California Travel and Tourism Commission.
Bill information
- Status: 02/05/2024 – Referred to Com. on A., E., S., & T.
- Summary: Under the current California Tourism Marketing Act, a separate organization called the California Travel and Tourism Commission was established by the Office of Tourism. This commission is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation with the sole purpose of promoting tourism in California. The commission has a board of commissioners who are responsible for directing its activities and they must meet specific eligibility requirements. This includes being professionally active in the tourism industry and having their primary business trade or profession directly related to tourism. If a commissioner no longer meets these requirements and does not become eligible again within 90 days, they automatically lose their position. This new bill proposes to extend this time frame to 100 days. (Based on 01/25/2024 text)
- Location: 02/05/2024 – Assembly A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M.
- Introduced: 01/25/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Tourism T-1
- Analysis: This bill ensures that governance over the state Tourism Commission has valid qualifications, understanding the needs of the industry and genuinely promoting beneficial policy.
Homelessness spending portal.
Bill information
- Status: 02/12/2024 – Referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
- Summary: Under current regulations, it is mandatory for the Governor to establish a California Interagency Council on Homelessness. This council’s main responsibilities include serving as a statewide facilitator and coordinator, as well as a policy development resource for ending homelessness in California. One of the council’s duties is to develop a data system that aims to align information on homelessness with programs that assist homeless individuals who receive state aid. Moreover, as of July 1, 2025, according to this bill, the Department of Finance, in collaboration with the council, will have to create a public website that tracks and reports all state expenditures related to homelessness. This website will be open to the public’s access. (Based on 02/01/2024 text)
- Location: 02/12/2024 – Assembly H. & C.D.
- Introduced: 02/01/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Government Reform G-5
- Analysis: Allows improved transparency and effectiveness for addressing homeless issues locally. Allowing public access to related expenditures improves the accountability to constituents regarding the resources dedicated to these programs.
Personal income taxes: deduction: qualified education loans.
Bill information
- Status: 03/18/2024 – Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX. From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.
- Summary: The Personal Income Tax Law allows, by way of conformity with deductions allowed under federal income tax law, various deductions in computing the income that is subject to the taxes imposed by the Personal Income Tax Law, including a deduction against gross income for interest paid on qualified education loans not to exceed a specified limit. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2029, would remove the limit on the deduction described above, as specified. (Based on 03/18/2024 text)
- Location: 03/18/2024 – Assembly REV. & TAX
- Introduced: 02/12/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Taxes TF-4
- Analysis: By allowing relevant deductions for education loans, this bill would lower the barrier to developing a more highly educated and competitive workforce.
Southeast California Economic Region.
Bill information
- Status: 03/04/2024 – Referred to Com. on J., E.D., & E.
- Summary: Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, also known as “GO-Biz,” to, among other duties, serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. In this regard, existing law authorizes GO-Biz to develop content on its internet website or through other mediums to be used for public dissemination, through outreach activities, in order to provide information and resources to inform the general public about place-based and other geographically targeted economic development programs, including California Promise Zones and California Opportunity Zones. Existing law requires the office to convene, at least annually, representatives from various programs and agencies across the state and from various federal programs and agencies for the purpose of discussing how California can leverage promise zones and opportunity zones to meet state and local community and economic development needs. Existing law establishes the Community Economic Resilience Fund Program, within the Workforce Services Branch of the Employment Development Department, to build an equitable and sustainable economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 on California’s industries, workers, and communities, and to provide for the durability of that recovery by fostering long-term economic resilience in the overall transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Existing law requires the Community Economic Resilience Fund Program to be administered by Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Office of Planning and Research, and GO-Biz. Existing law refers to these 3 agencies as the Inter-Agency Leadership Team. This bill would, until January 1, 2035, designate the Southeast California Economic Region, as specified, and would state that its purpose is to, among other things, better align state and federal programs, services, and funding within those communities most impacted by the extraction and processing of lithium and other minerals from the Salton Sea and additional clean energy development in the surrounding areas within the region. The bill would require the Inter-Agency Leadership Team, on or before June 1, 2025, to prepare a list of state programs that use the Southeast California Economic Region designation for planning and funding purposes, as specified. The bill would authorize the Southeast California Economic Region to facilitate regional collaboration on developing a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development, as described. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/15/2024 text)
- Location: 03/04/2024 – Assembly J., E.D. & E.
- Introduced: 02/15/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Economic Development ED-2
- Analysis: Using existing funds for investment into our region ensures local taxpayers see benefits from funded programs, ensuring the Coachella Valley region benefits from strategic programs and increases the competitiveness of our business climate.
Economic development: capital investment incentive programs.
Bill information
- Status: 03/11/2024 – Referred to Com. on L. GOV.
- Summary: Prior law, until January 1, 2024, authorized a county, city and county, or city to establish a capital investment incentive program, pursuant to which the county, city and county, or city was authorized to pay, upon request, a capital investment incentive amount that does not exceed the amount of property tax derived from that portion of the assessed value of a qualified manufacturing facility, as defined, that exceeds $150,000,000 to a proponent of a qualified manufacturing facility for up to 15 years. This bill would reestablish the authorization for capital investment incentive programs until January 1, 2035. The bill would make conforming changes. (Based on 02/15/2024 text)
- Location: 03/11/2024 – Assembly L. GOV.
- Introduced: 02/15/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Economic Development ED-6
- Analysis: By allowing local control over capital investment incentive programs, this bill continues an effective program that ensures lower barriers for manufacturing industries and increases the variety of our economic base.
Housing development: density bonuses: student housing developments.
Bill information
- Status: 03/11/2024 – Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.
- Summary: The Density Bonus Law requires cities and counties to give certain benefits to developers who want to build housing. This is if the developers agree to set aside 20% of the units for lower income students. These units must be used only by full-time students in a college or university for at least 55 years. The new bill would change this law to allow a density bonus for developers who set aside 20% of the bedspaces for lower income students, faculty, or staff. This must be done in a student housing development, and the units must be leased to these students, faculty, or staff. If there are not enough qualified applicants, the units may be leased to non-students during certain times. The law also gives incentives to developers who provide a certain percentage of units for lower income households or students. The bill would change the requirements for these incentives. Lastly, the bill would also change the requirements for parking spaces in student housing developments. This may cost cities and counties money, and they may be able to get reimbursed by the state. (Based on 02/16/2024 text)
- Location: 03/11/2024 – Assembly H. & C.D.
- Introduced: 02/16/2024
Recommendation: Support, Discuss
- Citation: Housing HL-2
- Analysis: Granting credit to developers towards their density bonus as required by existing mandates. Flexibility regarding housing based off market needs ensures housing supply remains consistent. Potential funding of this mandate is crucial to continued support.
Income tax: health savings accounts.
Bill information
- Status: 01/29/2024 – Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 28. Noes 4.) Ordered to the Assembly. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
- Summary: The Personal Income Tax Law authorizes various deductions in computing income that is subject to tax under that law. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2028, would allow a deduction in computing adjusted gross income in connection with health savings accounts in modified conformity with federal law. In general, the deduction would be an amount equal to the aggregate amount paid in cash during the taxable year by, or on behalf of, an eligible individual, as defined, to a health savings account of that individual, as provided. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2028, would also provide related conformity to that federal law with respect to the allowance of rollovers from Archer Medical Savings Accounts, health flexible spending arrangements, or health reimbursement accounts to a health savings account, and penalties in connection therewith. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 01/11/2024 text)
- Location: 01/29/2024 – Assembly DESK
- Introduced: 01/23/2023
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Taxes TF-4
- Analysis: By allowing tax incentives for proper investment into individual health savings accounts, this bill reduces the overall burden on the healthcare system and rewards proper decision-making from constituents.
California Artificial Intelligence Research Hub.
Bill information
- Status: 03/14/2024 – Set for hearing April 9.
- Summary: This bill requires the Secretary of Government Operations to create a plan that investigates how to develop standards and technologies to determine digital content provenance. The plan should also evaluate the impact of deepfakes on California-based businesses and residents. Deepfakes are audio or visual content generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence that falsely appear to be authentic or truthful. To help with this plan, the bill requires the Government Operations Agency, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the Department of Technology to collaborate to create the California Artificial Intelligence Research Hub. This Hub will facilitate collaboration between government agencies, academic and private sector partners to develop artificial intelligence in a way that benefits the public while still protecting privacy, advancing security and addressing potential harms or risks to society. (Based on 01/03/2024 text)
- Location: 02/14/2024 – Senate G.O.
- Introduced: 01/03/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Economic Development ED-2
- Analysis: Improved research on artificial intelligence benefits public policy makers by providing improved information on an emerging industry.
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: road and safety improvement projects.
Bill information
- Status: 03/15/2024 – Set for hearing April 17.
- Summary: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would exempt from CEQA activities or projects undertaken by the Department of Transportation for road and safety improvements at any of the 15 locations in the state highway system with the highest rates of vehicle collisions at any given time, as determined in accordance with data collected by the department. (Based on 02/20/2024 text)
- Location: 02/29/2024 – Senate E.Q.
- Introduced: 01/17/2024
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: ED-13
- Analysis: CEQA reform that allows for more expedient road improvements ensures local flexibility new projects and improves the overall quality of live of constituents and improves local economic viability.
Oil and Gas Wells
- Summary: The bill, effective January 1, 2025, makes operators and owners of oil and gas facilities liable for certain health conditions in seniors, children, pregnant individuals, and those diagnosed with cancer, if they reside in a health protection zone for a cumulative period of 24 months or longer. The bill also allows for affirmative defenses and authorizes public prosecutors to seek reimbursement for healthcare costs related to these health conditions. Any waiver of these provisions is not allowed and the bill’s provisions are separable.
- Status: 3/14/2024 Re-referred to Coms. on JUD. and NAT. RES. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
Recommendation: Oppose
- Citation: Environment ER-1
- Analysis: This bill represents oppressive burden on businesses in the relevant field and disincentivizes economic investment. Sets poor precedent for other similar bills to be proposed in the near future.
Non-Local Bills
Guaranteed Health Care for All.
- Summary: Would, under the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, 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 of the state. The bill, among other things, would provide that CalCare cover a wide range of medical benefits and other services and would incorporate the health care benefits and standards of other existing federal and state provisions, including the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medi-Cal, ancillary health care or social services covered by regional centers for persons with developmental disabilities, Knox-Keene, and the federal Medicare program. The bill would make specified persons eligible to enroll as CalCare members during the implementation period, and would provide for automatic enrollment. The bill would require the board to seek all necessary waivers, approvals, and agreements to allow various existing federal health care payments to be paid to CalCare, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. (Based on 02/07/2024 text)
- Status – 02/08/2024 – From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.
Recommendation – Oppose
- Citation: Healthcare HC-2
- Analysis: This program violates market competition in healthcare and does not address the underlying issues with affordability.
Crimes: shoplifting.
- Summary: Existing law divides theft into grand theft and petty theft. Existing law punishes petty theft as a misdemeanor while grand theft is punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Existing law lists specific types of theft which are grand theft and all other cases of theft as petty theft. 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. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. (Based on 02/15/2024 text)
- Status – 02/16/2024 – From printer. May be heard in committee March 17.
Recommendation – Support
Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits.
- Summary: Current law provides for the payment of unemployment compensation benefits and extended benefits to eligible individuals who meet specified requirements. Under current law, unemployment benefits are paid from the Unemployment Fund, which is continuously appropriated for these purposes. Current law makes an employee ineligible for benefits if the employee left work because of a trade dispute and specifies that the employee remains ineligible for the duration of the trade dispute. Existing case law holds that employees who left work due to a lockout by the employer, even if it was in anticipation of a trade dispute, are eligible for benefits. This bill would restore eligibility after the first 2 weeks for an employee who left work because of a trade dispute. (Based on 02/13/2024 text)
- Status – 02/21/2024 – Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
Recommendation – Oppose
- Citation: Employer/Employee Relations ER-7
- Analysis: Allowing unemployment insurance for striking workers is irresponsible for the unemployment fund and unbalances the relationship between employers and employees in the application of a strike as a means of negotiation.
Unemployment insurance: benefit and contribution changes.
Bill information
- Status: 02/29/2024 – Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
- Summary Current law provides for unemployment compensation benefits for eligible individuals in the state who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Current law excludes from the definition of “wages,” for purposes of the unemployment insurance law, remuneration in excess of $7,000 paid to an individual by an employer during any calendar year, with respect to employment. This bill would change the amount of remuneration that is excluded from the definition of “wages,” to $____ on and after January 1, 2025, but before January 1, 2027, and to $____ on and after January 1, 2027. The bill would require an annual cost of living increase to the $____ amount on and after January 1, 2028, and each January 1 thereafter. (Based on 02/16/2024 text)
Recommendation: Oppose
- Citation: Employer/Employee Relations ER-7
- Analysis: This bill is an unrealistic approach to the utilization of unemployment insurance and creates an irrational burden on the fund.
Energy: gasoline stations and alternative fuel infrastructure.
Bill information
- Status: 03/06/2024 – Set for hearing March 21.
- Calendar: 03/19/24 S-ENERGY, UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS 9 a.m. – 1021 O Street, Room 1200 BRADFORD, STEVEN, Chair
- Summary Would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to form the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Taskforce to conduct a study on retail gasoline fueling stations and alternative fuels infrastructure, as provided. The bill would require the taskforce, on or before January 1, 2027, to submit to the Legislature a report on the study with recommendations. (Based on 02/29/2024 text)
Recommendation: Discuss, Support
- Citation: Environment ER-1
- Analysis: Allowing increased research on combining alternative fuels and conventional fuel infrastructure, this bill paves the way for businesses to adapt to changing mandates and climate/emissions goals and provide market incentives to achieving those goals.
Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: New Employment Credit.
Bill information
- Status: 02/26/2024 – Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
- Calendar: 04/01/24 A-REVENUE AND TAXATION 2:30 p.m. – State Capitol, Room 126 IRWIN, JACQUI, Chair
- Summary: The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2026, a credit for hiring qualified full-time employees, as defined, within a designated census tract or economic development area in an amount equal to 35% of the qualified wages, defined in part as those wages that exceed 150% of minimum wage but do not exceed 350% of minimum wage, paid to those employees multiplied by the applicable percentage for that taxable year. That law disallows this credit for specified businesses. This bill would eliminate the requirement that the new employment be located within a designated census tract or economic development area. The bill would expand the definition of qualified wages to include that amount of wages that exceeds 100% of minimum wage but does not exceed 350% of minimum wage. The bill would expand the definition of qualified employee to include an employee that is a member of a targeted group, as defined. (Based on 02/12/2024 text)
- Location: 02/26/2024 – Assembly REV. & TAX
Recommendation: Support
- Citation: Taxes TF-8
- Analysis: Increasing the ability to use the new employment tax credit benefits businesses and lowers the barrier to hiring qualified employees to increase economic competitiveness of local businesses.