September 22, 2025 | CRA End of Legislative Session Newsletter | | Message from the President | | | |
Members,
California’s legislative landscape continues to evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities for retailers and industry stakeholders. As we reflect on a busy first year in the two-year session, it’s clear CRA’s advocacy efforts are making a real impact - from successfully pushing back on difficult bills to championing measures to expand access to care in California’s retail pharmacies and streamlining business regulations. At the same time, preparations for returning legislation, engagement with policy leaders, and ongoing regulatory work highlight the importance of staying connected and proactive.
The good news is CRA managed to successfully oppose quite a few bills this session. But since we’re only in the first year of a two-year legislative cycle, some of these bills are bound to make a comeback. Bills such as AB 446 (Ward), SB 259 (Wahab), SB 295 (Hurtado), and AB 1018 (Bauer-Kahan), all dealing with issues like surveillance, online pricing, algorithms, and Automated Decision-Making tech, are going to need some extra attention and policy education prior to these bills being debated again in 2026. Plus, we should be ready to oppose AB 914 (Garcia), focused on a statewide Indirect Source Rule proposal, and AB 1331 (Elhawary) on workplace surveillance.
On a positive note, and an example on how CRA is educating policy makers on potential unintended consequences from their bills, CRA confirmed Assemblymember Chris Ward for our Fall Summit. He’ll be joining our “Smart Pricing: Striking the Balance - Innovation, Transparency & Consumer Protection” panel. Assemblymember Ward is just one of many California legislators and policy leaders taking part in the event. This is a rare chance for retailers to talk directly to decision-makers, share concerns, and give feedback on state laws and regulations affecting business. This is an excellent opportunity for compliance and legal folks to help CRA educate on the real-world impacts of certain policies and regulations, especially those focused on surveillance and pricing issues. Legislators need to hear straight from the experts who are implementing these laws. Our event is almost sold out, so register soon to secure your spot.
We also made a big step forward with staffing ratios in California pharmacies, thanks to CRA’s work on the Board of Pharmacy’s Sunset Review bill, AB 1503 (Berman). California has some of the strictest staffing ratios in the country, which makes it hard to ensure everyone gets the care they need. This bill, now on Governor Newsom’s desk, changes things from a one-to-one ratio to a three-to-one ratio, giving Pharmacists-in-Charge more flexibility to run their stores up to that new cap. It’s a milestone for access to care in our state’s pharmacies. You can read our press release about the bill’s passage HERE.
Meanwhile, AB 720 (Rogers) received unanimous support in the legislature and is also waiting for Governor Newsom’s signature. This bill includes technical fixes to the Bottle Bill (SB 1013 from 2022), giving our grocery retailers liability relief on alcohol labeling with a one-year implementation delay.
Don’t forget — if you have feedback on the latest SB 54 regulations, please send it to sarah@calretailers.com by October 2. We need time to put together our final comments before the official deadline of October 7. That’s when the 45-day comment period ends for California’s packaging EPR Program. At this stage, there have not been many changes since July, and we don’t expect major updates as the regulations move toward approval. The current regulations are generally more favorable for businesses, so our next comment letter will both defend the progress and suggest practical tweaks to make sure the rules can work for California, all while keeping affordability for consumers in mind.
Lastly, antitrust issues aren’t leaving the spotlight any time soon. The California Law Revision Commission is putting together recommendations for brand new legislation, which could be introduced in January. If these changes are adopted, it could be the biggest shakeup in California’s antitrust laws in decades and set the stage for a major legislative debate in 2026. There’s more info about the Commission’s recent meeting in the rest of our newsletter, so keep reading about those details.
Thank you again for your support of CRA and your investment in our work to defend and promote the retail industry in California. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
Rachel
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In This Newsletter Issue:
- End of Legislative Session Updates
- Regulatory, Local and Federal Updates
- CRA and NRF Fall Summit - Event Close to Selling Out
- Outreach and Other Activities
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End of Session Bill Updates
The legislature finished the first year of the 2025-26 legislative session. The Governor has until October 13 to sign bills that passed the legislature during the final two weeks of session. Many bills were made "2-year" bills which means the legislature can take them up again starting January 2026.
The CRA team had a successful year negotiating many bills to remove our opposition, stopping the most concerning bills and advocating for bills we supported. Next steps are to submit veto or signature requests to the Governor and await his decision on bills. We will send out updates as the Governor acts on bills. Get our complete report on bill results HERE.
Also, check out CRA Team members Ryan Allain, Jacob Brint and Leticia Garcia who made the very popular, highly followed Capitol Twitter account "Caucus Redux" during the last night of session. Ryan, Jacob and Leticia were in the Capitol Rotunda working bills late Friday night and into Saturday morning.
Leadership Change Updates
Incoming Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora announced his picks to lead the chamber’s minority party when lawmakers return for the second year of session in January. Assemblymembers Kate Sanchez and Alexandra Macedo will serve as floor leader and deputy leader, respectively. Both are viewed as potential future contenders to succeed Flora. Assemblymember Juan Alanis was tapped by Flora to be the caucus chair. The announcement comes after the current leader, Assemblymember James Gallagher, decided to step down from the position. Assemblymember Macedo will be at our Fall Summit in October - keep scrolling for more information about the event, which is almost sold out!
Additionally, current Senate pro tem Mike McGuire confirmed that incoming pro tem Senator Monique Limon will take over starting November 17. This also means Senate committee chairs and other leadership roles are likely to change prior to January.
Antitrust Reform Update Antitrust Reform Update
The California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) met recently as part of Study B-750, the Legislature’s directive to re-examine state antitrust laws. The Commission is preparing recommendations for new legislation, which will be forwarded to the Legislature in December. If adopted, these changes would mark the most significant changes of California antitrust law in decades, setting the stage for a major legislative battle in 2026. Read our full update including meeting highlights HERE.
The CRA Team will circulate the revised Single Firm Conduct draft language once it is released. Commissioners are expected to vote in December on whether to forward recommendations to the Legislature. We will continue monitoring this process closely as it moves toward what is expected to be a significant debate in 2026.
Transportation Funding Policy Priorities
CRA joined the Fair Transportation Funding Coalition in sending a letter to Assemblymember Wilson encouraging him to consider principles and priorities that are critical to shaping a transportation funding policy that works for all Californians. The letter urges Asm. Wilson to identify and implement policy solutions that address the looming transportation funding crisis in a way that is fair, sustainable and accountable over the long term. Read the letter HERE. Learn more about the effort at https://fairtransportationfundingcoalition.org/.
| | Local and Federal Updates | | | |
Local Updates
Effort to repeal L.A.’s $30 hotel minimum wage fails to qualify for the ballot
The business group looking to repeal a $30 per hour minimum wage for Los Angeles hotel and airport workers failed to secure enough signatures to qualify the proposal for the ballot. The L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress had been hoping to persuade voters to repeal the wage ordinance approved by the City Council four months ago. The referendum needed about 93,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot but fell short by about 9,000. Read more HERE.
San Diego approves $25 minimum wage for most tourism workers
The San Diego City Council on unanimously approved a $25 minimum wage targeting thousands of employees in the tourism industry, from hotel housekeepers to ballpark ticket takers. The council, which voted 8-0 to approve the wage increase, agreed to phase it in over a four-year period — a concession worked out with tourism industry stakeholders in the weeks leading up to the hearing. By the time the wage reaches $25 in 2030, it will amount to a 45% hike in the current citywide minimum wage of $17.25 an hour. Read more HERE.
South Coast Air Quality Management District Update
The CRA Team gave public comments at the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD) Mobile Source Committee meeting, where they were set to decide whether to move forward with the Ports Collaborative Agreement or release the AQMD’s proposed Indirect Source Rule. The Ports and AQMD staff have reached agreement on infrastructure, the main focus of the ISR, and as such we believe staff should not release the rule but continue finalizing an agreement - which they are about 90% there.
Our comments during the meeting included:
"The cities, ports, and South Coast AQMD have reached mutual consensus on all of the agreement terms related to zero emission infrastructure planning, providing an alternative to Proposed Rule 2304. We would like to echo the comments made by the PMSA, Supply Chain Federation and others and ask the committee to continue negotiations with the ports, pursue a collaborative agreement, and not release a rule, as the most effective way to reach our shared clean air goals.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, the AQMD Committee voted not to release a rule at this time. Instead, they will continue working on the collaborative agreement. Overall, the committee seemed supportive of the agreement, so hopefully we’ll hear more good news at the next meeting.
The board also voted to hold a public meeting to gather further comments on the proposed collaborative agreement ahead of their November meeting, where they plan to vote on its approval. They did not set a date for this new meeting though.
Contra Costa County Proposal to Ban Display of Sugary and High-Sodium Foods and Beverages in Grocery Checkout Aisles
The Contra Costa County board of supervisors approved an ordinance to ban the display of sugary and high-sodium foods and beverages in grocery checkout aisles, which would take effect in November. It calls for all retail stores measuring at least 2,000 square feet to remove unhealthy items from displays in checkout lanes. The ordinance requires foods within three feet of registers or in checkout lanes must contain no more than five grams of added sugar and 200 milligrams of sodium per serving, and gum and mints must contain no added sugars. Beverages that contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners are also banned. Read more.
Federal Updates
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger
CalRetailers was happy to provide a letter of support for the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. This merger will create America’s first transcontinental railroad, seamlessly connecting over 50,000 route miles across 43 states to transform the U.S. supply chain, improve the competitiveness of the national rail network and create new sources of economic growth and workforce opportunity. Read the letter HERE.
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CRA and NRF Retail Summit
Register Today - We are Close to Selling Out!
| | | Join the California Retailers Association and National Retail Federation October 26-28 at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa Valley for the 2025 Retail Law & Policy Uncorked: The California Summit, Where California Sets the Standard—Navigating Retail’s Legal, Regulatory and Policy Frontiers Nationwide. | | |
This gathering represents CRA and NRF's first-ever Retail, Legal and Regulatory Summit, a premier three-day event set in the scenic Napa Valley, convening national retailers, policy makers, regulators and legal experts in addressing the most pressing legislative, legal and regulatory issues impacting the retail industry in California and beyond.
View the developing program HERE. The agenda is subject to change.
Attendees will:
- Gain actionable insights on the latest environmental litigation, compliance and extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws directly impacting retailers, including Senate Bill 54, the first in the nation textile EPR (SB 707), greenwashing, PFAS and California’s climate disclosure mandates.
- Stay ahead of fast-evolving privacy and cybersecurity regulations. Hear from regulators and top policymakers while gaining practical strategies for compliance and cross-jurisdictional readiness.
- Learn how to navigate complex pricing laws, litigation risks and workforce mandates, including wage statement compliance, arbitration enforcement and new whistleblower protections, with guidance from leading legal and legislative experts.
- Discover best practices for integrating AI into retail contracts and HR, addressing algorithmic transparency, liability and California’s unique regulatory requirements for artificial intelligence in hiring and promotion.
Network with and hear directly from influential speakers shaping California’s retail legal landscape. Invited speakers include:
- The Honorable Rob Bonta, California Attorney General
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Director Zoe Heller, CalRecycle CONFIRMED
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Executive Director Tom Kemp, California Consumer Privacy Protection Agency CONFIRMED
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Assistant Majority Leader Diane Papan, Member of the Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials and Judiciary Committees CONFIRMED
- Chairman Tom Umberg, Senate Judiciary Committee
- Chairwoman Aisha Wahab, Senate Majority Leader
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Vice-Chair Roger Niello, Senate Judiciary Committee CONFIRMED
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Assemblymember Chris Ward, Member of the Assembly Privacy Committee and Author of AB 446 Pricing Surveillance; Two-Year Bill CONFIRMED
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Chairman Nick Schultz, Assembly Public Safety Committee CONFIRMED
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Chairman José Luis Solache, Jr., Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Housing Impact CONFIRMED
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Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, Member of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee CONFIRMED
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Assemblymember Rick Zbur, Assembly Caucas Chair; Member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee CONFIRMED
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Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Member, Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials CONFIRMED
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Assemblymember Josh Hoover, Member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee CONFIRMED
- Assemblywoman Catherine Stefani, Member of the Assembly Judiciary Committee
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Assemblywoman Ali Macedo, Member of the Assembly Judiciary Committee CONFIRMED
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Assemblymember David Tangipa, Member of the Assembly Higher Education Commitee CONFIRMED
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Doug Kobold, Executive Director, California Product Stewardship Council (SB 707 sponsor) CONFIRMED
- And Legal Professionals from throughout the country
BECOME A SPONSOR!
For more information visit CalRetailers.com Visit www.calretailers.com
| | Other Outreach and Activities | | |
CRA Team Attends Grand Opening of a Goodwill Industries Southern California Distribution Center
Goodwill Southern California invited CRA to an exclusive grand opening in Glendale, CA for their Atwater Village distribution center. The grand opening event included a tour through the facility, which had everything under one roof for helping successfully implement California's Textiles Extended Producer Responsibility Law - SB 707. The facility includes a donation center, retail, bailing, jewelry, electronics, toys and collectibles and e-commerce. Their used books section alone saw a record $15,000 in sales in one day, showing the power and potential of reuse in benefiting our planet. Attendance at the event is part of CRA's outreach for supporting our application to serve as the Producer Responsibility Organization for SB 707.
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CRA Team Participates in CA Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation Educational District Tour
CRA's Leticia Garcia attended the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation hosted Armenian Educational District Tour in the Los Angeles Area.
The event included stops at local Armenian grocery stores. Tour attendees included Caucus Chair Assemblymember John Harabedian, Senator Bob Archuleta, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Senator Caroline Menjivar, Senator Sasha Renee Perez, Assembly Majoriy Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, Assemblymember Robert Garcia, Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, Assemblymember Maggy Krell, Assemblymember Diane Papan, Assemblymember Celeste Rodrguez, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, Assemblymember Nick Schultz, Assemblymember David Tangipa and Assemblymember Rick Chavez-Zbur, several of whom will be attending and speaking at CRA's Fall Summit.
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