Mendocino County committee provides direction on 2026 legislative platform after review of edits

The Mendocino County General Government Committee reviewed and provided direction to staff on the county's draft 2026 legislative platform during its Oct. 22 meeting, after hearing proposed edits and section-specific red lines from county staff and department representatives. The committee voted unanimously to forward the platform, with the requested direction, for consideration by the full Board of Supervisors.

The legislative platform frames Mendocino County's state and federal advocacy priorities for 2026. Kelly Hansen of the County Executive Office told the committee the platform is adopted annually under County Policy 19 and can be updated as needed; she asked the committee to provide red lines and priorities for the draft. "Pursuant to County Policy 19, the Board of Supervisors adopts an annual legislative platform reflecting the County's priorities for legislative advocacy, state and federal funding, and issues of interest to local government," Hansen said. The committee’s action at the meeting was to provide direction to staff and recommend placement of the item for the board's consideration.

Why it matters: the legislative platform informs where county staff and the chair will send advocacy letters and how the county prioritizes asks for state and federal funding. Committee members and department leads flagged items they said warrant clearer language or stronger advocacy, including education and compliance support for cannabis licensees, protections for coastal resources, funding for homelessness programs, and caution in…