Garden Grove, CA (April 29, 2026) — Dozens of Orange County students will gain critical access to technology this spring through a collaboration between Orange County Business Council (OCBC) and AT&T.
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) opposes SB 1359 (Stern), which would significantly alter the state’s approach to natural gas service obligations and accelerate electrification policies in ways that raise concerns for energy reliability, affordability and regulatory certainty across California.
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) supports AB 2059 (Wilson) if amended, which seeks to establish greater clarity and cost certainty in how vehicle miles traveled (VMT) mitigation is applied to transportation projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) supports AB 2418 (Gonzalez), which would improve the efficiency, transparency and predictability of the nonresidential building permit process, supporting economic development and job creation across California.
Orange County Business Council (OCBC), oppose AB 2170. While we appreciate the intent of AB 2170 to enhance community engagement and address environmental justice concerns, the bill would significantly expand the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in ways that increase costs, delay projects, and create new barriers to economic investment. AB 2170 eliminates key CEQA exemptions and ministerial pathways for projects located on industrially zoned land within or near broadly defined “overburdened communities,” requiring full environmental review regardless of a project’s actual impacts. This approach removes important tools that have helped streamline approvals for infill development, operational improvements, and job creating investments.
Orange County Business Council (OCBC), opposes SB 1075 (Reyes), which would impose significant new constraints on local land use decision-making and create substantial uncertainty for businesses, infrastructure projects and economic development across California. At a high level, SB 1075 requires local governments to align land use decisions with state-approved community emissions reduction programs and environmental justice elements of general plans. In doing so, the bill limits local discretion and requires jurisdictions to prevent new or expanded uses that may contribute to air quality impacts, even when those uses are otherwise permitted under existing law.
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) opposes AB 1790 (Connolly), which would eliminate California’s water’s-edge election beginning in 2028 and require mandatory worldwide combined reporting for corporate taxpayers. OCBC is concerned that this proposal would significantly increase tax burdens on companies doing business in California while adding substantial complexity and uncertainty to the state’s tax system.
AB 1776 (Aguiar-Curry) would grant the state Attorney General broad authority to open investigations into any company, of any size, for virtually any reason. The bill also includes a private right of action that would allow unions, competitors and other third parties to bring lawsuits against businesses. This could lead to scenarios where neighboring businesses, such as grocery stores or competing entities, sue one another over alleged market dominance.
Santa Ana, CA (March 11, 2026) — Dozens of Orange County students will gain critical access to technology this spring through a collaboration between Orange County Business Council (OCBC) and AT&T.
Through a $20,000 community investment from AT&T, OCBC has purchased approximately 60 laptops to support low-income families and help close the digital divide in Orange County.
IRVINE, CA (February 13, 2026) — Orange County Business Council (OCBC) announced that Christina L. Byrne, MPA, Business Development Director of HNTB Corporation, has joined OCBC’s Board of Directors.
Orange County Business Council represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance the economic development of the nation’s sixth largest county.
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