LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: June 22, 2026
Subject: State Legislative Updates of Interest to Contra Costa County: Bill Positions
Submitted For: Legislation Committee
Department: County Administrator's Office
Referral Name: Federal Update
Presenter: M. Rubalcava and G. Neill, Nielsen Merksamer
Contact: E. Struthers (925) 655-2045
Referral History:
The Legislation Committee regularly receives reports on the State Budget and bills of interest to the County and provides direction and/or input to staff and the County's state lobbyists.
Referral Update:
The California State Legislature is in its second year of a two-year legislative session. The introduction deadline for new bills was on February 20, and since that time, the County's advocates, staff, and partner organizations have been reviewing and identifying bills that may have significant impacts on County finance, operations, and services for the community.
At this point in the legislative session, bills are in their second house. Bill positions should generally already be taken, with the exception of bills that are introduced late due to rule waivers, or bills that are "gut-and-amended" to cover an entirely new topic.
One bill of concern that has recently been gut-and-amended is SB 969 (Reyes). This bill would prohibit EV chargers from being inspected more frequently than every three years. Under current law, County Weights & Measures inspectors must inspect EV chargers at least every two years.
The bill would also remove the requirement for devices to be tested when installed. Much of this equipment is being shipped internationally or nationally, increasing the risk of damage. Independent testing is critical to ensuring these devices are accurate and have not been tampered with, and were not damaged in transit.
This connects to the County's mandated functions, as well as by creating a limitation on local government activities (superseding local control).
Specifically, the adopted legislative platf...
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