League of California Cities Inc.
11/13/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/13/2024 17:26
State lawmakers: Who is leaving and why it matters
By Cal Cities Advocacy and Public Affairs Teams
As another legislative session ends, so too has the tenure of 36 state lawmakers. This is the first year legislators will end their terms under Proposition 28, which limits them to a combined 12 years of service in either chamber. The large influx of new legislators is a prime opportunity for Cal Cities to educate them about Cal Cities' priorities and engage council members moving into new roles as state legislators.
Cal Cities' regional public affairs managers will spearhead this effort by organizing in-district meetings with newly elected legislators. Of the incoming freshman class, at least nine are alumni of the California Civic Leadership Institute (CCLI). The Cal Cities-led educational program prepares local leaders for success in higher office and deepens their understanding of critical issues facing California.
What departing lawmakers take with them
Of the 80 assembly members, nearly a third will be newly elected members. Those leaving are doing so for a variety of reasons, including seeking higher offices, term limits, and other personal reasons.
Many of those leaving are taking with them years of expertise in key policy areas. The largest affected issue areas in the Assembly are public safety, environmental protection, and housing. Among the departing lawmakers is Asm. Kevin McCarty, who this year chaired the Assembly Public Safety Committee and helped push for new retail theft policies. McCarty is currently leading in the Sacramento mayoral race, although the race has not yet been called.
Asm. Carlos Villapudua led the Assembly's economic development committee and authored several major fentanyl bills that Cal Cities supported. Other departing legislators include Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, the former long-time chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, and Asm. Freddie Rodriguez. Both worked tirelessly in support of a variety of public safety and emergency response measures.
Several environmental protection champions are leaving, including Asm. Eduardo Garcia. He caps out his ten-year run after spearheading the effort to place Proposition 4, the $10 billion climate bond, on the November ballot. Asm. Chris Holden, who authored a Cal Cities-sponsored wildfire preparedness bill this year, and Asm. Laura Friedman, who previously chaired both the Assembly Natural Resources and Transportation committees, are also leaving office.
The Senate will lose at least 10 of its 40-member roster and add one new district through redistricting. Many outgoing lawmakers share similar areas of interest, such as water quality, environmental protection, public safety, and housing.
Sen. Steven Bradford is departing the Legislature in a bid for lieutenant governor. Bradford has had an impressive legislative career, chairing key financial, public safety, and energy committees. Also leaving for electoral reasons is Sen. Toni Atkins, who is running for California Governor in 2026. The former president pro tempore was elected first in the Assembly, where she served as the majority leader and assembly speaker before joining the Senate in 2016.
Other key departing senators include Sen. Bill Dodd, who authored a measure allowing the first city council pay cap increase since 1984, and Sen. Nancy Skinner, who played a crucial role in combating the online resale market of stolen goods during her last two years of service.
What can I do to help?
Cal Cities will work with city officials to engage each new legislator and build strong partnerships with cities in their districts. The Cal Cities legislative and public affairs teams will reach out to you to:
- Engage. Connect with your new legislator(s) at the division level, help them gain insight into what matters most in their communities, and encourage them to actively participate in Cal Cities' advocacy efforts.
- Educate. Introduce newly elected legislators to Cal Cities' priorities, equipping them with essential knowledge to guide their decisions at the state level.
- Elevate. Amplify Cal Cities' message and presence in Sacramento, enhancing our collective impact as a unified force.
Cal Cities wishes well the legislators who are vacating office this year and looks forward to working with the large slate of newly elected members who will begin their tenure in 2025.