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Biocom’s CEO Advocates for Members in DC; SBIR/STTR Reauthorization; State Legislative Term Ends in Multiple Victories; San Francisco Supervisor Recalled; and more.
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Biocom California President & CEO Advocates for Members in Nation’s Capital
Last week, Biocom California President & CEO Tim Scott was in Washington DC to meet with Members of Congress and high-level officials within HHS, FDA, and the Department of Commerce to advocate for our membership’s priorities and offer recommendations to address recent challenges and concerns, including tariffs, loss of experts within federal agencies, appropriations for NIH, FDA, and CDC and the state of funding negotiations, among others. We also hosted a well-attended “Biotech Bootcamp” to educate the California Delegation about our industry, including the science of biotech, the challenges of starting a biotech company, and the regulatory landscape. Staffers also rolled up their sleeves and extracted DNA from strawberries. Rep. Scott Peters offered in-depth opening remarks. Click here for a recap of the week.
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Advocating for Our Members
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Federal ► Biocom California Urges Timely SBIR/STTR Reauthorization
- On Monday, the House voted by voice vote to pass H.R. 5100 under suspension. The bipartisan bill provides a one-year clean extension of the SBIR/STTR programs. The House Small Business Committee had reported the bill out of the committee 27-0 last week. The Senate still needs to take up the bill before the end of the month to ensure funding for the programs doesn’t lapse.
- Biocom California met last week with majority and minority staff in the House and Senate small business committees to urge them to reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs urgently. We also asked them to make improvements to the due diligence provision in a longer-term bill, including requiring transparency, communication, and a mediation process from agencies. View the letter detailing our position here.
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State ► Legislature Adjourns After Passing PBM Reform and Pausing AI Legislation
- The California Legislature adjourned its 2025 session after a packed final week. Biocom California supported the passage of SB 41, a long-standing priority to increase transparency and oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The bill would strengthen regulatory authority, set clearer guardrails for PBM business practices, and improve patient access to affordable medications. SB 41 passed both houses and is now awaiting the Governor’s decision.
- Biocom California also helped stop AB 1018 and SB 503, two proposals to regulate artificial intelligence in healthcare that need further amendments so as not to stifle innovation. Both bills were held and are expected to return in 2026. AB 1460, a bill affecting the federal 340B drug discount program, was also pulled and is now a two-year bill. Biocom opposed the measure due to concerns about transparency and patient access, and we will remain engaged as the conversation continues next year.
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San Diego ► San Diego City Council Resumes Meetings with Housing, Water and Transit in Focus
- San Diego City Council resumed meetings last week following summer recess. Council has a long list of items to take up during the fall; we are actively monitoring and engaging on a variety of them.
- We are participating in conversations around building more middle-income housing through the Clairemont Plan and Land Development Code. We are monitoring the city’s Planning Department Work Program and a potential 62% water rate hike. MTS solicited our input for their future service. Finally, the ADU policy changes that we engaged on in the spring took effect on August 22.
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Bay Area ► San Francisco Recalls Supervisor Engardio
- Supervisor Joel Engardio conceded in his District 4 recall election late September 17, appearing to have lost by a margin of about 30 points. The recall was spurred by the Supervisor’s support of Proposition K, which converted The Great Highway into Sunset Dunes Park.
- Residents cited increased traffic as their main reason for supporting the recall. Mayor Daniel Lurie will now appoint the next District 4 Supervisor.
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- On September 10, the City of Los Angeles approved a motion directing the Department of Building and Safety to develop a unified, comprehensive review process for housing approvals to cut red tape and reduce project delays.
- Biocom California submitted a letter in support of the motion. City staff now have 60 days to return with a proposed streamlined process — a promising step toward making housing development in L.A. more efficient and affordable.
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Federal:
- The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act will be discussed in a House Ways and Means full committee markup session today and during an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
- Biocom California submitted comments on the reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) and provided feedback on the FDA’s draft guidance on Q1 Stability Testing of Drug Substances and Drug Products.
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State:
- SB 607 would place a $23 billion in general obligation bond on the statewide ballot to fund scientific and health research through a newly created state foundation. This bill is a response to federal funding freezes and would support research in cancer, Alzheimer’s, infectious disease, and climate-related health threats.
- Biocom California is monitoring SB 607, which was recently amended and will be taken up when the legislature reconvenes in January. If approved and placed on the statewide ballot, it would represent a historic state-level investment in life science research infrastructure.
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San Diego:
- NCTD is proposing to consolidate the COASTER Connection into two routes: one west and one east of the 805. This would eliminate service to Torrey Pines, Sorrento Mesa, and Sorrento Valley East. A public comment period opens this week, leading up to a hearing on November 20. To share your input, email [email protected] or contact Melanie Cohn on our team at [email protected].
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Biocom California Advocacy
Biocom California is the largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. Our public policy staff is strategically located in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. We work with federal, state and local governments to collectively pursue outcomes that benefit regional life science growth and contribute to a more innovation-friendly state.
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