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San Mateo City Council votes to oppose AB 306, declines to back SB 63 at special meeting
Summary
After public comment and staff briefings, the council voted 3–2 to oppose Assembly Bill 306 (a proposed six‑year freeze on some local electrification/REACH code measures) and rejected a motion to support SB 63, a proposed regional transit funding measure.
The San Mateo City Council on May 19 voted 3–2 to adopt an official position opposing Assembly Bill 306 and, earlier in the same meeting, failed to approve a council position supporting Senate Bill 63.
Deputy Mayor Loring moved that the council oppose AB 306; Councilmember Fernandez seconded. The roll call vote was: Deputy Mayor Loring — yes; Councilmember Fernandez — yes; Councilmember Spercovodike — no; Councilmember Diaz Nash — no; Mayor Newsom — yes. The motion passed, 3–2.
Earlier in the meeting the council considered a motion to support SB 63, the authorizing legislation for a proposed 2026 regional transit financing measure. Deputy Mayor Loring moved to support SB 63 and Councilmember Fernandez seconded the motion. The roll call for that motion was: Deputy Mayor Loring — yes; Councilmember Spercovodike — yes; Mayor Newsom — no; Councilmember Fernandez — no; Councilmember Diaz Nash — no. The motion failed, 2–3.
Public comment ahead of the votes reflected direct appeals on both items. Several speakers urged the council to support SB 63 as a means of stabilizing funding for Caltrain, BART and other Bay Area transit agencies; speakers included Max Mounder, Rick Bonilla and Jordan Grant. By contrast, a public speaker, Robert Whitehair, urged the council to oppose AB 306, arguing the measure would halt local reach code advances and harm electrification efforts statewide.
Council members debated the two measures during and after the briefings. Deputy Mayor Loring framed support for SB 63 as giving San Mateo voters the opportunity to opt into a regional sales tax measure that would help close operating shortfalls felt across Bay Area transit agencies. Other members said they needed more information before committing the city to a position, citing outstanding questions about spending plans and safeguards to ensure San Mateo County receives its share of funds.
The council’s formal actions on AB 306 and SB 63 were the only votes taken during the special session. City staff and the city’s legislative consultants will record the council’s positions with the regional and state advocacy process as appropriate.
