Over 40 industry leaders gathered remotely for CBPA’s Industrywide Legislative Meeting last Friday, where priority bills of interest to commercial real estate were reviewed. This meeting was the final step in the initial legislation review process where we bring together members to review bills and set the direction for your advocates in Sacramento.

With over 440 bills of interest, this process is no small feat. Thanks are due to all of the members in attendance for providing their expertise, insight, and feedback as part of this critical process. If you have any questions, feedback, or would like more information, please contact CBPA’s Senior Director of Government Relations Skyler Wonnacott at swonnacott@cbpa.com.

Balancing accountability and treatment:

The path forward in California’s retail theft and drug crisis

CBPA President & CEO Matthew Hargrove co-authored an article in the Orange County Register along with Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer on the proposed Homelessness, Drug Addiction & Theft Reduction Act ballot measure. This measure is a critical part of our industry's priority to address organized retail crime.

The CBPA supported Assembly Bill 1990 (Carillo – D; Los Angeles) would allow police officers to make warrantless arrests for misdemeanor shoplifting offenses (items that total $950 or less) if officers have probable cause. Officers would not need to be present when the crime occurred.

AB 1990 is one of numerous bills introduced this year aimed at addressing retail theft. CBPA is in support of this measure, in addition to our efforts to advocate for the proposed Homelessness, Drug Addiction & Theft Reduction Act ballot measure, which would reform Proposition 47. The proposed ballot measure is currently gathering signatures to be placed on the November ballot. AB 1990 has been referred to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. 

CBPA President & CEO Matthew Hargrove had the opportunity to speak on a panel focused on protecting taxpayers from higher taxes at the California Taxpayers Association (CalTax) Annual Meeting last Thursday. Hargrove was joined by California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley, CalTax VP of Policy Peter Blocker (pictured here) and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal.

Special thanks are due to CalTax for hosting this critical conversation and for their many years of partnership with the commercial real estate industry.

This week, California's Occupational Health and Safety Administration's standards board (Cal/OSHA) was slated to vote on rules that would have given indoor workers the right to water, breaks, and cool-down areas when workplace temperatures exceeded 82 degrees. If passed, this would have made California the third state in the U.S. to create rules protecting indoor workers from heat. The night prior to the vote, the Department of Finance instructed Cal/OSHA to pull the vote from the agenda, thus stalling implementation of the proposed rules.

CBPA has worked closely with CalChamber and other stakeholders on this issue for several years given its impact on the commercial real estate industry. Especially of interest to our industry is how these rules will impact warehouse and logistic centers.

For more information on the proposed rules, check out this recent CapRadio story on the matter. For resources on preventing heat illness visit the CalChamber website.

Join us in Costa Mesa at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on November 7th for the Commercial Real Estate Industry's Awards Dinner. The evening will include an interactive tour of our exciting new event location!

Know someone deserving of an award? The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30, 2024. Nominate a deserving individual or company today and save the date for the event!

Looking for more information on new laws and proposed legislation that impacts our industry? CBPA has created fact sheets to help you learn about critical issues impacting commercial real estate, including:

• AB 1218: Demolition of Residential Dwelling Units
• AB 1572: Potable Water Use on Nonfunctional Turf 
• SB 253: Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act
• And more!