CAMEO Network has been a champion for under-resourced small business owners and the organizations that support them. One of the ways we build power is by advocating for small business policies in Sacramento, working with lawmakers and nonprofit partners to shape legislation and leveraging our media presence to raise awareness about the issues that matter most to our communities.
This year, state advocacy takes on new importance in light of policy changes and challenges at the federal level. Below is an overview of the 18 bills that CAMEO Network is sponsoring and supporting that aim to bolster small business success across California.
Financial Protection
CAMEO Network is an advocate for responsible small business lending, achieving five legislative victories since 2018 to curb predatory financing practices. This year, we are co-sponsoring two bills with our partners the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and Small Business Majority. SB 362 (Grayson) tightens up the state’s legal framework that allows some brokers and financing companies to take advantage of small businesses. SB 728 (Padilla) establishes a registration framework for non-loan small business financing products and the brokers of those products. Both bills will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, April 22. Please sign our letters of support if you still haven’t! (SB 362 | SB 728)
Our organization also supports SB 825 (Limon/Grayson), which clarifies that the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation retains the authority to enforce protections against
deceptive or abusive practices. This bill is especially important now given the uncertainty surrounding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s ability to enforce protections at the federal level.
Other financial protection legislation that CAMEO Network supports:
- AB 1248 (Haney): Puts an end to unfair and deceptive fees in rental housing (Sign letter of support).
- AB 325 (Aguiar-Curry): Closes loopholes that allow companies to use algorithms to fix prices (Sign letter of support).
- AB 380 (Gonzalez/Gipson): Makes all anti-price gouging protections applicable for the duration of an emergency declaration and extends rental price gouging protections to commercial leases.
Small Business Funding
Following the devastation caused by the wildfires in the LA Basin region in January, legislation has been put forward to infuse capital into impacted communities to aid in their recovery. CAMEO Network supports the following two bills:
- AB 265 (Caloza): The Small Business Recovery Fund Act establishes a $100 million state-funded program administered by the Office of Small Business Advocate to provide financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by declared states of emergency
- AB 685 (Solache): Allocates $50 million from the state General Fund for the purposes of small business recovery in Los Angeles and Ventura counties
Community Development
In light of federal agencies’ proposed rescindment of the 2023 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) final rule, many partners in the economic development space have joined forces to bring forward a California CRA bill, AB 801 (Bonta), which CAMEO Network is proud to support. This legislation would fill the gaps by extending an obligation to provide equal access and reinvest in communities on state chartered banks, state chartered credit unions, state licensed independent mortgage companies, and certain fintech firms that offer bank-like services and products (Sign letter of support).
Other community development bills that CAMEO Network supports:
- AB 592 (Gabriel/Wicks): Supports California community restaurants by maximizing their ability to offer outdoor dining.
- AB 613 (Gonzalez): The Community Owned Real Estate Act helps mission-driven organizations acquire and own commercial property to lease to small businesses and nonprofits at affordable rents.
- SB 534 (Padilla): Establishes a Green Empowerment Zone to strategically leverage incentives for economic, workforce, and community development in the Salton Sea Region.
Nonprofits
CAMEO Network is proud to support several California Nonprofit Equity Initiative bills, sponsored by CalNonprofits:
- AB 880 (Bennet): Indirect cost coverage and prompt payments (Sign letter of support).
- AB 1039 (Hart): Advance pay implementation (Sign letter of support).
- SB 488 (Limon): Changes nonprofit registration renewal requirements.
Other Bills Supported by CAMEO Network
- SB 222 (Wiener): Allows individuals with $10,000+ in damages from a climate disaster to sue responsible parties for compensation.
- SB 590 (Durazo): Allows qualifying workers to receive Paid Family Leave benefits to care for a designated person who is a member of their chosen or extended family.
- SB 635 (Durazo): Limits the sensitive data that can be collected about street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs (Sign letter of support).
If you are working on a bill that you would like CAMEO Network to consider, please email Daniela Fernandez-Ulen. And if you see a bill that you’d like to support that doesn’t include a link to a sign-on form, also let us know and we can provide you with a sample letter or connect you with the bill sponsor or author.