Federal and state delegation offices update Carlsbad subcommittee on funding, bills and local impacts

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, state Sen. Catherine Blakespear and Assemblymember Tasha Boerner gave updates to the City of Carlsbad legislative subcommittee on federal and state activity that could affect the city.

Salome Tash, district representative for Rep. Mike Levin, said the congressman voted against the federal continuing resolution that was signed into law because he was concerned it allowed “more cuts and reductions of the federal government,” and she noted the measure did not include requested community project funding or supplemental disaster recovery funds for California. Tash also described the congressman’s ongoing advocacy on veterans, Social Security and Medicaid issues and said he reintroduced the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act to expand post‑9/11 GI Bill eligibility for National Guard and reservists.

Matt Rubel, district representative for Sen. Catherine Blakespear, told the subcommittee the senator was recently named California Life Sciences’ 2025 Legislator of the Year and summarized several state measures. Rubel said Senator Blakespear plans to introduce or support bills on density bonus law clarification (referenced as SB 92 in the presentation), removal of the Habitat Conservation Fund sunset date (identified in the update as SB 427) and legislation to improve coordination between Caltrans and local governments for encampment removal. Rubel said the senator had agreed to work on a proposal to open La Posada shelter beds for general public use while ensuring farmworker priority and that discussions with the Department of Housing and Community Development might yield a solution outside of the legislative process.

Anna Mladenovic, staff for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, reviewed the assemblymember’s legislative packet, including proposals on broadband and CPUC process changes (AB 353, AB 693, AB 705), environmental and “blue carbon” bills (AB 399, AB 823, AB 1102), microplastic bans (AB 823), ebike safety and manufacturer notices (AB 986 and AB 968) and utilities reporting (AB 1017). Mladenovic said AB 86 (health education materials) had passed the Assembly Education Committee and referred to appropriations, and she noted a youth art contest being run by the assemblymember’s office for Earth Day.

Subcommittee members asked clarifying questions and requested fact sheets; staff said lobbyists would provide committee and bill detail at future meetings.