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Committee hears federal update warning of DHS funding risk and new voting measures that could affect county election duties
Summary
County committee heard a federal legislative briefing from CJ Lake that flagged the risk of another continuing resolution or a partial DHS shutdown, highlighted pending housing legislation, and described the Save Act which would impose new voter-registration and ID requirements with administrative implications for counties.
A presenter for CJ Lake told the Alameda County Personnel Administration and Legislation Committee on Feb. 9 that Congress has not resolved FY26 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security and that the current continuing resolution for DHS expires Friday, raising the prospect of another CR or a partial DHS shutdown that could disrupt TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard.
"We could be looking at another continuing resolution or potentially a partial shutdown for the department," the CJ Lake presenter said, warning the committee that agencies beyond ICE and CBP could be affected.
Why it matters: county officials said the briefing could have local operational consequences. The committee heard that while ICE has significant funding from prior legislation, DHS includes multiple components—some that provide critical county-facing services such as disaster response and transportation security.
The presenter also summarized a set of policy requests from Senate Democrats and said those measures face long odds in negotiation. The briefing named measures Democrats want considered as policy riders, including limits on administrative warrants and new reporting or oversight requirements for immigration operations.
On health care, the CJ Lake presenter said House committees continue hearings on insurance affordability, including prescription drug supply chains, but that progress on expanding the premium tax credit is slow.
Housing and elections: the presenter said the House may move the Housing for the 21st Century Act this week; the measure is described as bipartisan and would aim to speed homebuilding and expand manufactured and affordable housing. Committee members asked where this package and a separate BOOM Act stand and asked staff to confirm whether local members of Congress have cosponsored the measures.
The briefing also covered the Save Act, a House bill that the presenter said would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, eliminate mail-only registrations and require photo ID nationwide (with the photo-ID requirement not taking effect until 2027). The presenter said the county could see significant new administrative requirements if the bill advanced.
"It would introduce significant new administrative requirements for counties responsible for election administration," the presenter said, noting a low expectation that the Senate would pass the bill without major rule changes.
Takeaway: the committee received the update and asked CJ Lake to verify cosponsorship and other local impacts for the county's briefing notes. No committee action was taken on federal items during the session.
