Latest Policy Wins
In 2024, CAMEO Network sponsored three bills in the California State Legislature. Two of those bills passed and were signed into law:
- SB 1103: The Commercial Tenant Protection Act was authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar. 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. 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: Authored by Senator Dave Min, this bill expands the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to protect small business owners from harassment and predatory behavior in debt collection. This legislation was co-sponsored by the East Bay Community Law Center, Consumer Federation of California, and Small Business Majority.
Additionally, Governor Newsom’s May budget revise for the 2024-25 state budget proposed $13 million in cuts to the Small Business Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAP) for the next two fiscal years. CAMEO Network, our members, and partners mobilized to show the data of job creation and increased economic activity and tax revenues generated by this program. The California Legislature listened and rejected the cuts in the final budget.
CAMEO Network’s Thought Leadership
CAMEO Network works with many organizations to develop policy ideas that are in line with the changing economy and address the diverse needs of entrepreneurs in California. We have developed toolkits and whitepapers on issues ranging from post-COVID economic recovery to local entrepreneurial ecosystem building.
CAMEO Network CEO, Carolina Martinez, is regularly sought out by local, state, and national publications to speak on issues related to CDFIs, the small business economy, and funding for the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Policies and Goals Critical to Micro-business
- Responsible business lending and access to capital
- Supporting micro-business owners in the gig economy
- Micro-business procurement
- Additional funding for state and federal small business lending and economic development programs
- Increased private capital for microfinancing of very small businesses
- Funding for training and business technical assistance
- Research, data collection and dissemination of information to promote microfinance and business training to government officials
- Other issues that benefit small and micro-businesses and CAMEO members
California Government Resources
- Senator Laphonza Butler
- Senator Alex Padilla
- House of Representatives
- California State Senate
- California State Assembly
Tools
