Public Affairs / Politics

Affordability Agenda

Legislators Embrace CalChamber’s Call for Affordability in House of Origin Actions

In acting to set aside costly policy proposals and mitigate the burdensome costs in others, members of the California Legislature agreed last week to...
2025 California Business Outlook and Dinner

Four Small Businesses Receive $5,000 Grants at California Business Outlook Dinner

Four small businesses — two hurt by January’s Eaton Fire — were presented with $5,000 grants at the California Business Outlook dinner on June...
2025 President’s Circle Award recipients

12 Local Chambers Receive 2025 President’s Circle Award

The California Chamber of Commerce has named 12 local chambers of commerce as recipients of the 2025 President’s Circle Award. The award, first presented in...
2025 Business Outlook and Dinner - Gov Candidates Panel

California Business Outlook Hosts Candidates for California Governor

California Business Outlook dinner attendees had the opportunity to compare the views of six candidates for California Governor participating in a June 4 panel...
Maryam Brown, 2025 CalChamber chair, presents the Chamber of the Year Award to Evan Sanford, executive director of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce.

CalChamber Names Redlands Chamber as First Chamber of the Year Award Winner

The California Chamber of Commerce has chosen the Redlands Chamber of Commerce as the inaugural winner of its Chamber of the Year Award, in...
2025 California Business Outlook and Dinner

Networking Opportunities Aplenty at Reimagined Business Outlook Dinner & Reception

Leaders from business, the military, state and local government, and international partners will gather this evening for the California Business Outlook Dinner and Reception. The...
2025 California Business Outlook and Dinner

California Business Outlook Kicks Off on June 4

International trade and tariffs, climate change and retail theft are among the topics to be featured tomorrow when business leaders from throughout the state...

CalChamber Joins Coalition Lawsuit to Halt Illegal Beverage Tax in Santa Cruz

The California Chamber of Commerce joined a coalition of grocers, retailers, beverage distributors and restaurant owners last week in a lawsuit filed in Sacramento...

Recap of Assembly Fiscal Committee Actions on CalChamber Priority Bills

Last Friday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee stopped a number of bills opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce because of affordability concerns, including two...
California State Senate Seal

Recap of Senate Fiscal Committee Actions on CalChamber Priority Bills

Action by the Senate Appropriations Committee last Friday showed that legislators heeded business concerns about costs in some cases, but continued to move other...
California State Capitol Dome

Senate Fiscal Committee Passes Bill Undermining PAGA Reform

Legislation opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce and a large coalition as a Cost Driver that would undermine a historic 2024 agreement between...
Legislative staffers and AI experts at a California Foundation for Commerce and Education-hosted briefing and discussion on open source AI on May 20, 2025.

Foundation Hosts Briefing on Real-World Uses of Open Source AI

The real-world uses of open source artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, public services, national security and small business operations were the focus of...

CalChamber Expands Executive Team with Seasoned Comms Strategist

The California Chamber of Commerce has expanded its executive team with the hiring of seasoned communications strategist John Myers as the new senior vice...

CalChamber Comments on Governor’s May Revise Budget Proposal

Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget announcement yesterday, CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera issued the following statement: “The revised budget plan addresses a...
Cost Drivers

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...

CalChamber-Opposed Bills Dead for Year

California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills on a variety of subjects have missed this year’s deadline to move from legislative policy to fiscal committees and...

U.S. District Court Grants CalChamber Request for Permanent Injunction in Prop 65 Case

Case rules in favor of Californians’ First Amendment rights The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled on May 2 in favor...
Cost Cutters

Cost Cutters Update: Bills Reducing Costs Moving through Legislature

A number of proposals identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as Cost Cutters that reduce expenses for Californians are moving in the Legislature. Following...
Cost Drivers

Health Care Cost Driver Bill Held for Year

This week, the author of a health care bill identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as a Cost Driver that will increase premiums...
Cost Drivers

Cost Driver Bill Pulled from Committee Due to Lack of Support

A Cost Driver bill imposing retroactive liability on companies for lawful activities dating back to 1990 was not considered as scheduled this week in...