CalChamber Issues Statement on Signing of AB 1776

For Immediate Release
Contact: John Myers
john.myers@calchamber.com | press@calchamber.com

(September 30, 2026) Sacramento, CA – The California Chamber of Commerce today released the following statement on Gov. Gavin Newsom signing Assembly Bill 1776, legislation to update the state’s antitrust law:

“CalChamber’s member businesses believe that free market competition is an essential building block for a healthy economy. But AB 1776 is simply incompatible with federal antitrust law, and we remain opposed to its enactment.

“We acknowledge, however, that many of its most damaging components were removed before final approval by the California Legislature. Those provisions would have drastically expanded the business practices deemed illegal, opening the door to a flood of antitrust lawsuits that would have saddled even small businesses with legal expenses that, ultimately, would be passed to consumers.

“In the last two years, state officials have enacted four new antitrust laws — demonstrably proving that California now has the strongest antitrust laws in the nation. Lawmakers can confidently say they have heard the concerns of their constituents and responded. We look forward to the Legislature finally tackling the many other issues that stand in the way of making California affordable and prosperous.”