September 16, 2011
After a decade of work trying to resolve the issue of online sales tax collection, both the Assembly and the Senate passed a deal worked out between traditional brick-and-mortar companies and Amazon. The coalition pushing this effort represented hundreds of companies and all the major national and state commercial real estate associations. In the last … More »
In a huge win for the commercial, industrial, and retail real estate industry, AB 350 (Solorio; D-Santa Ana) failed to get enough votes to pass the Senate Floor, the last night of the legislative session. Despite coming up for seven separate votes, supporters failed to get 21 votes in the Senate to secure passage. AB 350 sought to require employers … More »
The 2011 Legislative session has adjourned for the year, and a huge pile of bills sit on the Governor’s desk waiting to be signed or vetoed. In the final two weeks of session, the Legislature feverishly worked through hundreds of bills. Many significant pieces of legislation, including bills to drastically change health insurance, regulate energy, … More »
Saying that, “job number one is protecting the integrity of our balanced budget, because it directly impacts California’s financial stability,” Governor Brown announced that he signed two bipartisan bills relating to health care that will bring in additional federal revenue. In the same release, the Governor announced that he vetoed an attempt … More »
September 9, 2011
As we’ve previously reported, the California State Supreme Court agreed in August to consider the petition by the League of California Cities and California Redevelopment Association seeking to overturn state budget bills AB1x 26&27. These budget bills call for the elimination of local redevelopment agencies unless the agencies agree to make a … More »
After 48 hours and endless negotiations, an apparent agreement has been reached that will allow California to finally have the sales tax collected by Amazon. The measure would have the collection begin in September of 2012 and Amazon will not pursue the referendum and expensive campaign that would have followed. Amazon has also pledged to join in the … More »
As of this writing, AB 350 is still stalled in the Senate. Three Senate Democrats voted NO: Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), and Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles). Four Senate Democrats abstained: Carol Liu (D-Pasadena), Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), Michael Rubio (D-Bakersfield), and Lois Wolk (D-Davis). Senate Republicans stayed … More »
September 2, 2011
Another bill we have been working on very hard also moved this week, passing the Assembly Floor on a 46-28 party-line vote over strenuous objections of the business community and local governments. SB 469 (Juan Vargas; D-San Diego) would require additional economic and community impact analyses for retail developments that are 90,000 feet or larger … More »
A last minute ploy by Amazon.com exempting it from collecting sales taxes for more than two years was met by firm opposition today from a host of California based businesses that support a level playing field for all retailers in California. In exchange for a special two year “sales tax holiday,” Amazon.com offered to open six new distribution … More »
The final week of the 2011 Legislative year is upon us. The legislature is feverishly working its way through hundreds of bills that will impact our state and your business. There are still many significant pieces of legislation that will impact our industry that we are following closely, including bills to drastically change health insurance, regulate … More »