Public Policy
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We are committed to ensuring the voices of our small business community are heard. When it comes to policy-making decisions at the local and state levels, we are front and center, consistently advocating for our region’s small businesses.
How We Advocate for Small Businesses
Our small business advocacy comes in many forms. We help leverage strong community partnerships, develop regional strategies to ensure economic policies and investments, create conversations with policymakers, and connect our communities to their elected representatives through our Midday Matters: Brown Bag Luncheon Series.
Our 2025 Legislative Priorities
Outlook for 2025
SacAsian’s advocacy will focus on strengthening small, marginalized businesses through targeted legislative actions and initiatives. Building upon our Core Policy Pillars, input from the Public Policy Committee, past achievements, and the current landscape, we aim to advance the following priorities with an unwavering focus on Small Businesses First. Small businesses make up 80–90% of California’s economy, and their success is vital to our state’s prosperity.
Objective: To enhance technical assistance programs, improve access to capital, and increase small business utilization for small businesses.
Supporting Small Businesses: Advocate for policies that prioritize technical assistance, financial resources, and streamlined regulations to enable growth for small businesses. This includes leveraging our SBC and MBDA centers, promoting access to capital, enhancing lending transparency, and reducing regulatory burdens.
Advocate for AB 2262 (Reyes): Continue championing small business utilization through support for the reintroduction of AB 2262.
Proposed Sponsored Bills:
- Local Procurement: Reintroduction of AB 2262: Local Small Business Utilization.
- State Procurement: Subcontractor Prompt Payment Priority
Objective: To improve access to quality education and career pathways for ALL communities.
- Access to Quality Education: Support policies that ensure small business owners and their employees can access postsecondary education and workforce training opportunities.
- Fostering Success in Our Communities: Advocate for programs that address educational disparities and support targeted initiatives for underserved and underestimated populations, emphasizing their critical role in the economy.
Objective: To ensure small businesses are included in the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Enabling a Just Transition: Ensure small businesses participate in the renewable energy transition by advocating for partnerships, resource access, and adaptation strategies to thrive in the low-carbon economy.
- Promoting Environmental Justice: Back initiatives that address access to green investments for all, ensuring underserved communities and small businesses reap the benefits of renewable energy developments.
Proposed Sponsored Bill:
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Infrastructure in Underserved and Underestimated Localities.
Objective: To improve healthcare access and affordability for small business owners and employees.
- Affordable Healthcare for All: Champion healthcare policies that expand access and reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes for small business owners and their employees.
- Supporting Employee Benefits: Push for initiatives that help small businesses provide affordable healthcare options to employees without compromising their financial stability.
Objective: To ensure small businesses benefit from state and federal infrastructure investments.
- Local Investments: Advocate for federal and state infrastructure funding that supports small businesses through technical assistance and access to resources.
- Collaborative Guidance: Partner with experts to empower small businesses and communities to fully benefit from green infrastructure opportunities.
Proposed Sponsored Bill (see Small Businesses First in Energy & Environmental Transitions above):
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Infrastructure in Underserved and Underestimated Localities.
Objective: To ensure small businesses have first access to AI and other emerging technologies.
- Integration of Emerging Technologies: Shape the Chamber’s AI and technology strategies through our AI Committee, advocating for policies that help small businesses adopt emerging technologies, including AI.
- Privacy and Security: Support legislation safeguarding the privacy and data security of small businesses, ensuring they remain protected in the digital age.
- AI Legislation Leadership: Continue to identify key areas for AI-focused legislation and work with legislators to carry these priorities forward.