Memorandum
Date: March 24, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Stephen L. Carter, Jr., Assistant County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Trevor Mockel, Administrative Analyst
Rachael Dillman Parsons, Social Services Director
Subject: a) Consideration of a State Legislative Update; and b) Consideration of a Presentation on H.R. 1
Executive Summary:
a) As members of your Board may be aware, February 20, 2026, was the deadline for State Legislators to introduce bills. With new (reduced) limits of 35 bills per member this session, the total was slightly lower than recent years. Legislators introduced about 1,700 bills, of which approximately 600 were spot bills. Those spot bills do not yet contain substantive language, and will need to be amended. Committee hearings have started, and beginning in earnest in late March, with most bills heard in April.
As expected, the Legislature introduced many bills on topics the Board of Supervisors identified as priorities: health and human services (including responses to HR 1), wildfires and property insurance, funding for resources and infrastructure, housing, water reliability and invasive species, homelessness, economic development (including broadband and geothermal), and funding to implement Proposition 36.
The County’s legislative advocates from Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni have reviewed these bills to prepare recommendations regarding those the County should consider supporting and opposing.
Geoff Neill will be present, via Zoom, to present this State Legislative Update. Staff look forward to your Board’s robust discussion, and Mr. Neill will be very happy to respond to any questions you have.
Your Board may consider providing Direction to Staff, as appropriate.
b) As your board is aware, since January 2025, government shutdowns, federal funding freezes, rapid policy changes, and ongoing litigation have caused significant instability in social programs.
H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, enacted on July 4, 2025, includes significant changes to various social programs and funding. Programs impacted include:
• Medi-Cal Partnership health plan, federally known as Medicaid.
• CalFresh EBT food, federally known as SNAP, and
• Covered California health plan marketplace subsidies and advanced premium tax credits, federally known as the Affordable Care Act and often referred to as “Obamacare.”
The Governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget, released January 9, 2026, does not adequately address the burden of federal changes, proposing to pass unsustainable costs directly to counties.
As it stands, Lake County Social Services will not be able to maintain our current level of services. Vital safety net programs for the most vulnerable in our community, the elderly, disabled, veterans, and children, are threatened. Our local economy will be damaged. Access to healthcare for all Lake County residents’ will be reduced.
Social Services, in partnership with Public Health and Behavioral Health, will present a summary of anticipated impacts, including mitigation strategies, accompanied by a detailed report for your consideration and legislative advocacy.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☒ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☒ Community Collaboration ☒ Business Process Efficiency ☒ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Informational report. Consider Direction to Staff, as appropriate.