Make a Difference at the 2024 Spring Legislative Conference

For Association members ready to forge connections with legislators and pursue legislative and budget priorities, 2024 is the year to come to Sacramento.

By Arianna Smith
Managing Editor
Transit California

The Spring Legislative Conference returns to Sacramento this spring amid state revenue shortfalls and a multibillion dollar budget deficit. The annual event will occur just one month before legislators must approve the state budget, and Association members can use this chance to connect with lawmakers and speak to the necessity of committed transit budget funds.

This year's conference will be held on Tuesday, May 21 from 9:00 am -3:00 pm, with legislative office visits scheduled from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. The scheduled programming will be at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel (500 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814).

As always, the conference provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to advocate for legislative priorities, meet with representatives, and network with fellow transit advocates.

For a complete schedule of the day, view the agenda-at-a-glance here.

Get the Latest Guidance on the State Budget Situation and Legislative Priorities

The conference schedule is packed with Capitol insiders and transit industry leaders providing up-to-date information that Association members will need both for legislative visits and throughout the year.

Sharon Cooney, 33rd Chair of the Association's Executive Committee and CEO of San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, will welcome attendees with opening remarks that assess the current moment for the Association.

"Last year was marked by a formidable effort led by the Association to save public transit from a devastating budget crisis, resulting in a $5.1 billion lifeline from the State of California to recover the ridership agencies lost from the pandemic," said Chair Cooney in a recent Transit California profile. "California's public transit industry is taking necessary steps not just to recover, but charting a path forward that is more robust, sustainable and equitable than ever before."

At mid-morning, Association staff will provide the annual state legislative update. Executive Director Michael Pimentel, Legislative Advocate Matt Robinson, and Legislative & Regulatory Advocate Alchemy Graham will serve on a panel moderated by Beverly Greene, Chair of the State Legislative Committee and Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications at AC Transit. Attendees will learn the status of the Association's sponsored legislation, including AB 1904 (Ward) to make post-stop transit bus merges into traffic safer and simpler, and AB 2824 (McCarty) to protect transit workers and riders from assault and battery. The panel will also detail the status of current policy discussions in which the Association is taking part, including SB 960 (Wiener) regarding transit priority projects, AB 2503 (Lee) proposing CEQA exemptions for certain passenger rail projects, and general proposals for transit agency consolidation.

"This year and every year, our legislative program reflects the thoughtful consideration and hard work of our State Legislative Committee members," said Executive Director Pimentel. "We succeed in getting sponsored legislation introduced, passed, and signed into law because of our members' and advocates' active engagement with policymakers."

The morning sessions wrap up with an update on the campaign to vote "No" on the Taxpayer Deception Act, an initiative sponsored by the corporate members of the California Business Roundtable. The measure, which will appear on the November 2024 ballot as the "California Two-Thirds Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for New or Increased Taxes Initiative," would, if approved by voters, amend the state constitution to redefine all state and local levies, charges, and fees, as taxes. Doing so would require all such proposals to have a two-thirds vote of the electorate to pass. The measure would also require all new state taxes proposed by the state legislature to be enacted by a two-thirds majority legislative vote and a majority vote by the electorate. The Association is part of the coalition of over 550 local governments, community organizations, and labor unions who oppose the measure.

Hear From Transit Leaders on Deep Dive Panels

In the afternoon, attendees will hear from expert elected officials, Administration representatives, and legislative policy staff.

The first panel, Delivering on Transit Transformation: State and Regional Perspectives, will feature a conversation between Association members and transit leaders on the status of the California State Transportation Agency's Transit Transformation Task Force and what the transit industry should expect from this new statewide effort. Confirmed panelists include Alix Bockelman, Chief Deputy Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission; Eli Lipmen, Executive Director at Move LA; Michael Turner, Executive Officer of Government Relations at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Mark Tollefson, Undersecretary of the California State Transportation Agency.

For the second panel, New Leaders, Evolving Policy and Funding Priorities for Public Transit, the Association has invited legislative staff who advise key decisions on California transit policy in the legislature. Panelists will include staff from the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees and staff from the Senate and Assembly Transportation Committees.

Make the Most of Networking Opportunities

The conference kicks off with a special annual reception the night before formal programming on Monday, May 20, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Ella Dining Room & Bar on 1131 K St. Attendees will enjoy drinks and appetizers while networking with invited legislators and Capitol staff.

This reception is especially effective as Association members can deepen connections with legislators and staff in attendance beyond the annual legislative office visits. The Association has invited legislators and staff to attend and meet their transit agency constituents at the reception; however, Association members who wish to see their representatives at the reception should redouble this effort by personally, separately emailing a Save the Date invitation. Members can use this template to contact legislators and staff who represent their agency's service areas.

On the day of the conference, attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with one another and Association staff at the continental breakfast and networking lunch.

Make Your Case Directly to Lawmakers with Legislative Office Visits

The Association always encourages attendees to take advantage of the Sacramento location by scheduling legislative visits between 3:00 -5:00 pm on May 21 following the formal conference programming. Such visits, which consist of individually-scheduled meetings with lawmakers and staff whose districts cover all or parts of transit agencies' service areas, are helpful and necessary to make the case in favor of transit as legislators consider funding cuts to balance the budget.

"With California facing a deficit of tens of billions of dollars, is it imperative that our Association members proactively engage with legislative offices to stress the critically important uses of SB 125 funds authorized by the Legislature last year," said Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications at the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. "Delegations that are well prepared about these funds can help our legislators translate infrastructure and service ideas into real-world transit service realities that improve the quality of the lives of their constituents today and will bolster the viability of public transit for our state for decades to come."

Legislative visits will be held at legislators' offices in the State Capitol Building and in the "Swing Space" building two blocks away (1021 O Street). Significant construction on and around the Capitol Building, as well as numerous hearings and meetings that are scheduled daily in the Swing Space, can result in long lines to go through security; please schedule legislative meetings with possible time delays in mind.

Association staff will provide background materials, which will be available at the registration desk, and individual agency staff are welcome to bring their own handouts about their agencies and/or their advocacy efforts.

Attendees who wish to organize legislative visits should contact legislative offices as soon as possible by phone to request the scheduling form or scheduler's email address; additionally, information about how to request meetings may be found on legislators' state websites. Attendees should provide the date (May 21) and preferred time window for the requested 15-to-30-minute meeting, along with the names, titles, and organizations of one to four participants. Contact information and websites can be found here for Assemblymembers and Senators. Find which legislators represent which service areas here.

Registration, Accommodations, Sponsorship, and More

It's not too late to register for the conference! The final registration deadline is Tuesday, May 14 ($280 for members; $320 for non-members). Attendees can register here.

Rooms have been reserved at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel at a discounted rate. Price and availability subject to change.

Sponsorships are still available for the legislative reception, coffee break, conference luncheon, and more. If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the 2024 conference, contact Business Development Director Kristian Ross-Patchin at [email protected].

For more information on registration, contact Maria Barajas at [email protected] or (916) 446-4656.

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