This Friday marks a significant Legislative deadline as it is the last day for any committee to hear and report to the Floor bills introduced in that house in the off-numbered year. This means that any two-year bills that made it out of committee will head to the Assembly or Senate floor for a final vote before the end of the month.

Warehouse Update: AB 1748 (Ramos) will not be heard this week in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. The bill was held as part of the leadership’s decision to press reset and form a warehouse working group. The bill is now dead along with AB 1000 (Reyes) which was also held last week. Regarding the warehouse working group, invitations have yet to be sent out to stakeholders. We will keep you apprised. Until then, expect new legislation to be introduced before the February 16, 2024, bill introduction deadline.

Organized retail crime (ORC) remains a critical challenge as CBPA, partner organizations, and other stakeholders continue to pursue potential solutions at the local level, statewide, and nationally.

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) submitted testimony to the U.S. House Small Business Committee last week, focusing on the different ways ORC negatively impacts businesses and communities.

Last week, Governor Newsom called for the creation of new laws to crack down on professional thieves.  

CBPA is engaged in finding a solution either through the ballot box or working with the governor and legislature to address ORC. We will continue to provide updates on this pressing matter as they become available.

Last week, CBPA President & CEO Matthew Hargrove was featured on The Commercial Real Estate Report, a YouTube series dedicated to providing in-depth analyses, market trends, and expert opinions from the world of commercial real estate.

The conversation included discussion on the Governor's proposed budget, industrial development in the Inland Empire, the latest on property taxes, and our efforts to protect Proposition 13 with the Taxpayer Protection Act. Thank you to The Commercial Real Estate Report for covering these critical issues impacting our industry!

California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) seeks to establish a hybrid workforce by bringing employees back to the office at least two days per week within the coming months.

Last summer, it was reported that state employees in 22 departments were spending more than 90% of their days working remotely, according to Department of General Services data.

CalEPA's return to office marks a significant change for its 6,500 employees, as other state agencies also aim to move to adopt a hybrid workplace.

Looking for more information on new laws and proposed legislation that impacts our industry? CBPA has created fact sheets to help you learn about critical issues impacting commercial real estate, including:

• AB 1218: Demolition of Residential Dwelling Units
• AB 1572: Potable Water Use on Nonfunctional Turf 
• SB 253: Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
• And more!