Jennifer Barrera
Jennifer Barrera took over as president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2021. Previously, she oversaw the development and implementation of policy and strategy as executive vice president and represented the CalChamber on legal reform issues. She led CalChamber advocacy on labor and employment and taxation from September 2010 through the end of 2017. As senior policy advocate in 2017, she worked with the executive vice president in developing policy strategy. Before joining the CalChamber, she worked at a statewide law firm that specializes in labor/employment defense. Barrera earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law. See full bio.
Job Killer Bills Impose New Leave Mandates; Raise Costs, Burdens on Employers
Job killing legislation that will threaten small employers with costly litigation, increased financial burdens, and new or extended leaves of absence is advancing in...
Job Killer Update: AB 2501 Added to List, 1 Bill Stalled, 1 Bill Removed
A job killer bill that will significantly restrict Californians’ ability to access home and auto loans by placing onerous burdens on lenders, which will...
Benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Available to Employees Who Have Symptoms or...
As a part of his roadmap to reopening the economy, California Governor Newsom recently raised the issue of a wage replacement mandate on businesses...
Coronavirus Impacts State Legislature and Business
The impact of the coronavirus is being felt all throughout the state, country, and world. Just yesterday, Governor Newsom requested the home isolation of...
Private Attorneys General Act in Need of Reform
To identify flaws in the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), reformers need look no further than comments from the state agency assigned to...
Private Attorneys General Act in Need of Reform – Capitol Insider
Last May, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) highlighted “key insights” in its budget change proposal to the Legislature. The unstated, but inevitable...
U.S. District Court Ruling Invalidates AB 51
On Friday, January 31, United States District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller issued a ruling halting enforcement of and invalidating in full AB 51, a...
Success! Ruling Invalidates AB 51
On Friday, January 31st, United States District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller issued a ruling halting enforcement of and invalidating in full AB 51, a...
Temporary Restraining Order Granted Against AB 51
Today, in a lawsuit filed by CalChamber and a business coalition challenging the constitutionality of AB 51, District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller granted a...
New Privacy Initiative Aimed at November Ballot
A new consumer data privacy initiative backed by the proponent of the measure that led to adoption of the state’s broad privacy law will...
Voters May Decide Fate of “Gig” Drivers and Delivery Workers
Last week, a much-anticipated initiative was filed regarding independent contractor status for transportation network drivers and delivery network drivers/couriers in the gig economy.
The initiative...
Voters May Decide Fate of “gig” Drivers and Delivery Workers – Capitol Insider
Last week, a much-anticipated initiative was filed regarding independent contractor status for transportation network drivers and delivery network drivers/couriers in the gig economy. The...
Mixed Bag
The Governor finished signing/vetoing all bills yesterday. CalChamber was tracking 62 bills on his desk, 32 support and 30 opposed. So how...
The Grand Finale: Legislative Session
The legislative session ended at approximately 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning – the early hour was largely due to a significant delay in proceedings on...
More Exemptions Needed on Bill Codifying Independent Contractor Test
There are three weeks left in the legislative session and one of the most common questions I get multiple times on a daily basis...
Nail Biter – Dynamex – Capitol Insider
There are three weeks left in the legislative session and one of the most common questions I get multiple times on a daily basis...
Even Perfect Compliance Can’t Forestall Litigation
In a policy committee hearing last week, a legislator argued that employers need not worry about litigation, liability, or financial settlements, if they just follow the law.
If...
For Uber and Lyft Drivers, Reclassification Means Less Flexibility
Last week, an op-ed appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the fact that executives from Uber and Lyft have come together to address...
CalChamber-Sponsored Bill to Protect Businesses from Predatory Lawsuits Passes
Legislation sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce to help educate businesses and protect them from predatory lawsuits passed an Assembly committee last week with unanimous...
Proposal Would Inflict Hefty Litigation Pricetag
Gender equity in the workplace and more generally in society is basically a no brainer. However, a bill pending in the Legislature has taken...