2025 Legislative Year in Review

It was a busy, but successful year for CARPD at the Capitol. From our Code Green calls to testimony at Committee Hearings to the Governor's signature on our sponsored legislation, it was quite an active session!

A big thank you to the CARPD Board and the Legislative Committee for their leadership and direction in pursuit of the collective interests of the membership. Accessing the wealth of knowledge and expertise from our leaders throughout the State has helped position our organization as one of the prominent local government associations in California. And a special thank you to the CPPG team for their zealous advocacy all year long! 

A message from CPPG:

Over the past year, CPPG worked closely with CARPD's Legislative Committee and Staff to strengthen the Association’s presence in Sacramento and advance its policy objectives. Through consistent engagement with the Administration, state agencies, and legislative leadership, we continued to elevate the Association’s profile and ensure that your local priorities were clearly understood in state-level policy discussions.

A particular highlight of 2025 was CARPD’s sponsorship of SB 499 (Stern), which was crafted to resolve ambiguity and inconsistency in existing law. The bill ensures that local agencies retain the ability to collect certain fees when parks, open space, and park facilities are identified in a local hazard mitigation plan or local safety element. By drafting bill language, collaborating closely with the author and legislative staff, and building broad bipartisan support, CPPG successfully advanced the measure through the Legislature and secured the Governor’s signature—demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive, Association-driven advocacy.

Our team actively monitored and engaged with more than 410 pieces of legislation, with the Association taking positions on 23 measures and achieving positive outcomes on most of them. CPPG’s advocacy included direct meetings with legislators, drafting and coordinating position letters, developing policy analyses, and collaborating with stakeholder coalitions to mitigate adverse impacts and advance favorable outcomes. These efforts resulted in more than 720 meaningful touchpoints with you or on your behalf.

Another highlight of the 2025 year was obtaining a resolution from the California State Legislature for the 40th anniversary of the California Association for Park and Recreation Indemnity (CAPRI). This resolution commemorated CAPRI’s crucial role in supporting the broader recreation and park community by managing the operations of CARPD. CPPG worked closely with Assemblymember Joe Patterson and Senator Roger Niello to produce the resolution.

Additionally, on November 17, Dane Hutchings testified on behalf of CARPD at the CalPERS Board Meeting to encourage the Board of Administration to honor its fiduciary duty and make investments that honor the pension promise.

As always, our work reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that state policies remain workable, fiscally responsible, and reflective of the needs of local agencies like the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts. We are grateful for your continued partnership and for the opportunity to represent your interests at the State Capitol. We look forward to building on the progress made in 2025 and continuing to deliver results in the year ahead.

To read CPPG's full "End of Year" Report, please click below.

CPPG_CARPD 2025 End of Year Report.pdf