[Source: Sacramento Bee] The three-bill package now heads to Brown’s desk. Brown has sought to offer the state’s cap-and-trade program as a model that can be reproduced in other states and even nations to reduce carbon emissions and combat rising temperatures. “We’re only 1 percent of the problem, but we’re a lot more a part Read More…
Category: Legislative Issues
Legislature approves cap-and-trade extension
[Source: CalChamber] With strong support from the California Chamber of Commerce and the business community, the Legislature yesterday approved AB 398 (E. Garcia; D-Coachella), which will extend the cap-and-trade program, which provides the least costly path to achieving the state’s ambitious climate goals. “The Legislature achieved a bipartisan solution that will reduce the cost of Read More…
AB 5 – for business, the worst bill of the year?
[Source: Fox & Hounds] The only problem with holding a contest to decide the worst bill introduced in the Legislature this year is: How do you pick just one? Well, I have a contender for you! AB 5, authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) prohibits California businesses with Read More…
CalChamber-supported Prop. 65 litigation reform passes policy committee
[Source: California Chamber of Commerce] A California Chamber of Commerce-supported bill — AB 1583 (Chau; D-Monterey Park) — improves transparency and reduces litigation costs in Proposition 65 cases against California businesses passed an Assembly policy committee yesterday. Proposition 65 was designed to protect California’s drinking water from chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects, Read More…
Surprisingly, talk in Sacramento could return to a firm cap on state spending
[Source: Los Angeles Times] During California’s biggest state budget fights, many of which played out in the shadow of monster deficits, lawmakers clashed mightily over this question: Were the state’s problems a result of too little cash or too much spending? Those who believed it was a cash problem seem to have prevailed. But don’t Read More…
New year, new burdens for small businesses
[Source: Press-Telegram] Small business owners must be diligent to comply with slew of new laws and regulations. The California Legislature enacted a dizzying array of new bills last year — with Gov. Jerry Brown signing more than 900 into law. With job growth stagnant and small business optimism unclear here in California, hundreds of new Read More…
Donald Trump forces a California water deal without lifting a finger
[Source: The Sacramento Bee] California’s politicians and pundits – including this one – have been busily speculating on what effect a Donald Trump presidency could have on a state that rejected him overwhelmingly. Well, we saw the first major impact last week, without Trump even lifting a finger. A compromise bill that, in effect, reallocates Read More…
Coastal Commission to gain environmental justice member to represent low-income communities
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed legislation aimed at providing a greater voice on the California Coastal Commission to racially diverse, low-income communities. Brown signed a bill by Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood) that requires one of the members appointed to the Coastal Commission by the governor to work directly with low-income Read More…
Legislative session ends; Pro Tem’s attempted Air Board power grab flops
[Source: CaliforniaCityNews.org] The 2016 legislative session ended in the early hours of Thursday morning, after a marathon session of farewells to outgoing legislators and last minute scrambling over legislation. Notably, if the “three days in print” rule comes to pass via Proposition 54 this November, it may be the last year of 11th hour proposals Read More…