Welcome to the March 23-27 edition of the Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento.

The Legislature

No significant movement on NFIB’s priority legislation happened last week, a week dominated by worry over what to rename all the things named after Cesar Chavez.

The Legislature will take a Spring Break March 26 to April 6. Upon their return, legislative activity will increase at warp speed.

NFIB Hits the Airwaves

The Voice of Small Business was heard widely in Southern California last week when Dylan Rosnick, an NFIB principal of Federal Government Relations, discussed the Small Business Deduction and other issues on the Mottek on Money Show on KABC Radio, March 17. The next day, State Director John Kabateck talked about interest rates and the Federal Reserve on KNX Radio.

Join Us for Small Business Leadership Day at the Capitol

We’d love to see you there. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP for this May 4-5 event at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Monday, May 4 – Welcome networking reception and dinner

Tuesday, May 5 – Meetings with legislators, main program, and wrap-up happy hour

Policymakers need to understand the impact laws, regulations, and mandates have on your business, and they need to hear directly from you!

Contact Grassroots Manager Matthew Woolley, matthew.woolley@nfib.org, or State Director John Kabateck, john.kabateck@nfib.org, for any questions.

From Nielsen Merksamer

— March 19, CalRecycle resubmitted its SB 54 regulations [Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Permanent Regulations] to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and asked that the regulations take immediate effect upon filing with the California Secretary of State. OAL has until May 1 to accept or reject the rulemaking.

— March 15, Cal. Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez spoke with KCRA, primarily discussing the cap-and-invest proposal. She carefully indicated that the Board intentionally “built in time” to the rulemaking to make sure adjustments could be made before the Board hears the item (likely on May 28).

This week

— Health Care Affordability Board Meeting – March 25, 10:00 am (Sacramento & virtual). The agenda includes discussion on hospital sector target adjustments methodology, non-supervisory organized labor adjustment and assessment, spending target enforcement, spending target data enforcement (will introduce proposed regulatory text), and public comments received on the total health care expenditures data submission informal regulatory text.

— Cal. Air Resources Board Meeting – March 26, 9:00 am (Sacramento & virtual). The agenda includes discussion on criteria pollutant planning efforts. On the Board’s consent calendar is consideration updates to the San Joaquin State Implementation Plan and adopting permanent regulations for the Board’s current emergency vehicle emissions regulations.

— SB 54 Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund Webinar – March 26, 12:00 pm (virtual only), The California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the California Strategic Growth Council will host the webinar help stakeholders “learn about the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund (PPMF).” Registration is required.

Calendar

— March 26-April 6: Legislature on Spring Break

— May 4 & 5: Small Business Leadership Day at the Capitol

— May 29: Last day for bills to pass their house of origin

— June 2: Primary Election for eight state constitutional offices, four Board of Equalization seats, all 52 congressional seats, all 80 assembly seats, and 20 (even-numbered districts) state senate seats. Governor’s proclamation here.

— June 15: Deadline (by midnight) to pass new state budget

— July 2-August 3: Legislature on Summer Recess

— August 31: Legislature adjourns its 2026 session

— September 30: Last day for governor to sign or veto bills sent to him.

National

Highlights from Federal Government Relations Principal Louis Bertolotti’s weekly report

— NFIB submitted testimony for the record to the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. Josh McLeod, NFIB Director of Federal Government Relations, said “President Trump is right and small businesses overwhelmingly support his March 2025 exemption of U.S. businesses from the CTA. This exemption reduced compliance and regulatory costs by over $128 billion, allowing small businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their businesses and communities.”

— NFIB released a letter of support for S.3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025. Principal of Federal Government Relations Louis Bertolotti said, “We look forward to working with you to advance this bill and help ensure continued American energy dominance.”

— Sen. Deb Fischer (NE) quoted Dylan Rosnick in a press release on the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act: “Regulatory costs exploded under the previous administration, totaling… $1.8 trillion.”

— This week, the DC office welcomed representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the United Kingdom’s equivalent to NFIB. FSB was founded in 1974,  and today represents 150,000 members across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Membership starts at $259 USD, which includes access to their 24/7 legal helpline, and other member benefits. They were grateful to hear the stories of our great members, and we look forward to visiting them in London one day.

In other NFIB news

— The 83rd episode of the “Small Business Rundown” podcast was released. NFIB member and small business owner Warren Hudak discusses how rising health care costs affect his small business and competition with big businesses. Crucial legislation in Congress would help small business owners contain rising health insurance costs. U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) explains how this legislation would benefit small businesses. Listen here!

Next Main Street Minute: March 30. All Main Streets Minutes can be found on the NFIB website here. Pull down the California tab in the upper-right-hand corner.