Special session called the day the Legislature adjourns its regular 2023-2024 session
Welcome to the September 2-6 edition of the NFIB California Main Street Minute from your small-business advocacy team in Sacramento.
Legislature Adjourns its 2023-2024 Session
— Governor Calls for Special Session on Gas Prices
- The gavel dropped August 31, adjourning the 2023-2024 session of the California State Legislature. On the same day, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a special session to, as he put it, “address the pernicious problem of gasoline price spikes at the pump.”
- The call for a special session, according to the governor’s proclamation, took effect also on August 31 and, according to the state constitution, lawmakers have until November 30 to meet in special session.
- Not everyone is on board with the special session call, however. “Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire said Saturday night his chamber ‘won’t be convening in a special session this fall’ because they were ready to pass the package before adjourning,” reported The Sacramento Bee. “The Assembly began its special session Saturday evening within an hour of Newsom’s proclamation. The Senate did not enter a special session and adjourned 17 minutes after midnight Sunday.”
- McGuire’s decision is getting support from the loyal opposition. “’We support the pro Tem’s statement on the special session. We’ve had plenty of time to get the work done and we don’t need a special session,’ Republican leader Brian Jones said.”
On Other Legislative Matters
- Three bills NFIB and its coalition partners in the business community were lobbying against, unfortunately, made it past the finish line. The coalition will now turn its advocacy efforts toward asking the governor for a veto of them. They are:
— Senate Bill 399, which would prohibit an employer from requiring his or her employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting.
— Assembly Bill 2754, which would implicate every customer and transportation service provider in the supply chain as jointly liable for payment of wages, workers’ compensation, and reimbursement of business expenses.
— Senate Bill 988, which would impose minimum requirements relating to contracts between a hiring party and a freelance worker. In other words, it’s another attempted assault on independent contractors.
- There were 5,553 bills on every topic under the sun introduced during the two-year session. From that pool, NFIB narrowed to 109 the good but mostly bad ones for small businesses. As mentioned in last week’s Main Street Minute, subsequent MSMs to this one will report on their outcomes.
Farewell
- “Of the 120 legislators, 34 are either terming out, running for other offices or just stepping aside,” reported CalMatters. “The exodus is partly due to a historically large class of legislators elected in 2012, who are now hitting the 12-year term limit. There was another ‘great resignation’ in 2022 due to redistricting, as well as term limits and other political opportunities.”
NFIB in the News
- For an article in Minority Business Entrepreneur, State Director John Kabateck comments on NFIB’s latest Small Business Problems & Priorities report and on NFIB’s latest Small Business Economic Trends report that came out the same week.
- Kabateck was also interviewed on the California Live Podcast for 20 minutes on the legislative and political landscape in the state.
Calendar
- September 30 deadline for governor to sign bills into law
- October 7 County clerks begin mailing ballots to all Californians
- October 21 Last day to register to vote
- November 5, General Election Day
- November 30 National Shop Small Business Saturday Campaign
National
Highlights from NFIB Legislative Program Manager Caitlin Lanzara’s weekly report
- In a BIG win for restaurants, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocked DOL’s tip credit rule. Many of the arguments the trade associations worked on in the amicus brief NFIB joined were included in the Fifth Circuit opinion. More on the decision here.
- On August 30, OSHA’s heat illness and injury NPRM was published in the Federal Register. This will begin the 120-day comment period, with the deadline to submit comments ending on Monday, December 30. NFIB will file formal comments and express opposition to the proposed standard.
- Next NFIB Webinar: Small Business Loans and Financing – A Banker’s Expert Advice. Special guest: Joseph W. Major, chairman of the board and CEO of both The Victory Bank and Victory Bancorp, Inc.. Wednesday, September 4, 12 noon Eastern Time. Register here.
This Main Street Minute can also be read on the NFIB California webpage here. Next Main Street Minute September 9.
