Cupertino restores Legislative Review Committee and adopts 2026 legislative platform with amendments

Cupertino’s City Council voted Feb. 19 to reestablish the Legislative Review Committee (LRC) and adopt an updated 2026 legislative platform that staff described as an update to the 2022 baseline with new language on climate, housing, public safety, transportation, technology, and economic development.

Astrid Robles, senior management analyst, told the council the LRC will be a Brown Act committee comprised of two council members (vice mayor Chao and council member Wong proposed) and intended to provide timely, coordinated engagement on state and federal legislation when regular council meeting timing does not align with legislative calendars. Items outside the platform or labeled 'monitor' would return to the full council.

Council deliberations focused on whether the platform’s language should commit the LRC to positions or defer to the full council on contentious topics. Council members asked staff to clarify where 'monitor' appears (so the full council will be notified before an LRC position is taken) and to ensure unfunded mandates and local authority items are reflected in both state and federal tables. Vice Mayor Chao proposed and the motion incorporated friendly amendments to move a 'local authority' section into the state table and to add monitoring language for housing element process bills. Staff agreed to add a short explanation of Prop 36 funding in the platform materials.

After public comments urging transparency on lobbyist activity and reinstating regular reports, the council voted. The motion carried with one 'no' vote from Council member Fruin; the remainder voted aye. Staff said letters prepared under the platform would be posted on the city’s legislative website and the city would consider a year‑end wrap up memo summarizing advocacy activity.