This morning, a large coalition of like-minded stakeholders, met to discuss the status of the State Water Board’s plan to revise the Waters of the State Rulemaking.  We are currently waiting on a revised draft.  The Water Board originally wanted to release the draft in early February to prepare for board action on March 6th.  Although the original timeline for this revision has passed, that does not mean that the plans are not moving forward, and we need to be prepared. The State Water Board’s ...

California Air Resources Board is hosting a public workshop on Friday, March 2, 2018, to discuss Senate Bill 350 (SB 350) and establish greenhouse gas emissions reductions planning targets as part of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process.  We are seeking your input and encouraging companies that can, to participate directly. This workshop will commence CARB’s public process to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions planning targets as part of the IRP process pursuant to SB 350. ...

We are happy to report that the House Judiciary Subcommittee approved H.R. 620, The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, by a vote of 15 to 9, last year and the bill is supposed to be up for a floor vote as soon as next week.  Please call your representative and ask them to support the measure.  Introduced by Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX), Scott Peters (D-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Michael Conaway (R-TX), and Ami Bera (D-CA), the bipartisan legislation addresses an unintended ...

Here is almost a real-time update on the federal budget from our friend John Bryant, Vice President, Advocacy, Codes and Standards, at BOMA International.  Over the year, BOMA as well as ICSC, NAIOP, RILA, and IREM, have been working together in D.C. to make sure that commercial real estate interests are strongly advocate for as part of any budget deal. Earlier this morning, President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (H.R. 1892), setting budget parameters for the federal government ...

A new PPIC Poll shows that likely voters are divided about the idea of removing property tax protections on commercial property provided by Proposition 13.  According to a release by the poll authors, “a proposed measure would tax commercial properties according to their fair market value but not lift Proposition 13 limits on residential property taxes—creating a ‘split roll’ tax system. While 46 percent favor the idea, 43 percent are opposed and 11 percent don’t know. Support for this ...

The BOMA California Board of Directors held its first board meeting of 2018, hosted by BOMA GLA, and welcomed back returning leadership and welcomed some new board members. BOMA California is a federation of all eight metropolitan BOMA local associations and serves as the collective membership through its mission of “preserving and promoting the interest of California commercial real estate professionals through legislative and regulatory advocacy.” BOMA California is headquartered in Sacramento ...

At the board meeting, BOMA Cal leaders reviewed success in 2017 – including defeat of measure that would have dictated who building owners and managers can hire – and discussed policy issues related to energy, taxes, climate change, and repelling changes to Proposition 13. The board received a briefing on the political climate in Sacramento and learned about proposals contained in Governor Brown’s final budget proposal. The Board also set the direction for the policy staff in Sacramento as ...

Advocates in L.A. are pushing a plan to convert parking lots owned by the city into housing for the homeless.  The idea has been around for a long time, but only recently is gaining traction as state and local policies have driven the price of housing beyond the reach of many low-income people. Some advocates think shrinking the supply of parking will have an added “benefit” of getting more people out of their cars.  However, many believe that restricting parking and concentrating even more ...

The Building Standards Commission started 2018 with the issuance of the 2016 intervening code Supplements (blue pages). The Supplements become effective July 1, 2018 and PDF versions can be viewed on their website.  Click here for more info Information Bulletin 17-06 A commission meeting was held on December 12, 2017 to finalize certification of the Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) building standards and to approve two Change Without Regulatory Effect packages regarding reprinting the Swimming Pool ...

Our good friend Loren Kay from the CalChamber shares good news about a recent court victory on a bill that we co-sponsored requiring agencies conduct rigorous economic impact analysis before considering regulations for adoption (SB 617 from 2011). “State agencies must take seriously the requirement to conduct a timely, accurate economic analysis of major regulations, according to a just-released opinion by the 5th District Court of Appeal.” “In a unanimous opinion upholding the trial court, ...