GOVERNMENT RELATIONS


duced, passed, and chaptered into law this legislative session. Estimated to collect over $200 million dollars a year, this new documentary transfer fee (SB 2) will apply to certain real estate transactions (home and commercial real estate sales transactions are excluded) to fund affordable housing projects. Additionally, voters in 2018 will have an option to approve a $4 billion housing bond (SB 3) to further incentive housing construction. Over a dozen other bills were passed and signed by the Governor that deal with zoning laws, specific plans and other housing elements.


AGC will be front and center navigating its membership through the legislative arena and representing the industry in its policy efforts with the great state of California.


Employers Caught in Crossfire However, the Legislature also


introduced over 35 bills intended to block efforts by congress or anticipated actions of the Trump administration. Te overwhelming theme of these proposals was around the issue of immigration and the blocking of federal prosecutions – the marquee legislation aimed at making California a “sanctuary state.” Over two dozen resolutions (which do not have the force of law) were introduced to make statements about the President. Tese resolutions ranged from compelling presidential candidates to release their income tax returns to attempts to censure President Trump. Most of these measures flamed out immediately after initially making headlines. Some, unfortunately, moved through the process and caught the business and employer community in the crossfire.


www.AGC-CA.org For example, SB 30 was introduced


as a measure intended to dissuade general contractors from participating in the construction of “the wall” as promised by President Trump. Te measure, however, would have rolled back decades of competitive bidding practices and legal precedent. It proposed that general contractors that bid or participate in the construction of the border wall would be banned from bidding or participating in any state public works project. Current state law prevents


the pension boards of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (CALPERS) and the State Teachers’ Retirement System (CALSTRS) from investing in publicly traded companies that have active business in Sudan or Iran. Assembly Bill 946 proposed to amend this law to include publicly traded general contractor companies that participate in the construction of the southern border wall to this list of excluded terrorist harboring nations!


Two-Year Measures Suffice it to say, AGC was part


of a coalition that was successful in stopping these two bills in committee. However, the legislative 2017-18 session continues through the end of 2018, and these bills along with 1064 others remain active two-year bills. Te legislature has until the end of January 2018 to reactivate any of these two-year measures and move them through the legislative process. 2018 promises to be an even more


“exciting” year than 2017. In addition to our continued policy advocacy, we will likely have to defend our hard- fought SB 1 revenues at the ballot box. Depending on the political rhetoric from both the federal and state branches of government, our legislative efforts are guaranteed to be tested. As always, AGC will be front


and center navigating its membership through the legislative arena and representing the industry with its policy efforts in the great state of California. 


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Trench Shoring Company was founded in 1973 on our commitment to provide the construction industry with the finest in shoring equipment, including Trench Tops™ (trench plates), Trench Shields™


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