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Unlike 2016, this year the Democrats control two-thirds supermajorities in both the <br />Assembly and the Senate, meaning that they do not need any Republican support to <br />approve a transportation proposal. The Democrats will be negotiating with the Brown <br />Administration to determine what level of transportation funding would be appropriate, as <br />the proposals in the Legislature would generate significantly more money than the <br />proposal put forth by the Governor. Additionally, it will need to be determined if the <br />Legislature is willing to vote for the taxes and fees that they propose to increase to <br />generate revenue or if they may instead opt to place a measure on a statewide ballot for <br />voters to consider. <br />As these discussions take place, there are numerous stakeholders that are applying <br />pressure on the Legislature and Governor to reach agreement and approve a proposal <br />this year. While the exact funding levels are still to be determined, it should be noted that <br />all the proposals contain core elements that would receive funding; one such item in all <br />proposals is funding for local streets and roads. <br />Cannabis — In 2015, the Legislature approved a regulatory framework for medicinal <br />cannabis. Additionally, last November voters approved Proposition 64, which allows for <br />the adult -use of cannabis. The goal of the State is to have regulations in place for both <br />medical and adult -use so that the State may begin issuing licenses in 2018. <br />There have already been several bills introduced in the current legislative session that <br />relate to marijuana. It appears that the primary vehicle in the Legislature for dealing with <br />issues between medical marijuana and adult -use will be AB 64 (Bonta). This measure <br />currently contains several provisions, but will likely be amended several times as it moves <br />through the legislative process to reflect additional issues and negotiations between <br />stakeholders and the Brown Administration. Other legislation deals with varying aspects <br />of cannabis regulation, including rules for marketing, tools for law enforcement to identify <br />and deal with those under the influence of cannabis, and issues related to banking. <br />Additionally, the Brown Administration has indicated that they will be putting forth a budget <br />trailer bill relating to medicinal cannabis and adult -use and how to treat the two systems. <br />The Governor's Office has begun to gather the heads of the state departments together <br />to determine how best to move forward and align the medical and adult -use industries. It <br />is unlikely that specific language will be released until later in Spring, potentially as late <br />as the May Revise. <br />Affordable Housing and Homelessness — The issues of affordable housing and <br />homelessness will continue to be legislative priorities in 2017. Since the dissolution of <br />redevelopment, the Legislature has made several attempts at crafting legislation to <br />develop a permanent source of funding for affordable housing; however, none of these <br />attempts have been successful. At the same time, numerous pieces of legislation have <br />been introduced that have attempted to address issues surrounding homelessness in <br />California. Many of the bills on homelessness have focused on ancillary issues, such as <br />sleeping in vehicles, and not focused on the root causes of homelessness. <br />In addition to the conditions that have led to previous bills being introduced, the cost of <br />housing has continued to rise in many parts of the State, to the point that many traditionally <br />middle class families are struggling to find affordable housing. Last year the Governor <br />attempted to attach a proposal to the state budget that would have made affordable <br />housing funding available on the condition that the Legislature approved the Governor's <br />2016 Year End Legislative Update <br />February 13, 2017 19E-8 <br />EXHIBIT 1 <br />