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Biocom California Elected Officials of the Year Award; Updates on Executive Orders; Revisions to California’s Plastics Reduction Law Regulations; Campus Point Master Plan Update Advances; RAC Policy Champions; and more.
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Biocom California Honors Those Championing Life Science
Biocom California honored Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D., and San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee with our 2024 Elected Officials of the Year Award for championing the state’s life science industry. Senator Weber Pierson led the passage of AB 2072, ensuring small biotech firms could offer competitive health insurance. Council President Pro Tem Lee led the passage of the University Community Plan Update, promoting biotech growth and housing. Their leadership strengthened California’s innovation landscape. “Together, we will build a healthier California,” said Weber Pierson. Lee reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a thriving life science hub in San Diego.
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Advocating for Our Members
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Federal ► Updates on the Administration’s Executive Orders
- Grant Funding: After dozens of NIH study sections were canceled in February, some NIH grant review meetings are resuming this month.
- Tariffs: A 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum went into effect last week. In response, the European Union will impose counter-tariffs on U.S. goods starting in April and Canada retaliated with new duties on about $20 billion worth of U.S. goods.
- Federal Staffing: March 13 was the deadline for federal agencies to submit reduction in force plans to the Government’s Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management. A judge ruled Thursday that the Trump administration must reinstate probationary government employees fired unlawfully at several federal agencies.
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State ► Governor Orders Plastics Reduction Law Implementation Regulations to be Revised
- The Governor has ordered California regulators to revise the plastics reduction law (SB 54) implementation regulations. The law, which aims to reduce single-use plastic by 25% by 2032, faced criticism that the regulations were too aggressive and could create unnecessary economic burdens.
- Biocom California was instrumental in the medical packaging exemption in the original SB 54 legislation. When the draft regulations failed to properly reflect this negotiated exemption, we engaged in targeted advocacy through letters to CalRecycle, meetings with the Governor’s office, and consultation with Senator Ben Allen’s office. This coordinated approach has contributed to the administration’s decision to restart the regulatory process, ensuring our members’ interests remain protected as implementation moves forward.
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San Diego ► Campus Point Master Plan Update Passes the University Community Planning Group
- Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ Campus Point Master Plan Update passed the University Community Planning Group on March 11, with a recommendation from the advisory group to reduce the height of the project.
- The Campus Point redevelopment, which is supported by Biocom California, proposes to add a significant number of homes in San Diego’s life science hub to serve the industry’s employees. The project requires Process 5 approval, which is the highest level, so it will proceed through multiple city hearings before a final vote at City Council.
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Bay Area ► Facilities and EH&S Committee Meets with Cal Fire
- Our Bay Area Facilities and EH&S Committee hosted Cal Fire, with a presentation from a Fire Prevention Specialist and Public Information Officer. The session focused on wildfire prevention strategies and emergency preparedness, providing valuable insights to enhance safety and readiness in the face of potential fire hazards.
- To stay up to date on local facilities and EH&S topics, join our Bay Area Facilities and EH&S Committee. Reach out to Christy Shirilla or visit our website to learn more.
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- Our Greater LA Policy Committee held its first convening of the year focusing on wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts. Our members heard from Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office and Thermo Fisher Scientific’s West Hills site head to discuss emergency response preparedness, business continuity, and lessons learned.
- We continue to share relief fund and volunteer opportunities with members in our weekly regional newsletter. To learn more about the committee, contact Casey O’Neill.
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Federal:
- On March 14, the Senate passed the House-approved Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep federal agencies funded at current funding levels until the end of the fiscal year. President Trump signed the bill, avoiding a government shutdown by just a few hours.
- The Senate HELP Committee approved the nominations of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Martin Makary for NIH Director and FDA Commissioner, respectively. Dr. Bhattacharya was confirmed 12-11 along party lines and Dr. Makary was confirmed 14-9.
- On March 14, U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a nomination hearing to consider Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator.
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State:
- Republican legislators in California have proposed significant cuts to Medi-Cal as an alternative approach to addressing the state’s budget deficit. Their plan includes removing eligibility for undocumented immigrants and implementing work requirements for certain beneficiaries.
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San Diego:
- The initiative to make La Jolla a separate city from San Diego failed to gather the needed signatures to qualify for the 2028 ballot and now has until the end of March to correct the invalid signatures, collect new ones or both to try to fill the 1,027 gap.
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Receive more policy news specific to your region by subscribing to our weekly Bay Area, San Diego or Greater Los Angeles newsletters.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings and Events
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Biocom California Advocacy
Biocom California is the largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. Our public policy staff is strategically located in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. We work with federal, state, and local governments to collectively pursue outcomes that benefit regional life science growth and contribute to a more innovation-friendly state.
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