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Carlsbad lobbyists outline end-of-session activity and several bills that could affect local housing and coastal policy
Summary
Contract lobbyists and legislative staff told the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee on Sept. 9 that a cluster of housing, permitting and coastal bills are active in Sacramento as the legislature finishes its session, and that the city may be asked to send letters or take positions as bills go to the governor.
State and contract lobbyists updated the Carlsbad Legislative Subcommittee on Sept. 9 about numerous bills moving through the California Legislature and potential next steps for city advocacy.
Matt Rubel, from state Sen. Catherine Blakespear’s office, and Sharon Gonzales, the city’s Sacramento lobbyist with the California Public Policy Group, outlined a wide range of measures that could affect Carlsbad policy and operations, including housing, permitting, short-term rentals and coastal planning. Gonzales said the legislature was in a high-volume end-of-session week and that amendment and chaptering-out activity was ongoing.
Key items discussed included SB 92 and AB 87, bills that amend density bonus law to limit the ability of developers to count short-term rentals or transient lodging when seeking density bonus concessions. Council members affirmed the city’s support position on SB 92, and staff noted AB 87 addresses similar concerns. Gonzales said both bills were amended so they could become law without one superseding the other.
The committee also discussed AB 253, a bill that would allow a private permitting company to perform inspections when a local agency cannot meet inspection timelines. Gonzales said amendments to AB 253 had removed opposition from several statewide associations, but city members expressed concern about liability and staff burden; the subcommittee did not change its local position that evening.
Other bills noted by lobbyists included SB 79 (housing/transit-related provisions that subcommittee members described as harmful to village areas), SB 707 (teleconferencing and Brown Act adjustments), AB 339 (notification to bargaining units before RFPs go out), AB 379 (human trafficking enforcement changes signed into law), and SB 358 (reduced vehicle mitigation fees for housing near transit). Gonzales also summarized recent action to place a special-election measure on the Nov. 4 ballot to adjust congressional maps for 2026, 2028 and 2030 (measures AB 604, ACA 8 and SB 280).
Why it matters: subcommittee members said housing, short‑term rentals, permitting timelines and coastal planning are core city concerns. Council member Burkholder emphasized the density bonus/short‑term rental issue and confirmed Carlsbad had a support position on SB 92. Members asked lobbyists for vote counts and additional information; Gonzales supplied vote totals for AB 604 (56–20 in the Assembly, 30–9 in the Senate) on request.
The lobbyists and staff said they would continue to prepare letters for the governor’s desk as bills advance and would return to the committee with deeper briefings and any requests for active advocacy. No formal subcommittee votes were taken at the meeting.
Provenance: The state legislative update began with remarks from Matt Rubel representing Sen. Blakespear’s office and continued through an extended Sacramento briefing by Sharon Gonzales, who listed specific bills and amendments affecting Carlsbad.
