Alameda County PAL Committee Meeting – December 8, 2025: Federal and State Legislative Updates
Alameda County Board of Supervisors Personnel Administration and Legislation Committee Meeting – December 8, 2025
The committee met on Monday, December 8, 2025, via Microsoft Teams, with Chair Tam presiding and Supervisors Fortunato and Town present. The meeting focused on federal and state legislative updates, including the Affordable Care Act, appropriations, a new California portal to report federal misconduct, and the impact of stock-based compensation on state revenues. No formal votes were taken, and no public comments were offered on agenda items.
Federal Legislation Update
- CJ Lake representatives Emily DeSola and John provided an update. They reported that Congress has two weeks left before adjournment on December 19, 2025, and that an appropriations package ("minibus") is unlikely before the end of the year, meaning a continuing resolution (CR) expiring January 30 may need to be extended. The focus is now on healthcare and defense.
- On the Affordable Care Act subsidies, DeSola noted the Senate is expected to vote on a Democratic proposal for a three-year extension of enhanced premium tax credits on December 11; Republicans have not agreed on an alternative. John added that Republican leadership sees little incentive to act, and a one-year extension with additional policy riders (e.g., income cap, Hyde amendment language) would face strong Democratic opposition, making passage unlikely before year-end.
- The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) deal was reached over the weekend; House vote expected December 11, Senate the following week.
- Supervisor Fortunato expressed frustration over Democrats losing leverage during the government shutdown and asked about a county comment letter on the public charge rule. Hanna Hamilton (Social Services Agency) confirmed a joint comment letter is in progress and will be brought to the full board on December 16.
- Supervisor Town reported attending a press event with Senator Adam Schiff on the Building Occupancy Opportunities for Millions Act (housing BOOM), and asked how the county is engaging. Housing Director Michelle Spirit said staff are reviewing the bill and could bring a PAL letter. Supervisor Town also noted Congresswoman Simon is introducing a House companion bill and suggested lobbyists coordinate with both representatives.
- Lobbyists confirmed they would reach out to both Schiff and Simon.
State Legislation Update
- Amy Costa of Full Moon Strategies reported that California launched a new online portal for the public to report potential misconduct by federal agents, jointly announced by the Governor and Attorney General. The state has at least 48 lawsuits against the Trump administration.
- The Attorney General filed an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration's emergency appeal to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., and seven other states without consent. Bonta argues the deployment is unlawful and harms communities; 22 states joined the brief.
- The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) released data showing that stock-based compensation (especially restricted stock units, RSUs) from major tech companies (Apple, Google, NVIDIA, Broadcom, Meta) drives over 25% of withholding growth in early FY 2025-26. RSU withholdings now account for roughly 10% of all state income tax withholdings (≈$10 billion annually), increasing revenue volatility.
- Supervisor Town noted upcoming legislative deadlines (January 31 for two-year bills to pass house of origin) and asked about potential new bills. Costa confirmed awareness of discussions about a new county-sponsored bill and said there is time to develop it.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken.
- The committee directed lobbyists to engage with Senator Schiff and Congresswoman Simon on the housing BOOM bill.
- The Social Services Agency and Health Department will bring a joint comment letter on the public charge rule to the full board on December 16.
- The committee acknowledged the ongoing state and federal legal challenges and will monitor developments.
- The meeting adjourned after a roll call of participants, including representatives from various county departments and the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Meeting Transcript
Ready. Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome to the Almeida County Board of Supervisors Personnel Administration and Legislation Committee meeting for Monday, December the 8th, 2025. May I have roll call, please? Supervisor Fortunato Pass. Supervisor Town. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Did you want to go through instructions on participation? Since once again, we're using MS teams. Got it. Uh for all participants. Please state your name for the record prior to your comment. If you wish to speak on a matter not on the agenda, please wait until supervisor um Lena Town calls for public input on non-agendized items. Only matters within the committee's jurisdiction may be addressed to notify the clerk that you wish to speak. Please listen closely to the following. For in-person participants, please fill out a speaker card at the front of the room and hand it to the clerk. The clerk will call your name to allow you to speak at the podium. For online participants, please use the raise hand function at the bottom of the screen. The clerk will call your name and allow you to unmute when it is your turn. For Dellden participants, please dial star five to raise and or lower your hand. The clerk will allow you to unmute when it is your turn. If you no longer wish to speak, lower your hand on Microsoft Teams or simply notify the clerk that you no longer wish to speak when it is your turn. Thank you. Thank you. Let's start with the federal legislation update from CJ Lake. Good afternoon. You've got Emily DeSola here with CJ Lake, and I think John will be joining shortly. Um, you know, just thinking about the schedule. Congress has two weeks left. Um, the Senate came in today, the house comes in tomorrow. But um they are, as I look at my calendar on my desk, they are set to adjourn on um the 19th. So a lot to get done or not done in um these two weeks. And so I know we'd been talking about uh first up just appropriations and kind of tell you where things are there. I think is the bottom line. You know, we were hoping that they would be able to move some sort of uh package with multiple bills that they call a mini bus um before the end of uh the calendar year. Of course, we know the current CR uh expires January 30th. It just seems like from conversations that we've had with staff on the Hill, um, with appropriators, they're just not as far along as they need to be in order to uh bring a package up in either the Senate uh or the House uh between now and the end of the year. So that's not to say that they don't get something done in January before uh the 30th. I mean, this idea of moving labor H and defense and transportation HUD uh with interior and CJS, it it makes sense, but um I just they're not there yet. So um a probes is is on the back burner right now, and so the the focus um is really health care and defense for these next two weeks. Um, I know uh we talked a good bit last week about kind of where things stand um with the the Obamacare subsidies, and the Senate is set to take a vote this Thursday. Um, right now we're expecting um at least one vote on a democratic proposal and or the Democrats' proposal, and that I believe, John, correct me if I'm wrong, that's a three-year extension. That is what Democrats want. On the Republican side, they're still talking, and so they don't yet have a particular package that they are planning to bring up. You know, originally it would be that there'd be a Democrat uh proposal and then a Republican alternative, neither of which would pass, uh, wouldn't have the votes to go anywhere. But at this point, we don't really know what a Republican package will look like. And I'll stop in a second and turn over John so he can give his take on this. And then on the House side, they're not there either.
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