As California’s legislative session nears its end, the state’s largest business advocacy group is sounding the alarm over a slate of 2025 bills it deems “Job Killers.” The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) – long known for its annual “Job Killer” list – has highlighted several measures this year that it warns will drive up business costs and stifle job creation. In a nod to Californians’ cost-of-living concerns, CalChamber even rebranded its 2025 list as an “Affordability Agenda,” tagging bills as “Cost Drivers” (the new moniker for Job Killers) and encouraging “Cost Cutter” bills that reduce costs.
What Is a ‘Job Killer’ Bill? For more than two decades CalChamber has used the Job Killer label to spotlight legislation it says will hurt the economy. Historically, over 90% of bills tagged “Job Killers” never become law, making the designation one of the most influential labels in Sacramento, according to Capitol Weekly.
Climate and Environmental Bills Spark Backlash
- SB 222 (Wiener) would have let insurers and wildfire victims sue major oil companies for climate damages. Environmentalists championed it, but CalChamber blasted it as an unlimited liability scheme. The bill failed in its first committee hearing in April.
- AB 1243 (Addis) and SB 684 (Menjivar) sought to retroactively charge companies for greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. CalChamber argued this punished even compliant firms; both measures missed deadlines and died this spring.
- SB 682 (Allen), originally a sweeping PFAS ban, was narrowed by amendments after businesses warned it would remove countless products from the market. CalChamber dropped its opposition.
- SB 573 (Smallwood-Cuevas) initially proposed doubling the corporate tax rate. After fierce backlash, the tax hike was removed, and CalChamber withdrew its Job Killer tag.
Labor and Legal Proposals Face ‘Job Killer’ Label
- SB 310 (Wiener) would let employees sue directly for wage penalties, bypassing reforms made to California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). Business groups argue it hands trial lawyers a new tool for costly lawsuits. The bill advanced out of Senate Judiciary in April.
- AB 1234 (Ortega) adds automatic 30% penalties on unpaid wage orders. The Chamber says it chills due process for employers contesting rulings. It’s pending in Senate Appropriations.
- AB 858 (Lee)extends recall rights from COVID-era layoffs to any state of emergency. CalChamber calls it an onerous rehire mandate.
- AB 1331 (Elhawary) would ban most workplace surveillance technology, including security cameras. The Chamber calls it a safety risk. The bill cleared the Assembly but stalled in the Senate.
Tech and Pricing Regulations Under Fire
- SB 259 (Wahab) bans businesses from using most data to set prices, which CalChamber says will reduce discounts for consumers.
- SB 295 (Hurtado) prohibits pricing algorithms trained on “nonpublic” data, carrying steep penalties.
- SB 384 (Wahab) bars software or data use for competitive pricing, which business groups say will hurt consumer affordability.
- AB 446 (Ward) restricts use of consumer data in loyalty programs, exposing businesses to lawsuits.
- SB 7 (McNerney) regulates workplace AI and automated decision systems, with compliance costs topping $1 billion, according to a Chamber-sponsored study.
- SB 763 (Hurtado) would have raised antitrust fines up to $100 million. After amendments, it still failed in committee.
Outlook: Most ‘Job Killers’ Stalled or Softened
By late August, many bills on CalChamber’s list were either defeated, shelved, or amended. A handful remain alive, such as SB 310, AB 1234, and AB 446, setting up potential last-minute battles before adjournment. As Capitol Weekly notes, the Job Killer label remains one of Sacramento’s most potent weapons – one that can turn moderate Democrats against otherwise popular progressive bills.
