Companies, advocacy groups, and labor unions spent a record-breaking $545 million lobbying California’s government in 2024, about 10% more than the previous year, according to data compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office.
Energy companies and trade groups led the spending, followed by technology and health-care groups that sought to shape policies in California that can set standards around the US and the world due to the sheer size of the state’s economy.
The last round of quarterly lobbying disclosures for 2024, which were due on Jan. 31, also point to the efforts of companies and pressure groups to influence ...