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What’s Inside: Health Trust Signed Into Law; Recap of Our Annual Sunshine in D.C. Reception; SF’s UMU Zoning Proposal; Motion Introduced to Overhaul Business Taxes in LA; Carlsbad Climate Action Plan; and more.
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Bill to Maintain Beyond Benefits Trust Signed Into Law
Assembly Bill 2072, authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Biocom California has been working with the legislature and the California Department of Managed Healthcare for years to ensure the Beyond Benefits Health Trust can continue offering excellent health coverage to life science companies. AB 2072, which extends the authorization date to January 1, 2030, allows qualified life science companies to continue offering affordable, high-quality health insurance to their employees through our association health plan, allowing small- and mid-sized life science companies to compete with larger companies for talent. Continued renewal of the authorization is a priority, as these companies are the lifeblood of the industry.
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Advocating for Our Members
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Federal ► Biocom California Hosts Annual Sunshine in D.C. Reception with Members and Friends of the Industry
- We hosted our annual reception in our nation’s capital, which brought together Biocom California members, congressional staff, and friends of our industry. The event introduced Joe Panetta and Tim Scott, Biocom California President and CEO and Board of Governors Chair, respectively.
- Many thanks to our sponsor Neurocrine Biosciences for helping us make the night special.
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Bay Area ► San Francisco Proposal Could Restrict Lab Use in Urban Mixed-Use Zones
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- On October 8, Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Monica Rodriguez introduced a motion to overhaul business taxes in the City of Los Angeles. It instructs the Office of Finance to return to council within 60 days with both small changes that can be enacted by the council and more comprehensive changes that would need voter approval.
- Biocom California has been advocating for years for changes to gross receipts and other business taxes in LA, and we see this as an opportunity to engage on the specific impacts of tax proposals on our industry.
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San Diego ► Update: Carlsbad Climate Action Plan Reach Code Could Require 100% Building Electrification
- On October 2, the Carlsbad Planning Commission voted to move forward with policy language for the city’s updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) that is supported by Biocom California and other business stakeholders. The guidance, called Option 1, directs city staff to update the CAP without language related to building electrification.
- We have been educating city staff and elected officials about the impacts of a potential 100% building electrification policy on life science. The proposal will go to Carlsbad City Council before the end of this year.
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Federal:
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Bay Area:
- Keep Innovation in Berkeley will be heard on November 12 at 6 p.m. Letters of support can be sent directly to the Berkeley City Council.
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Greater Los Angeles:
- LA County’s Measure G would add four supervisors, create an ethics commission and would require an elected county CEO.
- City Council’s new President, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, provided his vision for LA City Hall during his tenure.
- The LA County Department of Economic Opportunity is hiring an Administrative Services Manager for Life Science. This role would engage directly with the life science industry.
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San Diego:
- We testified at the county’s Air Pollution Control District policy meeting October 10 on a potential warehouse indirect source rule.
- Residents in the third and ninth districts will select their chosen representative on the city council in the upcoming November election.
- Downtown businesses are putting pressure on the city to clear homeless encampments.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings and Events
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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. With over 29 years of experience, Biocom California works on behalf of more than {{{dynamic_content_1600}}} member companies statewide.
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