Bell Gardens Adopts State and Federal Legislative Platform After League of California Cities Update

The Bell Gardens City Council unanimously adopted its 2026 state and federal legislative platform Feb. 9 after a presentation from the League of California Cities.

Nicholas Cabeza, the League's regional public affairs manager, briefed the council on the League's advocacy priorities for 2025–26 — protecting local revenues, public safety partnerships, homelessness prevention, and climate resiliency — and highlighted recent bills the city supported, including SB 569 and SB 456, and measures that passed or were vetoed. Cabeza also asked the council to consider a Cal Cities‑sponsored bill (referred to in the presentation as AB 1708) that would create a pathway for cities with populations under 300,000 to access Housing Accelerator Program (HAP) funds via their continuum of care.

Council members discussed a narrow proposed addition to the platform to encourage expanded access to technology and digital services for residents; staff described this as intended to promote technological literacy and better resident access to city programs. After discussion the council approved the platform on a 5–0 roll call.

City staff said the legislative platform is a "living document" that will guide staff drafting of position letters when legislation aligns with the platform and that the council can revisit positions as bills develop. The platform was adopted as agenda item 11.3; staff and League representatives encouraged council members to contact League staff for more information or to participate in Cal Cities events in Sacramento.