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El Cerrito council adopts 2026 state legislative platform, adds transfer-tax and EV safety positions
Summary
City staff and consultants recommended modest additions to the city's 2026 state legislative platform: an explicit opposition to legislation that would limit local real-estate/document transfer taxes, and new positions to support first-responder protections and building-code alignment for EV battery risks; the platform was adopted with two no votes.
Assistant City Manager Alex Rologos and outside consultants from the California Public Policy Group presented the proposed 2026 state legislative platform and highlighted three proposed additions: opposition to statewide measures reducing local authority over real‑estate or document transfer taxes; support for legislation and funding to protect first responders from toxic exposures tied to electric-vehicle and lithium-ion battery incidents; and support for aligning building and fire codes with risks associated with EV charging infrastructure.
Dane Hutchings and Ethan Nagler of the California Public Policy Group said the changes reflect recent statewide activity and local priorities, including a late‑session effort (SB 423 in 2025) that had threatened to limit transfer‑tax authority before advocates narrowed its scope. "This issue will not be going away," the presenters said, describing prior lobbying on draft bills that would have limited local transfer taxes. (Dane Hutchings; Ethan Nagler)
Councilmembers proposed two additions during debate: monitoring allocation of ecommerce sales and use tax to ensure point‑of‑delivery allocation, and a statement supporting regional housing funding measures to increase resources for local housing. The motion to adopt the platform included those recommended modifications; the motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Saltzman and one councilmember recorded as voting no. (Council action)
Why it matters: The legislative platform informs staff advocacy and signals El Cerrito’s positions to state lawmakers. The added language on transfer‑tax authority and EV‑related first‑responder protections is intended to preserve local revenue tools and seek state support for emerging public‑safety risks tied to EVs and batteries.
What officials decided: Council adopted the 2026 state legislative platform with the two additional items proposed during the meeting. The adopted platform authorizes staff and the city’s legislative partners to act on items consistent with the platform and requires council review for positions outside it.
Next steps: Staff and the city's legislative consultant will use the platform to guide advocacy in Sacramento and convey positions to regional partners and legislators; staff recommended returning if items fall outside the platform.
