Sell-Out Crowd Explores Weighty Issues in Fun Venue

A sell-out crowd gathered in Anaheim last week for the 2024 California Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Conference.

Subjects covered ranged from the mood of California voters, as reflected in this month’s election results, to the legislative session just ended and complex issues likely to arise in the coming year.

Comments from attendees showed that they valued the opportunity to connect with their peers as much as the insightful information shared by conference speakers.

New on this year’s agenda was a CEO roundtable discussion led by CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera, which allowed conference attendees to hear directly from the leaders of associations that often work in concert with the CalChamber.

Among the subjects discussed were the CalChamber-led negotiated reform of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) which forestalled an expensive initiative battle, along with defeating ballot measures to raise the minimum wage and supporting measures to establish a permanent funding stream for Medi-Cal and approve the first state school bond measure since 2016.

Association CEOs also discussed their impressions of how a new federal administration will affect their industries in California.

Conference attendees were able to meet and hear from some of the newly elected legislators, learn from the Governor’s legislative affairs secretary, as well as ponder strategies and outcomes in legislative, congressional and ballot measure campaigns.

A lively post-lunch session on the second day of the conference with journalists Tara Palmeri of Puck News and David Drucker of The Dispatch included a chance for attendees to ask questions and hear the journalists’ interpretation of what happened in the national elections.

Policy issue discussions on day two covered artificial intelligence, antitrust concerns, and California leadership on the transition to clean energy.