Robert Moutrie
Robert Moutrie joined the California Chamber of Commerce in March 2019 as a policy advocate and was named a senior policy advocate starting January 1, 2024 in recognition of his efforts on behalf of members. He leads CalChamber advocacy on occupational safety, tourism, unemployment insurance and immigration. Moutrie has represented clients on matters such as consumer fraud litigation, civil rights, employment law claims, tort claims, and other business-related issues in federal and state courts. He previously served as an associate attorney at the Oakland-based firm of Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver & Wilson. Moutrie earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. with honors from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. See full bio.
Cost Driver Creating New Reasons to Sue for Consumer-Friendly Pricing Awaits Assembly Action
Legislation identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as a Cost Driver that will hurt existing consumer-friendly pricing practices passed an Assembly policy committee...
Business Groups Stop Bill Allowing Private Attorneys Into Tax Enforcement
A broad business coalition had an early victory yesterday in the California State Senate, when the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee voted down SB...
Cost Driver Bills Set for Hearing Today
Two bills identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as Cost Drivers are among the many CalChamber priority bills scheduled to be considered by...
CalChamber, Coalition Urge UI Debt Assistance in 2025–2026 California Budget
The California Chamber of Commerce and a broad coalition of business groups are urging state leaders to deliver on the commitments made in California’s...
Unemployment Insurance Exceptions Granted for Workers and Employers Affected by Wildfires
With devastating wildfires ravaging California, both employers and workers should be aware of some emergency options available through California’s unemployment insurance (UI) system.
For employees,...
Job Killer Bill Increasing Unemployment Insurance Taxes Stopped
A California Chamber of Commerce job killer bill that would have hiked unemployment insurance (UI) taxes failed to meet a key deadline on Friday...
Job Killer Bill Increasing UI Taxes to Pay Striking Workers in Senate Committee Today
A California Chamber of Commerce job killer bill that will increase unemployment insurance (UI) taxes to subsidize striking workers is scheduled to be heard...
Bill Giving UI Benefits to Striking Workers Tagged a Job Killer
A bill that seeks to provide striking workers with unemployment insurance (UI) benefits has been tagged a job killer by the California Chamber of Commerce.
SB...
Cal/OSHA Passes Aggressive Update to Lead Regulation
Yesterday, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board passed a sweeping update to California’s lead regulation despite heavy concerns of feasibility and inaccurate cost estimates from the...
Bill Providing Unemployment Benefits to Striking Workers Reintroduced
A bill that would provide unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for striking workers was introduced in the California Legislature yesterday by Senator Anthony Portantino.
This new...
Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates Up in 2024
For California’s employers, the new year brings new unemployment insurance (UI) tax increases.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s annual budget proposal, released last week, foresees belt tightening for...
CalChamber-Led Coalition Urges Veto of Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers
The California Chamber of Commerce is leading a broad coalition of more than 110 businesses, associations and local chambers of commerce in urging the...
Bill Extending UI Funds to Striking Workers Increases Taxes on All California Employers
A California Chamber of Commerce job killer bill that will increase unemployment insurance (UI) taxes to subsidize striking workers passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee...
CalChamber Tags UI Proposal SB 799 as a Job Killer; Bill Would Require Employers...
The California Chamber of Commerce has tagged SB 799 (Portantino; D-Burbank) as a job killer bill, citing the proposal’s requirement for employers to subsidize...
CalChamber-Opposed Workplace Violence Bill Is Unworkable for Small Employers
A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill that increases business costs and establishes a one-size-fits-all workplace violence regulation on all California employers is scheduled to...
Cal/OSHA Extends COVID-19 Regulation for 2 Years
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted 6-1 yesterday to continue California’s COVID-19 regulation until December 2024.
As part of the transition from an emergency COVID-19 regulation...
CalChamber Calls for Changes to Nonemergency COVID Draft Rule
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board’s draft proposal to extend the state’s COVID-19 regulation for another two years—with some significant changes from the COVID-19 emergency regulation—still...
State Change in COVID-19 Definition of ‘Close Contact’ Leaves Questions for California Employers
One of the most well-known elements of COVID-19 workplace safety was changed last month — to relatively little fanfare — and it has left...
Bills to Strengthen STEM, Computer Education in Schools to Be Heard in Assembly Committee
Two California Chamber of Commerce-supported bills that will invest in California’s future workforce and address the skills gap in the state's primary and secondary...
Two Job Killer Bills to Be Considered in Committees Tomorrow
Two California Chamber of Commerce job killer bills will be heard in legislative policy committees tomorrow morning. The Assembly Judiciary Committee is scheduled to...