News Release —
Legislative Platform Headed for Supervisors’ Review

UPDATE 12/9: The Board received the received the report and provided feedback.

Marin County, CA – Heading into 2026, the County of Marin is assessing its positions on state, federal, and intergovernmental legislation that is working its way through the review process. On December 9, the Marin County Board of Supervisors plans to give staff direction on where it stands with support or opposition to certain bills and issues. 

Annually, the Board approves a legislative platform for the coming calendar year that summarizes Board priorities and aligns the County’s stance on various issues. Having a Board-approved platform allows County staff to act quickly on time-sensitive matters that arise throughout the year and make sure that its residents’ voices are conveyed to actions that could impact Marin County. As stated in the 2025-26 County Budget, the Supervisors’ highest priorities are:

• Increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness
• Building a racially equitable community
• Reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change
• Enhancing disaster and emergency preparedness
• Investing in county infrastructure
• Improving community & economic vitality

With those in mind, the Office of the County Executive is recommending changes to the 2026 platform. 

• Expanded immigration section that highlights protections to local autonomy and opposes federal actions that withhold funding from jurisdictions that do not participate in immigration enforcement, and supports access to critical services such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh for all residents, regardless of immigration status.
• Healthcare safety net access and coverage in light of the passage of H.R. 1 and the expiring Covered California premium subsidies which are anticipated to on average double premiums for Californians enrolled.
• Additional climate change policies in response to actions by the federal administration such as support for transition pathways and public-private partnerships in the face of significant federal funding rollbacks for clean energy infrastructure and programs, and support for the continued funding of disaster mitigation programs under the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enforce federal clean air, clean water, and hazardous-waste laws.
• Language to respond to recent major state CEQA-reform laws, including the need for focused streamlining to create workforce housing opportunities on agricultural lands and in the Coastal Zone.
• In line with Marin County’s upcoming Economic Vitality Strategic Plan, support for a coordinated, regional approach to economic development that strengthens Marin’s competitiveness and long-term resilience, including the development of a comprehensive strategy or equivalent regional framework to align Marin’s economic, workforce, and infrastructure priorities with state and federal funding opportunities.

County staff and its contracted consultants closely monitor bills introduced in the California State Legislature and U.S. Congress and regularly connect with Marin’s elected representatives in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to support actions that would improve the lives of the local community. In light of current events, the ongoing and emerging issues high on advocacy scale are:

• Commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and supporting our immigrant community members
• Access to health care, social services, and supporting nonprofit partners
• Protecting climate goals and safeguarding natural resources
• Protecting federal funding and local autonomy

In addition to consulting with internal County leadership, the platform is shared with agency partners such as the Transportation Authority of Marin, Marin Transit District, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, and energy provider MCE as well as key community stakeholders such as representatives from the agricultural sector and Marin Community Foundation.

Also on the December 9 agenda, the Board will hear an update from staff summarizing the County’s state and federal advocacy in the past year as part of the Legislative Program Annual Report.

The County posts a variety of documents on its website, including the full annual legislative platform (following Board approval), letters to legislators, and positions on statewide ballot measures. There is also now a dedicated page for the County’s response to federal actions.

# # #

For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-6358 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail County staff at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.