As of September 29, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom has two weeks to act on bills passed by the Legislature, with the deadline set for October 12. The NFIB California team, advocating for small businesses in Sacramento, is closely monitoring outcomes. From 61 tracked bills in the 2025 session, NFIB prioritizes 11 as particularly impactful—three they hope become law and 18 they urge vetoes for. No decisions yet on these, though the governor’s office has announced some unrelated signings. A printable list of the 11 key bills is available via NFIB resources, highlighting measures that could reshape operations, taxes, and regulations for Main Street enterprises.
Among the most concerning is Senate Bill 512, which NFIB warns could erode Proposition 13’s property tax safeguards—a cornerstone for small business stability since 1978. An Action Alert was issued last week, enabling members to email the governor with one click through an interactive web story. NFIB encourages immediate outreach to safeguard these protections against what they view as undue fiscal pressures. This push underscores the organization’s role in mobilizing grassroots support to influence policy directly affecting independent owners.
Spotlight on Advocacy: Thank You, Beth Booth NFIB California Leadership Council Vice-Chair Beth Booth exemplified small business advocacy on September 22, addressing a San Diego County roundtable on retail theft. Drawing parallels to her D.C. efforts last year on the Small Business Tax Deduction, Booth emphasized Proposition 36’s critical implementation—passed by 68% of voters—to prevent bureaucratic hurdles from undermining anti-theft measures. Attended by State Director John Kabateck, the event kicks off statewide roundtables to ensure enforcement. Booth, co-owner of Spaces Renewed in Oceanside with husband Marshall, brings firsthand residential design insights to the fight. Her NBC San Diego interview captures the urgency: full coverage available via NFIB.
Upcoming Calendar Milestones Key dates loom for California stakeholders: County elections offices mail ballots October 6 for the Statewide Special Election on Proposition 50; drop-off locations open October 7; Election Day falls November 4—details from the Secretary of State here. The governor’s October 12 cutoff aligns with these, after which the Legislature reconvenes January 5, 2026. Nationally, NFIB hosts a October 1 webinar at noon ET on “Fall Legal Reset,” covering contracts, structures, and IP with experts Elizabeth Milito and Timothy Coons—registration open.
Federal Highlights and Broader Impacts From NFIB’s Federal Government Relations Principal Louis Bertolotti’s weekly update: Congress recesses without funding resolution, pointing to a government shutdown starting Tuesday midnight ET, potentially disrupting small business operations nationwide. NFIB launched the Voting Hub for registration and reminders, empowering civic engagement. They also backed the Energy Choice Act via letter, opposing state/local bans on energy sources that hike costs amid record electricity demands—Bertolotti noted these mandates exacerbate havoc on local economies.
Local Traffic Advisory: Highway 202 Paving Closures Complementing state business news, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued a traffic advisory for ongoing work. On Highway 202 (Tucker Road) from Sierra Vista Drive to Tehachapi Boulevard, outside lanes in both directions will close daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for paving operations. Drivers should plan alternate routes to avoid delays in this Kern County corridor, ensuring safety amid construction.
These intertwined developments—from legislative cliffs to infrastructure tweaks—reveal veiled pressures on California’s small business ecosystem. NFIB’s proactive stance, from bill tracking to advocacy spotlights, positions owners to navigate uncertainties, while routine advisories like Caltrans’ remind of everyday operational hurdles. As October unfolds, these threads could weave significant shifts in policy and mobility, influencing economic vitality across the Golden State.
