Golden State Today

The California Legislature reconvenes today, ending a brief hiatus. According to Politico California, this marks the beginning of a month-long period scrutinizing multiple significant legislative proposals. Governor Gavin Newsom is preparing to unveil his revised budget, further intensifying legislative activities.

NFIB, a small-business advocacy group, remains actively engaged in this legislative period, tracking 43 bills that include beneficial and detrimental measures for small businesses. The organization has launched a web story to highlight key proposals.

A recent update from CalMatters discussed the defeat of SB 222, citing labor unions' significant influence. Chris Hannan from the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California criticized the bill, saying: "This bill’s terrible, terrible policy. And it puts our jobs in jeopardy and puts our state in jeopardy." Despite NFIB’s involvement, labor unions were pivotal in the bill's outcome.

Transportation taxes and the concept of a vehicle miles-traveled (VMT) tax are under consideration in California. A Mineta Transportation Institute study explores the impact of zero-emission vehicles on state-generated transportation revenue. The NFIB, however, maintains a skeptical stance on the introduction of a VMT tax, as outlined in its recent discourse.

In Nevada, legislative transparency faces hurdles as a bill proposing open meeting laws for collective bargaining did not progress, as reported by The Nevada Independent. This echoes past challenges in California related to legislative transparency.

The importance of the 20% Small Business Deduction persists, with the NFIB advocating for its continuation. Josselin Castillo, NFIB Principal of Government Affairs, emphasized the urgency on KABC Radio: "We really can’t wait."

Looking forward, key legislative dates include the issuance of the state budget revise in May, and several deadlines for bill processing. The next recess is scheduled for July, with an interim recess extending from September to January 2026.

The federal agenda includes NFIB's monitoring of the reconciliation process and their support for the Graham amendment to H.Con.Res 14. Additionally, an NFIB-backed resolution aims to repeal new energy efficiency standards for certain consumer appliances.

The next Main Street Minute is scheduled for April 28.