From your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento
Welcome to the May 20-24 edition of the NFIB California Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento.
End of Suspense Week
Last week was a big one for the legislative life of bills. The Senate and Assembly appropriations committees voted to either advance bills placed on their suspense files or stop them from any further consideration.
Most noteworthy were the passing from the suspense file four NFIB-supported measures:
- AB 1794 (McCarty/Friedman) — Under existing law, if the value of all property taken over the course of distinct but related acts motivated by one intention, general impulse, and plan exceeds $950, those values may be aggregated into a single charge of grand theft. This bill would clarify that those values may be aggregated even though the thefts occurred in different places or from different victims.
- AB 1960 (Soria) — This bill would create sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging, or destroying property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony.
- AB 2943 (Zbur/Rivas) — Existing law authorizes a person to be charged with grand theft if the property taken exceeds $950 over the course of distinct but related acts. This bill would clarify that those related acts include acts committed against multiple victims or in counties other than the county of the current offense.
- AB 3209 (Berman/Rivas) — This bill would authorize a court, when sentencing a person for an offense involving theft from a retail establishment, vandalism of a retail establishment, or battery of an employee of a retail establishment, to issue a criminal protective order prohibiting a person from entering the retail establishment, including any parking lots and including other franchise or chain locations of the retail establishment, as specified.
Two additional NFIB victories came with the failure of two measures to advance off the suspense file:
- AB 2200 (Kalra) — This bill, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, would create the California Guaranteed Health Care for All program, or CalCare, to provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage and a health care cost control system for the benefit of all residents in the state. More information can be read in a letter of opposition sent by a coalition of business groups NFIB is part of.
- AB 2751 (Haney) — This bill would require a public or private employer to establish a workplace policy that provides employees the right to disconnect from communications from the employer during nonworking hours, except as specified. More information can be read in a letter of opposition a coalition of business groups NFIB is part of sent to the Assembly.
And now the bad news. Two bills NFIB opposed made it off the suspense file and are alive for at least another week, if not longer. They are:
- AB 2754 (Rendon) — AB 2754 implicates nearly every customer and transportation service provider in the supply chain as jointly liable for payment of wages, worker’s compensation and reimbursement of business expenses where a worker receives, picks up, or delivers freight at the shipper or consignee’s premises, facility or worksite. More information can be read in a letter of opposition sent to the author by a coalition of business groups NFIB is part of.
- SB 1116 (Portantino) — This bill would restore eligibility for unemployment benefits after the first two weeks for an employee who left work because of a trade dispute. NFIB is part of a coalition with 110 other business associations that sent a joint letter of opposition to the author. More information can be read in a letter of opposition by a coalition of business groups NFIB is part of.
NFIB is tracking 53 bills in the final months of the 2023-2024 session. Of the 5,448 introduced during this time period, NFIB narrowed to 100 the most impactful, negatively or positively, on small businesses. NFIB will update its bill list of the 100 measures following Friday’s (May 24) deadline for all bills to pass out of their house origin.
Remaining Bill Deadlines
- May 24 deadline for all bills, fiscal or not, to pass their house of origin (Assembly, Senate)
- August 15, appropriations committees to release from the suspense file bills sent to them by the other house—or hold them.
- August 31 deadline for bills to have passed Legislature and sent to governor
- September 30 deadline for governor to sign bills into law
Other Deadlines
- June 15, midnight, constitutional deadline to pass 2024-2025 state budget
- June 27 deadline for ballot measure to qualify for November. Last day for proponents of a qualified ballot initiative to withdraw it.
- November 5, General Election Day
Did You Catch Our Webinar?
- Last Tuesday (May 14), NFIB California hosted a hugely attended webinar on a highly important topic: Your mandatory compliance with a new state law, by July 1, on having your workplace violence prevention plan written and in place.
- If you weren’t able to attend, this link will take you to the story and webinar. It is vital you are acquainted with this new regulation before it’s too late. There is no grace period.
Want to Know More about the November Ballot Initiatives?
- Tom Ross and Tino Rossi of Swing Strategies, two of the more highly regarded experts in their field, are hosting a webinar providing “an insightful dive into the political process and landscape of the 2024 statewide ballot initiative process.”
- It will be held this Thursday (May 23) at 10 a.m. NFIB members are invited to attend and can register here.
- Also from Swing Strategies, “In case you missed it, here’s our full summary of statewide ballot initiatives as they move through the process. If you’re curious about what’s coming up on the horizon over the next couple of months, check out our political calendar here. Lastly, for Tom Ross’ biweekly Happening In California newsletter, sign up here.”
Speaking of Those November Ballot Initiatives …
- All NFIB California members should receive a special ballot today (May 20) on two initiatives dealing with the minimum wage and rent control. Please vote your ballot. The opinions of small business owners are the most highly regarded in politics.
Save the Date, June 27
- NFIB California is planning a virtual Small Business Day. Details to come.
Small Business News at Your Fingertips
For all past Main Street Minutes, news releases, and other state stories, check out the NFIB California web page at www.nfib.com/CA or www.nfib.com/california. Want more news from Washington, D.C.? Check the ‘News’ tab on the NFIB main webpage throughout the week.
National
Highlights from NFIB Legislative Program Manager Caitlin Lanzara’s weekly report
- On May 13, NFIB sent a press release announcing a national radio ad campaign thanking specific members of Congress for supporting efforts to make the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent by passing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act.
- On May 14, the NFIB Research Center released the April SBET survey, which showed that the Small Business Optimism Index rose by 1.2 points in April to 89.7, marking the first increase of this year but the 28th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98.
- On May 14, NFIB released Episode 35 of the “Small Business Rundown” podcast featuring Senior National Political Director Sharon Sussin discussing the importance of voting for pro-small business candidates at every level on the ballot.
Next Main Street Minute May 27.
