FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications
SUBJECT:
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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of March 2026.
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BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) legislative affairs program includes advocating for OC San’s legislative interests, sponsoring legislation (where appropriate), and seeking local, state, and federal funding for projects and programs.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
• Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
• Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and neighboring communities
PROBLEM
Without a strong advocacy program, elected officials may not be aware of OC San’s mission, programs, and projects, or how they could be impacted by proposed legislation.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local, State, and Federal officials to advocate for OC San’s interests and help identify, create, and monitor legislation and grant opportunities that benefit OC San, the wastewater industry, and the community. To strengthen relationship building efforts, OC San will continue to engage elected officials through facility tours, one-on-one meetings, and outreach trips to Washington D.C. and Sacramento.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If OC San does not actively engage with Local, State, and Federal elected officials, legislation could be enacted that negatively impacts OC San and the wastewater industry. Additionally, a lack of engagement may result in missed funding opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Activities in March:
Through the guidance of the OC San Board of Directors and in conjunction with the Board approved Legislative and Regulatory plan, OC San has taken two support positions:
• Assembly Bill (Johnson) 2381- Local Agency Public Construction Act: Municipal Water Districts: Sanitation Districts: Lowest Responsible Bidder.
AB 2381 amends the Local Agency Public Construction Act to update competitive bidding requirements for municipal water districts and sanitation districts. Specifically, the measure increases the threshold for public works contracts that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder from $35,000 to $220,000.
• Assembly Bill (Ward) 2180 - Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act.
AB 2180 clarifies how local governments may demonstrate compliance with the constitutional requirement that fees not exceed the proportional cost of service. The bill allows agencies to use any reasonable method to allocate service costs among parcels, supported by existing or reasonably estimated data.
Upcoming Activities in April:
• OC San staff will virtually attend two California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) Legislative Committee meetings:
o On April 2, staff will participate in the State Legislative Committee to discuss proposed and current legislation, including potential impacts on OC San and our fellow wastewater agencies.
o On April 13, staff will participate in the Federal Legislative Committee meeting where ENS Resources, OC San’s Federal Lobbyist, will present on Federal topics and potential impacts on OC San and our fellow wastewater agencies.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
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CEQA
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FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
All items mentioned are included in OC San’s FY 2025-26 adopted Budget.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Federal Legislative Update
• Federal Matrix
• State Legislative Update
• State Matrix
• Local Legislative Update
• Assembly Bill 2381 (Johnson) - Support
• Assembly Bill 2381 (Johnson) - Bill Language
• Assembly Bill 2180 (Ward) - Support
• Assembly Bill 2180 (Ward) - Bill Language
• Presentation