San Jose council adopts 2025 legislative program and priorities, adds fire‑prevention language

The San Jose City Council adopted the Administration’s 2025 legislative program and priorities on Jan. 14 after an extended staff presentation and council debate about homelessness, wildfire prevention, local revenue and housing policy.

Sarah Sarap (presented as Sarah Sarape in the transcript), Director of the Office of Administration, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations, said the program frames the city’s federal, state and regional advocacy for the year and highlighted priorities including reducing unsheltered homelessness, expanding affordable housing opportunities, driving downtown revitalization, and pursuing funding for sustainable infrastructure and climate goals.

Nut graf: Councilmembers debated policy framing, local revenue authority and implementation timelines for state programs. After discussion, Councilmember David Cohen moved to adopt the legislative program with a specific addition seeking state support for fire prevention and suppression measures—language requested to emphasize partnerships with the county and state to prepare hillsides and pursue vegetation‑control funding. The motion was seconded and approved by the council.

During floor debate councilmembers and outside speakers raised several policy points. IGR staff told council the office had monitored more than 355 bills and issued more than 50 advocacy letters during the prior session, and noted active federal and state efforts including Congressional earmark requests and efforts to protect funding streams such as HAP homelessness funds. State lobbying partner Steve Cruz emphasized the importance of preserving HAP and other homelessness funding, saying the program provided “$1,000,000,000” (as referenced in the meeting) in recent state budget cycles.

Mayor Matt Mahan and other councilmembers stressed the need for visible local results and questioned how the city can speed implementation of state tools such as Care Court and SB 43. Multiple councilmembers also discussed state limits on enforcement for encampments on Caltrans land, shopping‑cart theft, and vehicle‑lodging rules under the California Vehicle Code as priorities for legislative advocacy.

Ending: The council approved the fall intergovernmental relations report and adopted the 2025 legislative program and priorities; staff were asked to pursue the identified priorities and return with implementation details and requests for budget authority where necessary. Councilmembers also asked IGR to return to the council for direction on any polarizing or controversial bills before the council took a formal advocacy position.