The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) California has released its Main Street Minute for December 8-12, outlining several key events and updates relevant to small business owners in the state.
Swing Strategies, a firm specializing in ballot initiatives, is hosting a year-end update webinar on December 9. Tom Ross, president and CEO of Swing Strategies, stated in the invitation: “As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve seen a flurry of new initiatives filed in California — several of which are quickly emerging as serious contenders for the 2026 ballot. With the landscape shifting each week, it’s an ideal moment to take stock of what’s moving, who’s behind the major proposals, and what these measures could mean for stakeholders across the state.” The event will feature Tom Ross and Tino Rossi discussing recent filings and providing analysis on political dynamics.
A second retail theft roundtable is scheduled for December 10 at the Jan Scully Conference Room in Sacramento. NFIB California is leading the Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT) coalition, which is organizing these discussions with local district attorneys. Sacramento-area NFIB members can RSVP to Nate@carrt.org. CARRT noted that Proposition 36 has started to impact enforcement against serial retail theft offenders while expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation programs. According to CARRT: “With Proposition 36 [which NFIB endorsed] now in effect, California has taken meaningful steps to hold serial retail theft offenders accountable while expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation. While early implementation shows promising signs, challenges remain—especially as communities navigate organized retail theft, habitual offenders, and the resource needs required to support sustainable outcomes.
“This convening provides a valuable opportunity to:
— Hear directly from local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies about what they are seeing on the ground
— Learn how Prop 36 is shaping enforcement, intervention, and rehabilitation efforts
— Share experiences from the business and retail community
— Contribute to a collaborative discussion focused on practical, community-centered solutions.”
NFIB continues its campaign urging lawmakers to address California’s $21 billion unemployment insurance debt incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Members report that increased costs related to this debt have forced them to make difficult financial decisions such as raising prices or reducing staff.
NFIB California State Director John Kabateck was interviewed twice by KNX News 97.1 regarding Small Business Saturday and NFIB’s latest Jobs Report.
In legislative news, CalMatters columnist Dan Walters highlighted concerns over legislative oversight of new laws: “The Legislature should have always been checking up on the effects of its decrees, rather than assuming that what it does will automatically have the desired effects,” Walters wrote. He added: “However, it appears that legislators will have to volunteer their bills for scrutiny, which could mean that only obviously successful ones will be subjected to the process.
“It’s difficult to believe that the turkeys — measures that are publicity stunts or payoffs to campaign contributors, for instance — will be scrutinized much less those with unintended and negative consequences.”
NFIB opposed Senate Bill 553 (Cortese), which requires employers to develop workplace violence prevention plans. The organization considers this law an unnecessary paperwork burden and plans to advocate for its repeal in 2026. SB 553 was signed into law in September 2023; Cal/OSHA is currently working on developing standards required by Labor Code section 6401.9 with adoption expected by December 31, 2026.
The San Francisco Chronicle recently published a summary of new laws taking effect in 2026 including legislation related to insulin pricing controls, artificial intelligence regulation (with five bills), plastic bag restrictions, and cat declawing bans.
Upcoming dates include:
– December 16: Release of NFIB Small Business Optimism Index
– December 16: Next eNews edition
– January 5: Legislature reconvenes
– January 7: NFIB California Leadership Council meeting
Nationally, NFIB filed an amicus brief in NLRB v. California regarding potential conflicts between state labor laws and federal regulations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Beth Milito commented: “Allowing California to undermine the NLRA threatens the stability of labor relations across the country.” The Energy Choice Act has advanced out of committee toward a House vote. An EPA press release also cited NFIB President Brad Close’s response opposing previous WOTUS regulations: “The previous WOTUS regulation was a nightmare for small business landowners and all property owners.”
The next Main Street Minute will be released December 15.
