January 24, 2025
We may only be a few weeks into the new year, but the California legislature has already begun introducing bills for the 2025 session. As we look forward to the 2025 legislative session, we can expect a mix of policy priorities that both continue some efforts from the Assembly, Senate, and the Governor during 2024, and new priorities.
The cost of living and the cost of doing business are growing issues in California. We can expect legislators to bring forth policies to lower the cost of living, from housing to job creation. The Chamber will focus on policy efforts that help reduce the cost of establishing and operating businesses across California, including opposing overly burdensome regulations which affect the ability of California’s industries to thrive.
AI and tech innovation will continue to be a hot-button issue for the state, from potential regulations impacting autonomous vehicles to public harm testing of AI products. San Diego is a hub for technology and innovation, and the Chamber will continue to advocate for policies that bolster the innovation economy and against regulations that would stimy the industry as a whole.
Public safety will also continue to be a topic of debate in the legislature. While the Senate and Assembly passed theft bill packages last year, voters spoke clearly in support of Prop 36, which took effect last month. The Chamber was a strong supporter of the bill package and Prop 36 and will continue to advocate for public safety that allows San Diego’s businesses to thrive.
Electrification and zero emission efforts are also at the table. While CARB recently dropped their waiver request for their Advanced Clean Fleets rule from the EPA, we expect California to continue to position itself as a leader in clean energy policy. Chamber staff will continue to monitor the evolving dialogue between the state and the federal government on this issue, and will continue to advocate for regulations that truly take into consideration the economic realities of our region.
More to come from our policy team in the next few months! In the meantime, we hope you can join us in Sacramento next week as we elevate our region’s priorities with state officials.