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Carlsbad council updates 2026 legislative platform, adds language supporting bills to hold major polluters financially accountable
Summary
After presentations from city staff and contract lobbyists, the council adopted the 2026 legislative platform with several amendments. In a 4-1 vote, members approved adding a statement supporting legislation that would make large polluting companies financially accountable for climate damages; council also directed staff to pursue identified state and federal funding priorities.
The Carlsbad City Council adopted its proposed 2026 legislative platform and voted to add new language, including a council position supporting legislation to hold major polluters financially accountable for climate damages.
Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber and Sharon Gonzales, the city's state contract lobbyist, outlined federal and state advocacy work, identified tier 1 and tier 2 capital projects for state funding consideration, and proposed about a dozen amendments to the platform reflecting council priorities such as ebike safety, group-home oversight and housing/land-use positions.
Multiple public speakers — including members of YouthE Oil and the Equitable Land Use Alliance — asked the council to add a "polluters pay" clause to the platform and to send letters supporting SB 684 and AB 1243 (described by speakers as the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act). Student speakers described that bill's mechanics, including an emission-attribution study and a fund with 40% reserved for frontline communities.
Councilmember Acosta made a minute motion to add the language: "support legislation that holds polluting and greenhouse gas emitting companies financially accountable for damages caused to our California environment and communities." Staff said the platform already contains broad statements covering related topics but did not oppose the proposed wording. The council approved the addition 4-1.
The council also voted to adopt staff recommendations to pursue the platform's legislative proposals and funding priorities and discussed segmentation of La Costa Avenue improvements so Councilmember Acosta could recuse herself on the specific La Costa item and rejoin for the remainder of the discussion. The final motion to adopt the platform and direct staff to pursue the listed priorities passed unanimously.
What this means: The platform gives staff a basis to engage with state and federal legislators on identified bills and funding requests, including the Carlsbad Village Railroad project and other capital priorities. The addition of the polluters-pay language signals council support for pursuing related state legislation in advocacy but does not commit the city to supporting any particular bill without further review.
