California Policy Statements

Small Business Majority has written in support of AB 2565, which would extend additional assistance to individuals who qualify for premium subsidies but still struggle to access affordable healthcare. The legislation would significantly improve affordability for thousands of low- and moderate-income individuals and families, including many entrepreneurs and small business employees, by ensuring that no one would spend more than 8% of their income on health insurance premiums.

On April 18, Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer testified before the California Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions in support of SB 1235, which would create regulations for new sources of alternative lending in California. The testimony explained that such regulation is widely supported by small business owners, as it would protect them from predatory lending practices. 

Mark Herbert, California Director for Small Business Majority, testified in front of California's State Senate in support of SB 910, which would clarify that short-term limited duration health insurance cannot be sold in California and bolster health insurance markets. The legislation is meant to protect the robustness of the individual marketplace, which is vitally important for owners and employees of small businesses without group coverage, especially the roughly three million solo-entrepreneurs in California.

Small Business Majority submitted a letter of support for California's Truth in Lending Act (SB 1235) under consideration by the California Senate. This bill would require standard disclosure methods for the terms of a loan offered to a business, allowing a small business owner to make a better informed decision about loan offers.