Legislative Update

Housing development reform continues to be among the top priorities for the Governor and State Legislature. Numerous pieces of legislation relating to housing and local zoning have been proposed, passed, and continue to be of importance in Sacramento. The City understands the growing need for affordable housing and is doing its part to develop a local solution not just for Pleasanton, but also for the Tri-Valley region. However, the City remains concerned about the loss of local land-use planning control and the ability to preserve and sustain our community’s quality of life through the poorly enacted legislation. For this reason, the City has taken a very active effort in advocating our position on various pieces of legislation.

Three key documents guide the City’s various legislative positions and priorities on a range of topics, including housing, public infrastructure, transportation, local decision making, fiscal sustainability, economic development, and public safety. Together they support our ability to advocate, proactively engage and influence the legislative process:

The City of Pleasanton’s Legislative Framework, most recently updated in 2019.
The 2018-2020 Tri-Valley Legislative Framework, developed collaboratively by Pleasanton in partnership with neighboring cities; Danville, Dublin, Livermore and San Ramon; provides a collective voice on key issues affecting the region.
Further focus on housing issues is provided in the 2019 Tri-Valley Housing and Policy Framework, also developed in partnership with the five Tri-Valley cities, as a basis to advocate and proactively engage and influence the legislative process on behalf of our shared positions on key topics.

Previous Housing Publications

Fall 2019 Progress Newsletter

Winter 2018
Progress Newsletter

City Council Action

The 2020 Legislative session has been active in the area of new housing legislation. On August 18, 2020, the Pleasanton City Council received an update on significant housing bills and other legislation and adopted positions that have been submitted in a series of letters to the legislature. Although a number of these bills have since stalled in the legislative process, others continue to advance. The City has adopted “oppose” positions on several bills, such as SB 1120 which would allow duplexes and lot splits, without discretionary review, in single family neighborhoods, and AB 2345 which expands already generous density bonus laws to provide broad waivers of development standards. “Support” positions have been taken on a limited number of bills, such as SB 995 which provides an opportunity for streamlined environmental view for housing projects and long-range housing plans approved by local governments.

The City’s monitoring and advocacy in 2020 continues a similar active role in the 2019 legislative year. In 2019, the Council took a strong position, along with Tri-Valley neighbors, to oppose Senate Bill 50 (Wiener) which would have required cities like Pleasanton to significantly upzone around transit stations and job centers. The City’s advocacy, along with that of other communities and organizations across the State, helped to defeat SB 50.

The City will continue to advocate for legislative solutions to the housing crisis that emphasize partnership with cities rather than mandates, commit to respect local control and community character, and provide direct financial support to construct affordable housing construction.

Check this page for periodic updates, get informed, and contact local legislators to express opinions on housing reform and various other important legislative matters affecting Pleasanton.