Overview
The annual UCLA Luskin California Policy Briefing in Sacramento convenes leading UCLA public policy, social welfare, and urban planning faculty and research centers to share evidence-based insights on the most urgent challenges facing our state. By translating rigorous research into practical policy solutions, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs strengthens the bridge between university expertise and public decision-making, advancing informed, equitable outcomes for all Californians.
To further this effort, the School presented its third annual UCLA Luskin California Policy Briefing at UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
The gathering featured panel discussions coordinated by esteemed UCLA Luskin faculty members and their affiliated research centers in collaboration with elected officials, government agencies, and other policy experts.
Xavier Becerra, former U.S. congressman, California attorney general, and U.S. secretary of health and human services, provided opening and framing remarks for the fair voting panel at 11 a.m.
Featured Panels
How Can the State Assist and Oversee Implementation of SB 79 and Local Zoning Plans?
Presented by the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
SB 79, California’s new statewide upzoning law, takes effect in phases beginning July 2026. To identify areas subject to the law, the Department of Housing and Community Development must develop zoning-capacity standards that will also inform upcoming 7th-cycle housing element updates. This session explores what policymakers need to create clear, effective standards — and how these standards can strengthen local planning and improve implementation of state housing law.
Panelists
- Paavo Monkkonen, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, UCLA Luskin School
- Melinda Coy, Housing Accountability Unit Chief, Land Use and Local Government Relations, California Department of Housing & Community Development
- Aaron Eckhouse, Local and Regional Policy Programs Director, California YIMBY
- Moderator: Lourdes Castro Ramirez, President and CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
Democracy in Peril: Ensuring Fair Voting for All Californians
Presented by the UCLA Voting Rights Project
Despite recent federal efforts to impose new barriers to voting, California has been a national leader in making voting equitable and accessible. As the Supreme Court weighs the future of the Voting Rights Act, and how to govern vote-by-mail, California has an opportunity to further secure the right to vote for all citizens. This session examines policy and legislative strategies to increase accessibility and ensure safe, secure, and fair voting practices for all. Data scientists from UCLA Voting Rights Project will discuss research on bias in vote-by-mail signature rejections, ensuring vote centers and dropboxes remain safe and secure, the need to expand voting access for rural communities, and the need to enshrine the protections of bilingual voting materials against federal efforts to force English-only policies. Panelists will explore practical policy reforms that strengthen fairness, inclusivity, and trust in the electoral process.
Opening Remarks
- The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Panelists
- Bernadette Reyes, UCLA Voting Rights Senior Staff Attorney
- Michael Herndon, UCLA Voting Rights Data Scientist
- Anthony Rendon, Speaker Emeritus, California State Assembly
- Sabrina Cervantes, California State Senator
- Moderator: Matt A. Barreto, UCLA Voting Rights Faculty Director