TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop, Chief Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Andrew M. Mize, Senior Legislative & Policy Advocate
SUBJECT: 2026 Legislative Program Report and First Draft of 2027 Legislative Platform
RECOMMENDATION
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Receive an annual report of the County’s legislative and regulatory program for 2026 and provide feedback and direction on the first draft of the 2027 Legislative & Regulatory Platform. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
Staff annually bring before the Board of Supervisors for consideration a Legislative & Regulatory platform enumerating several priorities for the Board’s advocacy before policymakers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The document is not a comprehensive list of all of the Board’s advocacy priorities but rather reflects a broad view of the state and federal policy landscapes.
Staff for this presentation pair the draft platform with a brief overview of the Board’s legislative advocacy during 2026. This year, the Board weighed in on more budget topics and bills than in any of the three preceding years, which staff considered appropriate given the dire cuts proposed by the Newsom administration to county funding streams.
The draft platform for 2027 reflects relatively minor edits, as many of the Board’s existing priorities are expected to remain consistent in the coming year after a wholesale overhaul of the document for 2026. The State’s budget situation remains in flux, with long-term revenues forecasted to be relatively flat. The entry of new leadership in the Governor’s mansion and Democratic control of Congress further guard against wholesale reshaping of existing foundational priorities; local governments will be well-served to hone their existing messages for newly elected policymakers in 2027.
This is the first draft of the 2027 platform. The Board is slated to consider adoption at its regular Dec. 15, 2026, meeting. Staff are actively engaged with departments on this draft and expect to continue to refine it in advance of December 15. Staff have also launched a public engagement platform on the Connect Napa County website for public feedback, accessible at https://connect.napacounty.gov/legislative-platform, and encourage members of the public to visit and provide feedback on priorities for state and federal advocacy in 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Board feedback on the first draft of the platform is optional, but it is in the Board’s best interest to inform staff of its policy preferences to give staff a clear picture of priorities for 2027. |
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Additional Information |
Strategic initiatives: Build healthy, connected communities; champion environmental sustainability and resilience; preserve Napa County’s agricultural legacy; and elevate County service and workforce excellence. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.