Successes Include Passage of Film Postproduction Tax Credit and Halting Bills that Drive up Costs for Businesses and Working Families
LOS ANGELES, September 28, 2026 — The Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed), grassroots “network of networks” uniting 240 business organizations representing 420,000 employers and 5 million employees across Southern California, reports 23 wins among the 31 bills on which it took positions during California’s 2026 legislative session. That 74% success rate reflects a few BizFed-supported bills already signed into law, bills it opposed that failed to pass the legislature and a bill it initially opposed that advanced after key amendments.
“BizFed’s advocacy team and members showed up throughout this session, and these results reflect the value of staying engaged at every stage,” said BizFed President and CEO Stuart Waldman. “Whether we’re backing legislation that helps workers and businesses, stopping bills that would drive up costs or demanding changes to flawed proposals, BizFed doesn’t sit on the sidelines. We stay in the game until the final buzzer to protect California’s economic future.”
The passage of AB 2319 (Schultz) marks one of BizFed’s key wins of the 2026 legislative session. Signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 19, the bill establishes the state’s first standalone post-production tax credit, aimed at retaining and bringing back editing, visual effects and sound production jobs to California. BizFed also counts the failure of AB 1777 (Garcia) among its significant wins after mobilizing against the bill’s proposed expansion of statewide authority to regulate indirect sources of pollution, which the coalition argued would raise costs across California’s goods movement and supply chains.
BizFed also advocated against SB 966 (Gonzalez) and SB 1259 (Blakespear/Gonzalez), citing concerns about added fuel costs for families. Both bills were killed during the last week of session. The coalition sought key amendments to SB 1359 (Stern), which BizFed argued would have accelerated the retirement of natural gas appliances and systems and increased costs for consumers. This effectively killed the harmful language that would have driven up costs for working families. Following these amendments, BizFed changed its position to neutral, and the revised bill reached the governor’s desk.
Among the measures that did not advance in line with BizFed’s position was AB 2215 (Calderon). The bill passed the Assembly but did not advance from the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. It would have extended deadlines under six State Water Project water rights permits through 2046, allowing more time for work tied to the state’s water infrastructure. BizFed supported the bill as part of its continued focus on long-term water reliability.
BizFed currently has several bills still awaiting action, and the Governor has until the midnight deadline on September 30 to act on these and other bills presented to him prior to legislative adjournment. Bills left unsigned by the deadline automatically become law.
# # #
ABOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUSINESS FEDERATION (BIZFED)
Founded in 2008, the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) is a powerful grassroots alliance based in Los Angeles, California, uniting 245 diverse business groups and mobilizing 420,000 employers with 5 million employees. Its members include chambers of commerce, trade associations, minority business groups, economic development organizations, business improvement districts and other organizations advocating for policies and projects that strengthen the regional economy.
BizFed’s network of investing and nonprofit member committees includes Arts, Entertainment, Sports & Olympics; California Air Resources Board & South Coast Air Quality Management District; Energy & Environment; Goods Movement, Transportation & Mobility; Health Care & Life Sciences; Housing, Land Use, Development, Real Estate & CEQA; Polling & Messaging; Responsible Governance; Small Business & Employment; Water; and Workforce Development, Education & Anti-Poverty.
Learn more at bizfed.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: BizFed Director of Communications, Elizabeth Daubel elizabeth.daubel@bizfed.org