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Council accepts state legislative advocacy update amid debate over alignment with state legislators
Summary
City staff presented a review of bills tracked in 2025 and reported alignment rates between the city's position letters and state legislators (Sen. Ben Allen ~35%, Assemblyman Al Marasucci ~45%). Council accepted and filed the update after debate about whether the materials were nonpartisan and how the city evaluates alignment with state representatives.
City staff presented a State Legislative Advocacy update on Nov. 18 summarizing 2025 session activity, bills the city monitored, and staff recommendations for next steps.
Irene O'Neill, staff assistant in the City Manager's Office, said "City staff actively monitored over 35 bills that could have impacts" and described the city's tracking and position letters. O'Neill told the council staff calculated alignment rates between the city's position letters and how local state legislators voted: "Senator Allen having an alignment rate of approximately 35%...Assemblyman Marasucci having an alignment rate of 45%." O'Neill said the city will continue to monitor bills and coordinate with state representatives and organizations in future advocacy.
During the discussion Councilwoman Lewis asked whether the alignment chart and related material were a new iteration; Danny Santano of the City Manager’s Office said it was a new addition to provide more context. Councilman Gerson objected to the presentation and said the materials were not nonpartisan and that the report did not adequately include opportunities to educate all council members; he said he would not support filing the report. Gerson said, in part, "It is not nonpartisan...When those of us who have good relationships with our state legislators are excluded from conversations...it does impact." Staff responded that the materials were intended to provide transparency about alignment and that additional stakeholder inputs, such as the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, will be included in future analyses.
The presentation included summaries of bills staff monitored with potential municipal impacts, including housing and land-use bills (SB 79, AB 507), changes to accessory dwelling unit rules (AB 1154), revisions to the Brown Act for remote access and translation requirements (SB 707), and others. Staff noted many bills will take effect in 2026 and that departments are reviewing implementation implications.
After discussion the council voted to accept and file the state legislative advocacy committee minutes and the update. The clerk recorded that the motion carried with Council members Gerson and Kalani voting no and one member absent.
