On August 31, the state Senate and Assembly passed bills out of the regular session, bringing a close to the 2023-24 legislative session. Hundreds of bills now go to the Governor’s desk where by September 30, he will decide which become law. CAA tracked over sixty bills this session ranging from regulating Artificial Intelligence, to commissions on Guaranteed Basic Income (AB 2263, Friedman)  and screenings and testing related to Social Determinants of Health (AB 2250, Weber) to protections for Freelance Workers (SB 988, Wiener) to 14 bills on Reparations, and housing bills including AB 3068 (Haney) uniting YIMBYs and Historical Preservationists in an unprecedented partnership to cosponsor office-to-housing conversions. We also supported two nonprofit bills sponsored by CalNonprofits that are critical to easing the unfair burdens nonprofits face when contracting with the state. SB 1246 (Limón) incentivizes the state to make timely payments, and SB 336 (Umberg) ensures better coverage of indirect costs. 

CA Arts Advocates collaborated with NIVA CA in support of SB 785, authored by Senator Caballero, a consumer protection bill that banned fraudulent ticketing practices, an issue many nonprofit performing arts organizations, the artists presented and their patrons have lifted up as a prevalent problem that needs to be addressed in legislation. Unfortunately, the bill was amended in such a way that would undermine the purpose and it was moved to the inactive file, killing the bill. 

While we wait to see which bills become law this session, we are actively preparing our priorities for 2025, meeting with a variety of coalitions and legislative offices, in response to the needs outlined from our 2024 field engagement survey while focused on our ongoing strategic policy priorities. As always, we welcome your feedback on what matters most to you and the issues that you are facing that are making it more difficult for you to thrive as an arts worker in California.