|
|
|
Funding Bill Temporarily Blocks OMB’s Proposed Grant-Making Rule; MFN Drug Pricing Agreements Expand; Significant Amendments Secured for the Cartwright Act; New Simplified Guide for Doing Business in Berkeley; Upcoming Committees; and more.
|
Bipartisan Funding Bill Delivers Win for Research Community
Earlier this month, President Trump signed into law a bipartisan funding bill that averts a potential government shutdown and extends current federal funding through December 11. Importantly, this continuing resolution also temporarily prohibits implementation of OMB’s proposed “ Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” through the same date.
This marks an important win for Biocom and the broader life sciences community. Biocom previously urged OMB to rescind the proposal, raising concerns that it could politicize federal grantmaking, weaken peer review and create uncertainty for researchers and institutions.
While the provision does not permanently withdraw the rule, its bipartisan inclusion provides valuable time to address these concerns and protect the integrity of federal research funding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advocating for Our Members
|
|
|
|
Federal ► Administration Expands MFN Drug Price Agreements
- The White House announced nine additional agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers under its Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) pricing initiative, bringing the total number of participating companies to 26 and extending the policy across an estimated 89% of the branded drug market. Under the agreements, manufacturers will provide MFN pricing for certain products to state Medicaid programs and also commit to significant U.S. manufacturing investments and pharmaceutical supply chain initiatives.
- Drug pricing policy remains a key issue for California’s life science industry because it can influence the investment environment that supports the research, development and commercialization of new therapies. Biocom maintains its opposition to MFN and other international reference pricing schemes as these concepts would ultimately deny Americans timely access to the most innovative therapies and hamper biomedical innovation.
|
|
State ► Biocom Secures Key Wins as Legislature Adjourns 2026 Session
- The California Legislature adjourned its 2026 session on August 31, sending 12 Biocom-supported bills to the Governor, including AB 1682 (scalp cooling), AB 1887 (rare disease drugs), SB 950 (dementia), SB 1023 (antiretrovirals) and SB 1047 (neurodegenerative disease registry).
- Biocom’s advocacy secured significant amendments to AB 1776 (Aguiar-Curry), the Cartwright Act expansion, substantially improving the bill from its introduced form. Biocom remains opposed to the final version and now awaits the Governor’s decision. Three healthcare AI bills also passed, AB 1979 (Bonta), AB 2575 (Ortega) and SB 503 (Weber Pierson), raising significant compliance concerns for life science companies using AI in R&D and clinical decision support.
|
|
San Diego ► Biocom Makes the Case for Reliable Energy at County Hearing
- The Golden Pacific Powerlink drew significant debate at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on August 18, as supervisors weighed the region’s growing energy needs and required infrastructure support.
- Biocom spoke in support of the project, underscoring the importance of reliable power for San Diego’s life science laboratories, research and manufacturing operations. As a member of the GRID Coalition, Biocom continues to advocate for energy infrastructure that protects critical operations and supports the region’s jobs, innovation and patients.
|
|
Bay Area ► New Guide Simplifies Doing Business in Berkeley
- The City of Berkeley has created a new guide for doing business in Berkeley to help entrepreneurs and business owners understand the process of opening and operating a business. It covers key requirements such as location, zoning, permits, licensing and inspections while providing resources to help businesses navigate the process.
- Biocom will continue working with the City of Berkeley to make sure our members know about this new guide as well as any additional revisions to operating or permitting processes.
|
|
- Camarillo is seeking an Opportunity Zone designation for the Camarillo Commons area, which could spur private investment, new housing and mixed-use redevelopment.
- Biocom submitted a letter to Governor Newsom in support of the designation, emphasizing that expanding housing near jobs and transportation is critical to attracting and retaining life science talent. The designation could help strengthen the region’s competitiveness while supporting continued economic growth and investment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal:
- Biocom submitted comments in response to Senator Cassidy’s legislative discussion draft on proposed reforms to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
- We also provided feedback to the FDA on a draft guidance supporting the development of gene therapy products.
|
|
|
State:
- On September 4, 2026, SB 690 (Caballero) was sent to the Governor’s desk after passing both houses.
- Biocom supports the bill, which clarifies that routine commercial activities already regulated under the California Consumer Privacy Act, such as website analytics and customer service features, fall outside the scope of the 1967 California Invasion of Privacy Act — protecting life science companies from over 1,500 abusive CIPA lawsuits that divert resources from research and development.
|
|
Receive more policy news specific to your region by subscribing to our weekly
Bay Area, San Diego or Greater Los Angeles newsletters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biocom Policy & Advocacy
Biocom is the leading advocate for California’s life science sector. Our Policy & Advocacy staff across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. work with lawmakers and regulators to shape policy and strengthen government relations through coordinated regional, state and federal engagement, supporting industry growth and keeping California globally competitive.
|
|
|
