 1179 (Durazo) Affordable Internet and Net Equality Act of 2024.
• AB 2239 (Bonta) Digital discrimination of access: prohibition. 

Revenue and Taxation

• AB 2647 (Low) Property Taxation: disabled veterans’ exemption: welfare exemption: housing for law enforcement and firefighters
• AB 3141 (Gipson) Property Taxation: possessory interests: seaport environmental improvements
• SB 1059 (Bradford) Cannabis: local taxation: gross receipts

Calls-to-Action:

CSAC staff would like to partner with you in our efforts to advocate for counties. Please consider having your county take positions on the following bills. Use the linked letter templates to submit your position on record.

• AB 817 (Pacheco) Open meetings: teleconferencing: subsidiary body.

  • AB 817 letter template.
• AB 2489 (Ward) Local agencies: contracts for special services and temporary help.
  • AB 2489 letter template.
• AB 2557 (Ortega) Local agencies: contracts for special services and temporary help: performance reports.
  • AB 2557 letter template.
• AB 2561 (McKinnor) Local public employees: vacant positions.
  • AB 2561 letter template.