The California state legislative session came to a close at the end of September, once Governor Newsom cleared the 990 bills sent to his desk by the California Legislature. It was a contentious year for legislation, with all proposed bills being scrutinized for their fiscal impact to avoid adding to the state’s budget deficit.
During the 2024 legislative session, CAMEO Network sponsored three bills and tracked 20 others related to small business, debt, labor, and other topics. Thirteen of these bills were signed into law, including two of our sponsored bills! Continue reading below for a roundup of our sponsored and tracked legislation.
CAMEO-sponsored Bills
SB 1103 – Signed into Law
SB 1103, the Commercial Tenant Protection Act, was authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar and goes into effect on January 1, 2025. This first-in-the-nation legislation creates equity and transparency with respect to commercial leasing and reduces the risk of community-serving small businesses and nonprofits being displaced. The bill aims to protect small commercial tenants by expanding translation requirements, increasing notice periods for contract termination and rent hikes, and creating standards with respect to building operating costs. CAMEO Network co-sponsored this bill with Bet Tzedek, Inclusive Action for the City, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco, Public Counsel, and Small Business Majority.
SB 1286 – Signed into Law
SB 1286, author by Senator Dave Min, expands the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to protect small business owners from harassment and predatory behavior in debt collection. This legislation, which goes into effect on July 1, 2025, was co-sponsored by the East Bay Community Law Center, Consumer Federation of California, and Small Business Majority.
SB 1482
SB 1482, authored by Senator Steve Glazer, aimed to plugs several holes in California’s legal framework that are allowing some brokers and financing companies to take advantage of small businesses. The bill would have established a framework of transparency for brokers, put non-loan financing companies under the purview of DFPI, and closed loopholes in price disclosure regulations. Unfortunately, the legislation died on the Assembly Floor.
Tracked Bills – Major Legislation
- AB 1198 (Grayson) – This bill would create an Equity in Energy Task Force to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing equity in the energy industry and increasing the participation rate of women, minorities, disabled individuals, and veteran-owned businesses, as well as individuals from disadvantaged communities. Status: died in Senate Appropriations.
- AB 2030 (Davies) – This bill would authorize a state agency to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value of greater than $5,000 but less than $250,000 to a certified small business. Status: died in Assembly Appropriations.
- AB 2262 (Reyes) – This bill encouraged cities and counties to adopt Small Business Utilization Plans to leverage local contracting activities to support small businesses and local economic growth. Status: died in Senate Appropriations.
- AB 2543 (Arambula) – This bill allows the owner or operator of a small business to apply for Certified Small Business status with the state of California, regardless of their immigration status. Status: signed into law.
- AB 2943 (Zbur/Rivas) – This bill would clarify that certain acts related to shoplifting and retail theft include acts committed against multiple victims or in counties other than the county of the current offense. Status: signed into law.
- SB 988 (Wiener) – This bill, the Freelance Worker Protection Act, provides basic protections for freelance workers, including the right to a contract, the right to be paid within 30 days of the conclusion of the work, and the right to damages for non-payment, set at double the amount of wages withheld. Status: signed into law.
- SB 1246 (Limon) – This bill would require a state agency that awards a grant or that acquires property or services pursuant to a contract to make timely payments pursuant to the grant or contract. Status: vetoed by Governor.
Other Tracked Bills
Debt
- AB 1160 (Pacheco): died in Senate Appropriations.
- AB 2837 (Bauer-Kahan): signed into law.
- SB 1061 (Limon): signed into law.
Environment
- AB 1894 (Ta): died in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Finance
- AB 2017 (Grayson): signed into law.
- SB 1201 (Durazo): died in Assembly Banking & Finance Committee.
- SB 1521 (Senate Banking & Finance Committee): signed into law.
Government Grants & Contracts
- AB 2322 (Hart/Bennett): died in Senate Appropriations.
- AB 2557 (Ortega): died in Senate Appropriations.
- SB 336 (Umberg): vetoed by the Governor.
Labor
- AB 518 (Wicks): signed into law.
- AB 2123 (Papan): signed into law.
- AB 2499 (Schiavo): signed into law.
- SB 1090 (Durazo): signed into law.