Four legislative proposals that would take aim at the kind of business costs that deepen California’s affordability crisis have been added to CalChamber’s list of bills that lawmakers should ratify in the coming weeks at the state Capitol.
The bills have been identified as Cost Cutters, a key component of CalChamber’s annual Affordability Agenda. In all, six bills now appear on the list of proposals that would have a positive effect on the state.
The new Cost Cutters include:
• SB 84 (Niello; R-Fair Oaks) This bill, originally introduced in the first year of the current legislative session, seeks to provide a reasonable amount of time for a business owner to resolve any alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — an important step towards curbing frivolous lawsuits.
• AB 1606 (Nguyen; D-Elk Grove) This legislation would provide a tax credit for businesses that incur expenses in the process of removing unauthorized encampments, illegal dumping, and abandoned property from commercial properties in California.
• AB 1693 (Zbur; D-Hollywood) The bill would streamline permitting for tenant improvements at retail locations, while ensuring these modifications comply with all applicable building, health, and safety requirements.
• AB 2205 (Quirk-Silva; D-Fullerton) This important proposal would reinstate California’s New Employment Credit (NEC), which has been highly effective in incentivizing businesses to hire full-time employees in designated census tracts and economic development areas. The program ended last December and should be reauthorized by the Legislature.
Cost Cutters identified earlier were:
• AB 2124 (Pacheco; D-Downey) This bill would create a framework for independent evaluation of proposed legislation that imposes costs on utility customers, helping identify unnecessary or duplicative programs and reducing future rate pressure.
• AB 2366 (Ávila Farías; D-Martinez) This legislation would require state agencies and the Legislative Analyst’s Office to evaluate proposed new regulations to determine their fiscal impact on cost of living in California, thereby ensuring affordability is considered.
CalChamber’s advocacy team works with our members and alongside other like-minded groups, urging elected officials to make affordability their highest priority. As legislation moves forward or is set aside through the spring and summer, the Affordability Agenda will be updated.
The California Legislature must take final action on all bills for the year no later than Aug. 31.
