From your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento
Welcome to the April 29-May 3 edition of the NFIB California Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento.
Big Legislative Deadline Passes, Another Ahead
- The Legislature has now shifted into high gear. Last Friday (April 26) was the last day for policy committees in both the Senate and Assembly to hear and report to fiscal committees fiscal bills introduced in their house of origin, and May 3 will be the last day for policy committees to hear and report to the floor nonfiscal bills introduced in their house.
- Click here for NFIB’s latest bill list on the 19 good-for-small-business pieces of legislation and the 33 bad-for-small-business proposals.
Member Response Requested
- This is the time of the legislative session when NFIB members can have their biggest impact. Thanks to those of you who made your voices heard on last week’s Action Alert on single-payer health care.
- Today (April 29) NFIB is sending you another Action Alert on unemployment insurance taxes. Please use it to let lawmakers know your opinion on how they’re managing the
- Next Monday (May 6), NFIB will send members a special ballot seeking their opinion on two November initiatives on rent control and the minimum wage. Please vote. It really does make a difference. The Power of the Small Business Voice.
Democracy Dies in Deals
- In a more noble time, Assembly Bill 2654 should have sailed out of the Assembly Elections Committee, April 25, on a unanimous vote in favor of passage.
- But the power of entrenched interests don’t take kindly to transparency, so the measure calling for an end to non-disclosure agreements in the making of laws was rudely shown the door.
- NFIB California State Director John Kabateck comments on the whole sordid affair on the NFIB California web page here.
NFIB California in the News
- Last Wednesday (April 24), The Epoch Times published its interview with State Director John Kabateck about Assembly Bill 2751 that would allow employees to “disconnect” from taking calls from their employers after hours.
- Said Kabateck, “One should wonder where and how this bill originated. It’s either from an author who is completely out of touch with the reality of small business owners and workers in their own backyard, scheming attorneys seeking to make a quick shakedown, or a little bit of both.”
Calendar
- May revise of the governor’s 2024-2025 proposed state budget. Date TBD
- May 24 deadline for bills to pass their house of origin (Assembly, Senate)
- June 15, midnight, constitutional deadline to pass 2024-2025 state budget
- June 27 deadline for ballot measure to qualify for November. Last day for proponents of a qualified ballot initiative to withdraw it.
- August 31 deadline for bills to have passed Legislature and sent to governor
- September 30 deadline for governor to sign bills into law
- November 5, General Election Day
National
Highlights from NFIB Legislative Program Manager Caitlin Lanzara’s weekly report
- New Overtime Rule – DOL Raises Salary Exemption from $35,568 to $58,656
On Tuesday, April 23, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to significantly increase the salary needed to be exempt from overtime.- On July 1, 2024, the level increases to $844 per week ($43,888 per year).
- On January 1, 2025, the level increases to $1,128 per week ($58,656 per year).
- This 65% increase means that salaried employees making under $58,656 on January 1, 2025, will be eligible for overtime pay.
- Also, under the rule, this salary level will be subject to automatic increases every three years.
- NFIB plans to join a legal challenge to the new rule, which we opposed. NFIB’s comment letter is hereand our statement on the final rule is here.
- Wednesday’s monthly webinar (May 1) will review the new rule, discuss expected legal challenges, and provide recommendations for small business owners. Register here.
- New FTC Rule Bans Non-Compete Agreements
On Tuesday, April 23, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 along partisan lines in a special public meeting to adopt the “Non-Compete Clause Rule,” which will prohibit most employee non-competes with retroactive effect, thereby immediately invalidating an estimated 30 millionemployer contracts. Employers must provide immediate notice to employees that existing non-compete agreements are no longer in effect. NFIB will be working with other business groups to challenge the rule. NFIB opposed this rule (NFIB’s comment letter is here) and issued a statement here.
Next Main Street Minute May 6.
