In this Must Know…
- AB 2116 passed the Senate and moves to the Governor’s desk
- Sign our letter urging Congress to support SBA loan access for Green Card holders.
- CAMEO Network Statement on SBA’s Proposed Rule for Small Business Contracting
- This week’s Goodie Highlight is Public Counsel’s webinar, “Information and Considerations for SBA COVID-19 EIDL Borrowers” on September 17, 2026 at 5:30pm PT.
California Small Biz Borrower Protection Law Headed to Governor’s Desk
| Great news! The California Legislature unanimously passed AB 2116, authored by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and sponsored by CAMEO Network, the California Low-Income Consumer Coalition, the Responsible Business Lending Coalition, and Small Business Majority. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk. If signed, the law will require companies and brokers selling merchant cash advances (MCAs) to be licensed under the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). |
Licensure under DFPI will provide California’s government with authority to conduct oversight over these companies and revoke their license if predatory behavior is found. The oversight also will allow the DFPI to enforce the six other small business financial protection laws that our coalitions have worked with the legislature to pass.
Are you a CAMEO member with good California legislative news to share? Let us know!
Reminder: Support SBA Loan Access for Green Card Holders
For decades, lawful permanent residents have relied on SBA financing to start and grow businesses. CAMEO Network is leading a coalition sign-on letter urging Congress to pass S.J.Res. 202/H.J.Res. 207 (introduced by Sen. Markey and Rep. Velazquez). The resolution would reverse the SBA rule change restricting access to SBA-backed loans for businesses with green card holder ownership. Join us by signing our letter by Monday, August 31.
Statement on SBA Proposed Rule for Small Business Contracting
The SBA has proposed changes to small business size standards that could reshape federal contracting. The rule would expand eligibility thresholds and remove subcontracting requirements, potentially allowing larger firms to compete for opportunities intended for small businesses. We urge the SBA to reconsider these changes and preserve opportunities for small businesses. Read our statement on the CAMEO Blog and join WIPP’s briefing on this topic (email Baylee Anderson for the Zoom link).
2026 Conference: Collective Power in Action
Speaker announcement!
What would it look like if lending and entrepreneur support were designed around trust, readiness, and the realities of running a small business today?
Join Ashley Moreland-Mizzi, Vice President, Product Innovation & Capital Strategy at ESO Ventures, Inc. for an engaging discussion on how traditional lending and entrepreneur support models can evolve to better serve today’s small businesses, especially those in underinvested communities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation! Join us on November 16-18, 2026 in San Jose, CA.
CAMEO members receive a discount on registration. To receive the member discount code, email Sandra Flores.
The Goodies
Industry News
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Chris Miller as the new Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.
- Dara Duguay, CEO of Credit Builders Alliance, wrote an op-ed for American Banker on the importance of the CDFI Fund for the nation’s most vulnerable communities.
Free Webinars
- Join NALCAB’s Policy team on August 31, 2026 at 7:00am PT / 10:00am ET for a conversation about the proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and what’s at stake for community lending.
- Public Counsel is hosting “Information and Considerations for SBA COVID-19 EIDL Borrowers” on September 17, 2026 at 5:30pm PT.
Events and Conferences
- Join The Greenlining Institute’s Just Future Summit 2026 on October 8-9, 2026 in San Francisco, CA.
- Registrations are open for OFN42, the 2026 Opportunity Finance Network Conference on October 20-23, 2026 in New Orleans, LA.
Other Goodies
- New Resource: The California Department of Justice’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers launched its new Online Filing Service.
- Jobs: The NorCal SBDC, the Alliance for Community Development, and Public Counsel announced new jobs recently. See who else is hiring!