TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Monthly Legislative Report
BRIEFING ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving the Monthly Legislative Report.
Staff Contact:
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The Monthly Legislative Report helps the District track state, regional and federal legislation to ensure alignment with the District’s Strategic Plan and the specific goal of having strong public and policy maker support. Policy decisions at all levels of government can positively or negatively affect District operations and revenues and as such, are important to track and influence as needed.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Federal Update
The House and Senate are in recess through the mid-term elections and will reconvene on November 14 for a “lame duck” session that will extend through the end of 2022. Given that the Congress is singularly focused on the November elections there is no federal update attached to this report. After the mid-terms, staff will work with our federal advocate to prepare a summary and analysis of the outcome of the mid-terms as it relates to transportation and what it means for the next Congress.
State Update
The legislature is in recess through the November elections and will reconvene in December to prepare for the 2023-24 legislative session. When it does, Governor Newsom has called for a special legislative session to address fuel prices with the goal of imposing an excess profits tax on oil companies. A recent report uncovered that fuel producers generated profits of as much as $1 per gallon during the second quarter of this year.
Since passage of the budget in June, total revenues received by the state are $4.7 billion below projections, although it is too early to know if this trend will continue. The mid-year fiscal outlook report will be released in November. It is expected to forecast that 2022-23 revenues will be below projections.
Finally, in October the Governor announced that California’s official COVID 19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023, allowing time for local governments to transition back to in-person public hearings.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
This report is provided to inform the Board of monthly legislative activities. Ensuring favorable legislation is adopted by policymakers helps further the District’s goal of having strong public and policymaker support.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
There were no alternatives considered as this report provides an update of monthly legislative activities.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report No. 21-541: 2022 Federal and State Advocacy Programs
ATTACHMENTS:
1. State Update
2. State Matrix
3. 2022 Federal Advocacy Program
4. 2022 State Advocacy Program
Prepared by:
Steven C. Jones, External Affairs Representative
Approved/Reviewed by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications