2026 Priority Legislation
The 21st Century Alliance is proactive in getting results on our greatest challenges.
We work to pass or stop many bills each year, but we also prioritize certain bills as our top goals.
What it does: SB 1067 requires all public schools to screen students each year from kindergarten to 2nd grade for risk of math learning difficulties using evidence-based methods approved by the State Board of Education. This allows for early intervention to reduce later achievement gaps and ensure students have the skills to succeed.
Why it matters: Today, just 37% of students in California are meeting math standards, and the state's fourth-grade math scores rank 43rd in the nation. We see early math literacy as a major stepping stone toward our long-term goal of bringing California’s reading and math scores from the bottom half nationally to the top ten.
What it does: ACA 1 will change how the state can use and manage its budget reserve, the Rainy Day Fund. Current restrictions limit the state to saving only 10% of General Fund tax revenue, but this will double the cap to 20%. It’s a big step toward ending California’s boom-and-bust budget cycle.
Why it matters: California went from a $100B surplus in 2022 to an $68B deficit just two years later. That meant funding cuts and uncertainty that hurt public services and business. Increasing the size of the state’s budget reserve will help prevent abrupt program cuts or tax increases. That's a big step in the right direction toward creating a better business climate in the state.
What it does: SB 84 provides a grace period for small businesses to fix first-time American Disabilities Act (ADA) violations. The law requires mandatory notice of any potential violations before a plaintiff can sue a small business (50 or fewer full-time employees). Once notified, a business has 120 days to fix the issues. If all are resolved, no lawsuit can be filed.
Why it matters: Businesses are often unaware of ADA violations and work to address issues in good faith. Minor issues like wheelchair ramps at incorrect inclines are exploited by trial attorneys who sue for profit. These predatory behaviors can bankrupt small businesses, such as Mom-and-Pop diners. California ranks at the top for the most ADA lawsuits in the country. SB 84 is a big step forward in creating a better business climate in the state.
What it does: SB 1216 creates a new “housing leadership” designation for cities and counties that demonstrate measurable success in actual new housing production, not just planning. This ‘top performer’ category holds cities and counties more accountable while providing a path to retain more local control and bypass some state zoning laws.
Why it matters: This bill moves California’s existing housing incentives from a focus on the planning stage to rewarding actual new construction. Cities often approve ‘housing plans’ and then fall short on building enough new homes. We see SB 1216 as a compromise between local control and solving the housing crisis.
What it does: AB 2063 increases transparency in communications between lobbyists and legislators. This bill requires all ‘Bill Position Letters’ to be posted online so the public has real-time, streamlined access to the official correspondence between lobbyists, special interest groups, and lawmakers. The official letters would be posted on the California legislative website next to the bill text, votes, and analyses.
Why it matters: Lobbyists, corporations, unions, and advocacy groups submit official ‘position letters’ to lawmakers in support or opposition to a current bill. Under the current system, these official ‘Bill Position Letters’ are accessible only by going to individual legislative offices or through informal channels. Making them systematically public will give journalists, researchers, and good-government advocates a much clearer picture of who is behind each bill — a meaningful step toward lobbying transparency.