Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 (Ward; D- San Diego and Rivas; D-Salinas) is a last-minute attack on Proposition 13.

The bill seeks to limit the initiative process by shifting the power to raise the voter threshold for new and higher taxes away from voters and to the Legislature.

Yesterday, ACA 13 passed the Assembly on a vote of 57-19 with only one Democrat voting no. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Your help is needed. Contact your state senator today in order to help stop ACA 13 and protect Prop 13.

Financial support is needed. If your company wants to get directly involved on this critical cause please contact Matthew Hargrove at mhargrove@cbpa.com.

Assembly Bill 1218 (Lowenthal; D-Long Beach) would have expanded a current law written specifically to apply to residential projects, without thinking through how non-residential projects are different. In turn, the bill would stop many important industrial projects, and have a negative impact on goods movement, jobs, and economic development.

After weeks of working with the bill author and sponsors, CBPA and its partners were able to have the bill amended. The bill will now exempt industrial projects in areas zoned for non-residential, clarify how replacement housing is built, and adjust effective dates.

CBPA sponsored last Thursday's California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) listening forum at San Jose City Hall. Pictured here is CBPA Board Member and CCDA Commissioner Sarahann Shapiro (right) with CCDA Executive Director April Dawson. CCDA was formed as a result of legislation passed in 2008 spearheaded by CBPA and other stakeholders. The mission of the CCDA is to promote disability access through dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders including the disability and business communities as well as all levels of government. CBPA is proud to support CCDA and engage in its important mission.

Last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced she will step down from her role as leader of the state senate with Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) slated to take over the role next year.

“Although we don’t always agree, CBPA has appreciated the leadership of Senator Atkins during her time as Senate pro Tem and thank her for her service and willingness to hear us out on our issues,” said Matthew Hargrove, President & CEO of CBPA.

“We congratulate Senator McGuire on being chosen by his peers to lead the Senate and look forward to continuing our good working relationship within him as he steps into the pro Tem role. Congratulations!”