Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
San Jose council adopts 2026 legislative program, adds support for HR 630 (Neighbors Not Enemies)
Loading...
Summary
City staff asked the council to accept the IGR report and adopt the 2026 legislative program; the council unanimously accepted the report, affirmed priorities including HAP funding and data center engagement, and voted to support HR 630 (Neighbors Not Enemies Act).
The San Jose City Council on Jan. 13 accepted the city’s intergovernmental relations (IGR) report and adopted the 2026 legislative program, endorsing a set of state and federal priorities that include homelessness assistance, housing, child care, workforce development and engagement on data-center policy. The council also voted unanimously to add a support position for HR 630, the federal Neighbors Not Enemies Act, which would repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
City staff led by Emily Lam and Han Kang summarized 2025 advocacy wins and 2026 priorities. Staff noted approximately $7,500,000 in earmark advocacy across six community projects, and highlighted staff support for state bills (listed in the IGR materials) including SB 753 (abandoned shopping carts) and AB 476 (copper theft). The presentation flagged continued work on homeless housing assistance and prevention (HAP) funding after the governor’s budget proposed $500,000,000 for the program.
IGR staff previewed several local legislative concepts: raising the abandoned recreational vehicle threshold from $500 to $4,000 to allow greater flexibility for removals; incentives to encourage condominium construction aligned with other states; a potential CEQA exemption for the Diridon Station infrastructure project; statewide guidance on municipal use of AI that preserves human judgment; and efforts to preserve local control on land use and public meeting conduct. Staff additionally described regional coordination on BART Silicon Valley Phase 2 funding and engagement on workforce innovation reauthorization.
During council discussion, members praised Team San Jose’s activities and asked for more detailed utilization metrics for convention and theater spaces and for comparative benchmarks to peer cities. Councilmember Cohen and others also urged clearer language and monitoring expectations for the city’s data-center priorities, with staff saying they will return to Transportation & Environmental Committee on data-center implementation and permitting in February.
Public speakers from Japantown and the Neighbors Not Enemies Coalition urged support for HR 630; two councilmembers noted cosponsors in the House and staff indicated the city could submit a support letter and meet with district offices. Vice Mayor Foley moved the motion to adopt the legislative program and include a support position on HR 630; the motion passed unanimously.
The council’s adopted legislative program sets the city’s advocacy priorities for 2026; staff will return with further briefings and proposed support letters as bills evolve in Sacramento and Congress.
