State Advocacy
MTC takes the Bay Area’s interests to Sacramento to advocate for state policies and funding. MTC advocates for important regional initiatives, projects and services so they get planned, funded and delivered. This work supports regional goals for a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area.
California state law shapes many transportation and land use decisions across the Bay Area. MTC has the authority to plan, finance and coordinate priorites across the Bay Area’s 101 cities, nine counties and 27 transit agencies.
MTC advocates in Sacramento so that state policies and funding decisions align with and advance adopted regional goals.
Advocacy Principles
See the 2026 Joint Advocacy Program, outlining the agencies’ state and federal legislative priorities for the calendar year.
Top priorities for legislation in both Washington and Sacramento will be guided in large part by Plan Bay Area 2050+, the north star for the agencies’ work in transportation and housing. Advocacy priorities will include securing funding and policy alignment that support the plan’s strategies and goals.
SB 375 Modernization
MTC/ABAG will coordinate with the “big 4” metropolitan planning organization partners across the state to sponsor legislation to modernize SB 375, California’s regional transportation and land use planning framework – the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). An update to SB 375 could better support progress toward the full range of state and regional environmental, housing, and transportation-related goals, including, but not limited to, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This effort includes advocacy for a third iteration of Regional Early Action Planning Grants (i.e. “REAP 3.0” to support SCS implementation.
Transportation Advocacy
Because of expected fiscal constraints this year, advocacy work will focus on sustaining existing resources for transportation. MTC also will seek new money to help deliver policies that improve the network overall, to support a reliable, safe, easy-to-navigate and integrated transportation system. Pathways include:
- Supporting a successful state loan for Bay Area transit operations.
- Ensuring the $5.1 billion multi-year SB 125 transit package remains intact.
- Advocating that the legislature fulfill the statutory dollar amounts for transit and housing programs prescribed in the Cap-and-Invest expenditure plan.
- Reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program (which is set to expire on October 1, 2026).
- Pursing funding from SB 840’s proposed $125 million Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund “transit pass” set-aside to expand Clipper® BayPass access for Bay Area community college students.
Housing Advocacy
MTC/ABAG will advocate for housing funding and housing-supportive policies, including supporting the state housing bond; seeking state dollars for the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA); and working to position BAHFA and a future regional housing measure for success.
Other state and federal focus areas remain largely consistent with the 2025 advocacy program.
Working Together on the Federal, State & Regional Levels
MTC's advocacy work in Washington traditionally focuses on the overall federal transportation program, and on support for capital investment in Bay Area transportation priorities.
MTC collaborates with city and county transportation leaders, transit agencies and other partners to advance shared regional priorities.
MTC’s state and federal advocacy efforts are guided by the Joint MTC ABAG Legislation Committee.
Committee meetings cover the latest developments in Sacramento and Washington, as well as recommendations by MTC staff to support or oppose particular bills.
The Partnership Legislative Committee provides a forum to consult on key policy matters with legislative staff from the Bay Area’s cities and counties, public transit agencies and county transportation agencies.
Staff Contact
To be added to the email list for this committee, contact Rebecca Long, Director, Legislation & Public Affairs, at rlong@bayareametro.gov.
2026-2027 Legislative History is a detailed list of bills the ABAG and MTC are tracking in Sacramento, including those ABAG or MTC supports or opposes.