Capitol Corner Update
Capitol Corner Update
The first year of this legislative
session concluded on Friday, September 13. This was the last day
that either the State Senate or the Assembly could act on
legislation. After returning from summer recess in August, the
last month of session was a chaotic race to get any legislation
through remaining policy and fiscal committees. This is always a
busy time for last minute amendments and negotiations, not only
to get current bills passed by both houses, but to also arrive on
the governor’s desk before the deadline. This is Governor
Newsom’s first legislative session since he was elected into
office last November. He will now have a month to either sign or
veto all bills that arrive at his desk. This period, in which he
chooses which bills to sign into law or veto, will set a tone for
the rest of his term. Since he is a new governor, his policies,
priorities, and preferences will become apparent by which bills
he chooses to sign into law.
This legislative session focused on many of CALBO’s legislative priorities such as: seismic resiliency, accessory dwelling units, and disaster recovery. CALBO closely monitored these issue areas, since many of the bills that were introduced would have directly affected building department’s administrative procedures and daily code implementation. In order to communicate our interests, CALBO took a strong position on several bills. CALBO leadership and staff actively engaged state legislators, partner local government organizations, and our own CALBO membership in order to communicate our positions on priority issues.
After opposing Assembly Nazarian’s seismic inventory bill last year, CALBO collaborated with his office to introduce a bill we could fully support. CALBO supported AB 429 (Nazarian), a measure that would have required the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission (SSC) to identify funding and develop a bidding process for hiring a third-party contractor to create an inventory of potentially vulnerable buildings in California. CALBO worked closely with the author’s office to develop a local government approach that would not identify local funds as a possible funding source for the program. Other important amendments were included such as; 1) applying the inventory only to the 29 most seismically vulnerable counties, and 2) applying it to buildings approved by the city or county prior to the adoption of the 1976 edition of the Uniform Building Code.
Capitol Corner Update
June has been a busy time for CALBO’s
Legislative Department at the State Capitol. This month is
especially important as bills are being heard in policy
committees in the second house. After bills make it through their
various committees in their house of origin (The Senate for
senate bills, and The Assembly for Assembly bills), they must
repeat this process in the opposite house. CALBO has taken a
strong position on several bills and has actively
participated in advocacy efforts with bill authors and policy
committees.
Capitol Corner Update
On Wednesday, April 17, dozens of CALBO
members convened at the State Capitol to lobby and educate
members of the state legislature on behalf of our organization.
CALBO members met Legislator’s staff not only to discuss CALBO’s
top legislative priorities, but also highlight who we are and
what we do. In their meetings, members discussed the following
measures that are currently moving through the capitol.
New Year, New Regulations: Are You Ready for 2019?
Katie Almand, CALBO’s Government Relations Manager
As the new-year approaches, it is important to remember that legislation signed into law by Governor Brown will go into effect on January 1, 2019. CALBO prioritized dozens of bills this past year and many were signed into law. Here is a summary of California’s new laws along with the actions CALBO’s Legislative Team took on behalf of our members.
Governor Vetoes AB 2681: CALBO Members Heard
The voices of local California Building Departments were heard today as Governor Brown vetoed AB 2681 (Nazarian). In his veto message released this afternoon, Governor Brown conveyed strong concern for seismic safety, but not at the expense of local government. The governor believes a more collaborative approach between the California Seismic Safety Commission, local government, and building owners can yield a well-rounded seismic resiliency measure.
End of 2017-18 Legislative Session Update
As the current 2017-18 legislative comes to an end on August 31,
legislators are eager to move their remaining measures through
the legislative process. Since this is the second year of the
two-year legislative session, all bills must pass out of both
houses in order to be signed by the Governor – bills that fail to
pass will not carry over to 2019. In these last few weeks of
session, the remaining bills will be heard in fiscal committees
and must receive enough votes on the Assembly and Senate
Floors.
Summer Recess Update
June has been a busy time for CALBO’s Legislative Department at the State Capitol. This month is especially important as it holds important deadlines for bills that wish to make it through the second house. After bills make it through their various committees in their house of origin (The Senate for senate bills, and The Assembly for Assembly bills) they must repeat this process in the opposite house. CALBO has taken a strong position on several bills, and has actively participated in advocacy efforts with bill authors and policy committees.
CALBO at the Capitol
On Wednesday, April 18, CALBO members convened at the State Capitol to advocate and educate members of the state legislature on behalf of our organization. CALBO members met Legislators and staff not only to discuss CALBO’s top legislative priorities, but also to highlight who we are and what we do. In their meetings, members discussed the following measures that are currently moving through the Capitol.