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Carlsbad subcommittee hears federal and state updates; endorses coastal leasing ban, opposes net‑metering change
Summary
The Carlsbad City Council legislative subcommittee received federal and state legislative reports, voted unanimously to support Congressman Levin’s Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, and voted to oppose AB 9 42 (net energy metering changes).
The Carlsbad City Council legislative subcommittee heard reports from federal and state representatives and its contracted lobbyists, then took formal positions on two bills: it voted to support the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act and to oppose AB 9 42 (a measure that would change net energy metering terms for rooftop solar customers).
Federal and state reports: Salome Tash, field representative for Congressman Mike Levin, summarized recent congressional activity and highlighted several bills from the congressman’s office, including the bipartisan Service Member Housing Relief Act and the Stay Safe Act to require carbon‑monoxide detectors in short‑term rentals. Matt Rubel, district representative for State Senator Catherine Blakespear, reviewed the adopted 2025–26 state budget, described housing and homelessness bills the senator is tracking, and thanked the city for its support on several measures. Anna Mladenovic, district representative for an Assembly member, summarized the state budget priorities and local events the office is hosting for constituents.
Federal lobbyist David Wetmore of Carpe and Clay summarized the budget reconciliation package (referred to in the meeting as the House/Senate ‘‘big’’ budget reconciliation bill) and the schedule for appropriations. He also presented the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Levin to prohibit new oil and gas leasing off the Southern California coast from San Diego to the northern border of San Luis Obispo County.
Votes: Councilmember Brokholzer moved to support the Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Later in the meeting the subcommittee discussed AB 9 42 (reported in the state slides as a bill that would change net energy metering terms and end certain climate credit allocations for NEM customers). A resident speaker, Don Christiansen, urged opposition to AB 9 42; several council members expressed concern for rooftop solar customers and the effects of changing contract terms. The subcommittee moved to take an opposed position on AB 9 42; the motion carried unanimously.
Other state bills discussed included SB 79 (housing‑near‑transit bill), SB 16 (homelessness/functional zero proposals), SB 627 (prohibition on law enforcement covering faces while interacting with the public, with an undercover exemption), SB 445 (transportation planning and transit agency authority), and AB 1231 (referenced by the DA as potentially unwinding parts of Proposition 36). Staff and council members asked for more analysis on several items and requested further information from the city’s contracted lobbyist on bills that could affect local control and project review timelines.
Committee actions and next steps: The subcommittee directed staff to relay local concerns to state legislative offices, to request additional analysis and briefings where needed (including SB 445 and SB 627), and to continue coordinating on positions consistent with the city’s legislative platform. The subcommittee also approved its minutes from the June 17, 2025 special meeting earlier in the agenda; the minutes passed unanimously.
