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9. A -H Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... The following are summaries of just a few of the legislative bills that are currently being acted upon by 'he League of California Cities. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League website's new "Issues and Advocacy" page (www.cacities.ora/ issuesandadvocacv) — a one -stop location to access information about legislation, policy issues and related developments. You can track information on bills (www.cacities.org /legtracking), locate legislators and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Advocacy Center, research League policy positions, access useful related links, and much more. HOUSING AND LAND USE SB 707 (Florez). Environmental Quality. Large Dairy Cow Farms. SB 707 prevents any environmental impact report or negative declara- tion from being approved for any project that includes the construction or expansion of large dairy cow farms within 3 miles of a city, school district, or census area with over 5,000 people unless specific conditions are met. Prior approval of an EIR or negative declaration, the lead agency must consult with and provide notice to affected cities and other stakeholders. In addition, the environmental impact report or negative declara- tion must establish a "buffer zone." This buffer zone is considered to be a designated area where construction of new dairy farms, or expansion of existing ones is prohibited. Other mitigation measures that similarly protect public health, safety, welfare and the environment can be out- lined instead of creating a buffer zone. In addition, if a city, county, or school district (as defined) find by resolution of their respective councils or boards that a dairy farm construction or expansion project will have adverse impacts based on substantial evidence, the public agency may not approve the project. SB 707 explicitly defines "large dairy farms," and "expansion" for the purposes of the bill. SB 707 was introduced because of concerns, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, that dairy farms increase the presence of harmful particu- lates in the air, which can have an adverse affect on the health of individuals in the surrounding areas, especially on those residents with asthma. SB 707 opponents insist that the requirements outlined by the legislation may nullify portions of a county's general plan, and that such requirements are duplicative relative to existing federal, state and local laws. In addition, opponents are con- cerned that SB 707 constrains the lead agency's authority to determine mitigation measures that are consistent local needs. Staff: Dan Carrigg, Status: AsApps;Hrg -8/20, Position: Review and Comment. AB 1426 (Steinberg). Sacramento Region. Affordable Housing Standard. The League Board of Directors opted to oppose AB 1426 at its recent meeting because the bill imposes significant new housing production mandates on local govem- ments in the Sacramento region without providing local governments with the resources they need to meet the new requirements established by the bill. In brief, the bill requires at least 10 percent of new building permits within the Sacramento region to be built for low and very low- income households. While the goal of the bill is laudable, it ignores the reality of how this new mandate will be paid for. Affected local governments have estimated the total subsidy cost to the region at over $500 million over a five -year period, and higher when recent state - imposed prevailing wage requirements are factored in. Without resources, affected local governments will have to increase fees and impose stringent inclusionary zoning requirements on the development community. Although it its current form this bill only applies to the Sacramento region, it mirrors in some respects the controversy generated by last year's AB 680 (Steinberg), where communities beyond Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 11