To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Christina Rivera, Christel Querijero, Will Tesconi, (707) 565-2431
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
2026 Sonoma County Legislative Platform, and Updates to the Sonoma County Legislative Affairs and Strategic Grants Programs
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt the Sonoma County 2026 Legislative Platform and receive updates to the Sonoma County Legislative Affairs Program and Sonoma County Strategic Grants Program.
B) Adopt a Budget Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 adopted budget to increase revenue and expenditure appropriations to transfer up to $20,000 from General Fund contingencies to the County Executive’s Office to fund signage for the Detective Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly Memorial Overcrossing on State Route 101 at Airport Boulevard.
(4/5 Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board to adopt the Sonoma County 2026 Legislative Platform (Attachment A) which provides policy direction for Legislative Affairs staff advocating on behalf of the County on state and federal issues. The Board will also receive updates on the County Legislative Affairs Program (Attachment C) and Strategic Grants Program (Attachment D) which establish guidelines for all County staff conducting legislative and grant advocacy in their official capacity.
This item also requests the Board to authorize $20,000 from General Fund contingencies for signage for the Detective Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly Memorial Overcrossing to rename the overcrossing on State Route 101 at Airport Boulevard for three officers who were killed in the line of duty.
Discussion:
The Board adopts the Legislative Platform (Attachment A) annually to ensure that the County is positioned to advocate effectively in a dynamic policy environment. Policy decisions often move more quickly than regularly scheduled Board meetings, and the Legislative Platform is a tool for staff to advocate on the County’s behalf in that often-hurried landscape. As a foundation for the Legislative Platform, staff identified common positions critical to local governance. The Legislative Platform was further developed throughout 2025 as staff tracked intergovernmental issues and priorities that emerged in working with individual Board members and staff, and County departments, agencies, and districts.
The Legislative Affairs Program (Attachment C) ensures that legislative advocacy by all County staff is consistently communicated and aligned with Board direction. The Strategic Grants Program (Attachment D) positions County staff to be more forward-thinking in its pursuit of state and federal funding opportunities.
Should the Board adopt the 2026 Sonoma County Legislative Platform, staff would:
1. Draft a Request for Proposals (RFP) for contract lobbying services specific to supporting State Policy Proposals.
2. Familiarize elected officials with the positions and priorities outlined in the Legislative Platform.
3. Identify legislation aligned with the Legislative Platform, and direct County resources to advocate accordingly.
CEO Legislative Program 2026 Update
In 2024, the Board adopted the Legislative Affairs Program, which provides guidance and policies for County staff participating in state and federal advocacy.
The update to the Legislative Affairs Program (Attachment C) clarifies that the Board primarily utilizes position letters when advocating on state and federal legislation. Utilizing position letters ensure that the most current version of amendments to pending legislation have been reviewed by staff when analyzing for the Board’s position.
CEO Strategic Grants Program 2026 Update
In 2024, the Board adopted the Strategic Grants Program to bolster coordination and knowledge sharing of grant opportunities, tools and grant management.
In response to department input, the updated Strategic Grants Program (Attachment D) is working toward establishing a County-wide support structure and foundation for grant practices and resources. The first projects for the Strategic Grants Program include establishing a set of grant policies, a working manual of grant guidance, and a central repository that includes a grant application tracker. All activities will provide support and coordination for departments and foster knowledge sharing and best practices.
CEO Legislative Platform 2025 Report and 2026 Update
The following provides an update on the status of key initiatives in the 2025 Legislative Platform:
In 2024, the Board adopted the 2025 Legislative Platform which provided policy direction for Legislative Affairs staff in advance of the next year’s legislative cycle. The 2025 Legislative Platform included five State policy proposals. An update on those items is as follows:
1. Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Endowment Fund
Ag + Open Space staff is exploring solutions with Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector that allow for increased yield on its reserve fund, but do not require authorizing legislation from the state.
2. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption for Public Trail Purposes
Assemblymember Rogers authored Assembly Bill (AB) 1139. AB 1139 was signed by the Governor and will extend specific CEQA exemptions to county park agencies and expedite public access to parks.
3. California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) Access
Language for sustained advocacy is contained in the proposed 2026 Legislative Platform. Staff recommends continued advocacy at the state level to clarify the authority of law enforcement oversight entities in California.
4. Highway 101 Airport Boulevard Overcrossing Rename
During the most recent session, the California Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 78, authored by Senator Mike McGuire. SCR 78 designates overcrossing No. 20 0297 on State Route 101 at Airport Boulevard, at postmile 26.356, in the County of Sonoma as the Detective Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly Memorial Overcrossing.
Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly were officers of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office that were killed in the line of duty.
SCR 78 designates the overcrossing in the fallen officers’ memory but does not include funding to erect signage. Staff recommends appropriating contingency funds to memorialize the overcrossing with signage.
5. Proposal: Statewide Agriculture Access Verification Card (Ag Access) Program Training
State agencies are preparing online educational resources for fire safety. No further legislative activity is required at this time.
The most substantial update to the 2026 Legislative Platform, when compared to the 2025 Legislative Platform are the following three new State policy proposals:
1. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Retirees
2. Project Scope Amendment to Build the Behavioral Health Housing Unit (BHHU)
3. Prioritization of Murphy Conservatorships
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 1: Strengthen operational effectiveness, fiscal reliability, and accountability
Objective: Objective 1: Align the Board of Supervisor’s strategic priorities, policy, and operational goals with funding and resources.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
November 12, 2024: Board adopted the Sonoma County 2025 Legislative Platform and approved the Sonoma County Legislative Affairs Program and Sonoma County Strategic Grant Program policies <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7011955&GUID=AC562CFC-F921-4D89-8BEB-684A356FE507>
May 9, 2023: Board approved 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6196039&GUID=69951154-FE03-436E-B231-040EE9559B9A&Options=&Search=>
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$20,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$20,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
$20,000 |
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$20,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
SCR 78 renamed the overcrossing of State Route 101 at Airport Boulevard for Detective Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly who died in the line of duty. The item requests $20,000 in General Fund Contingencies to purchase the signage required to memorialize the Airport Boulevard Highway 101 Overcrossing.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A-2026 Sonoma County Legislative Platform
Attachment B-2026 Sonoma County Legislative Platform - Spanish Translation
Attachment C-2026 Sonoma County Legislative Affairs Program
Attachment D-2026 Sonoma County Strategic Grants Program
Attachment E-Budget Resolution for Detective Sergeant Ed Wilkinson, Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson, and Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly Memorial Overcrossing Signage
Attachment F-Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.