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What’s Inside: Meet Our Greater LA Policy Champion; Biocom California CEO Addresses R&D Amortization; Read Our 2023 State Legislative Season Summary; and more.
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Meet Fire Chief Chad Augustin, City of Pasadena
Chad Augustin came to Pasadena as the fire chief in February 2021 with a background in legal studies and fire administration, perfectly positioning him to take on the process of updating the hazardous materials ordinance in the city. In early 2022, the Biocom California team brought a concern we were hearing from our members to the City of Pasadena: the city’s hazardous materials reporting requirements were particularly onerous compared to other jurisdictions, and much more stringent than state guidelines. Biocom California worked closely with city leadership, including Chief Augustin, to bring a new proposal to Pasadena’s city council which passed in October 2022. Chief Augustin led this process on the city’s behalf, which would not have happened without his support and expertise.
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Biocom California CEO on R&D Amortization
Biocom California CEO Joe Panetta published an op-ed last week with Infixion BIO CEO Herb Sarnoff on Sec. 174 of the 2017 tax law, which requires companies to deduct their R&D expenses over 5 years instead of the year they were incurred, causing sky-high tax liabilities for companies. Biocom California ran a 6-month campaign which generated over 8,000 letters to California legislators asking them to repeal the tax change.
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Rep. Scott Peters Joins Biocom California Board Meeting
On October 4, Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA 50) joined Biocom California’s Q3 board meeting to provide an overview of the political situation in Washington, D.C., following the passage of a short-term funding bill that averted a government shutdown and the resulting fall of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Rep. Peters also discussed what to expect in the fall and engaged in a discussion about fixing some drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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Biocom California Mourns Sen. Feinstein, Welcomes Sen. Butler
“Her passing marks the loss of one of California’s most ardent supporters,” said Biocom California CEO Joe Panetta in a statement following the passing of Sen. Dianne Feinstein on September 29. Sen. Laphonza Butler was appointed soon after by Gov. Gavin Newsom and sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris. Biocom California has pledged to work with her to support life science.
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Biocom California Joins New M&A Coalition
Biocom California recently joined a group of more than 30 life science trade associations and companies to launch the Partnership for the U.S. Life Science Ecosystem (PULSE), a new coalition to advocate and support the fundamental role of pro-innovation mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
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USPTO Joins Biocom California IP Committee Meeting
On September 20, our Intellectual Property & Patent Law Committee was honored to be joined by high-level officials in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including Judge Linda Horner, to discuss issues important to our industry, such as patentability, collaboration with the FDA, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
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Biocom California Summarizes 2023 Legislative Season
Gov. Gavin Newsom took his final actions of the 2023 legislative season on October 13, marking the end of the first year of the 2023-24 legislative cycle. A number of healthcare bills introduced by both houses of the Legislature demonstrates a willingness to stand with patients and a focus on increasing access to life-saving innovations. After five years of budget surpluses, Newsom cited fiscal restraint in many of his veto messages. Read the full summary.
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San Diego
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UC San Diego Science Research Park Development Approved
In late September, the University of California Regents approved the design of Science Research Park, a new 23-acre life science and technology development for research companies, entrepreneurs, and researchers. One aim of the development is to prepare UC San Diego students for jobs in the life science industry. Biocom California is proud to have supported the advancement of this project and we look forward to seeing the innovation that comes out of this collaborative environment.
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Water Rate Hike Approved in San Diego
The San Diego City Council voted 5-3 to approve water rate increases of nearly 20 percent, the first comprehensive increase in eight years. Rates will rise incrementally, starting with 5 percent December 1, 2023, and reaching the full increase January 1, 2025. The increase is in response to raised wholesale water rates and the cost of treatments and infrastructure maintenance.
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More Than $1 Billion Needed to Overhaul Storm Water System
As San Diegans and our Biocom California members, especially in Sorrento Valley, prepare for the rainy season, the City of San Diego is again warning that its storm water system is in dire need of an overhaul. City officials said it’s projected to cost $1.3 billion to perform a systemwide upgrade that includes redesigning and building pump stations, and replacing thousands of pipes. The city has secured some federal funds to address these issues but has been saying for years that additional funding measures such as a dedicated tax need to be explored.
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Greater Los Angeles
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Life Science Motion Receives Final Approval from City Council
Los Angeles City Council formally approved a life science proposal in early October presented by Councilmembers John Lee and Bob Blumenfield. The proposal directs the city to study land use and taxation incentives specific to life science. In September, Biocom California policy staff was on hand to speak in support of the proposal, which we worked on with Councilmember Lee, at the city’s Budget, Finance, and Innovation Committee (item No. 15). We look forward to continuing to work with the Councilmembers’ offices on next steps.
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Biznow Covers Biocom California’s Work with Local Governments
Our Sr. Director of Regional Government Affairs, Melanie Cohn, was recently interviewed about our work with local governments to make cities life science friendly. To create a more welcoming environment, we collaborated with many cities to rework policy, making it easier for life science companies to operate and encourage expansion or relocation. We supported the City of Pasadena in reworking its hazardous materials reporting rule, which was much stricter than the state standard with no benefit to public health and safety. Changes like this have the potential to result in more long-term growth of jobs and income for cities across the state.
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City Council Reform Moves Forward with Redistricting Commission
The push to reform LA City Hall took a leap forward earlier this month, with a council committee endorsing a detailed plan to establish an independent redistricting commission but also delaying a decision on increasing the council’s size. The proposal still needs final approval of the council, which must decide whether to place it on the November 2024 ballot for voter approval.
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Bay Area
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Bay Area Rents Decline with Little Impact on Housing Crisis
Recent data shows that rents across the state have dropped over 2% in a year and more than 4% in the San Francisco Bay Area. This decrease does not mean that housing is more affordable given inflation and increased cost of living and could have a negative impact on future build. Instead, housing advocates support proposed bills SB 555 and AB 309, which would make way for new state-owned housing with rents caps.
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Revamped Caltrain Schedule Set to Transform Commutes
Caltrain announced an updated weekday schedule that will take effect this fall. Designed to ensure faster local trains during the evenings, extended service to Gilroy, and temporary adjustments to accommodate ongoing infrastructure projects, this development promises to significantly impact the daily lives of commuters in the region.
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California Regulators Propose Higher Rates for PG&E Customers
The California Public Utilities Commission is finishing up its once-every-four-years review of PG&E where they approve how much the company can charge customers and how it will spend that money. Two proposals were released by the commission in response to PG&E’s request to increase rates to cover the costs of burying power lines as fire prevention measures and to boost its revenue by 26%. The two proposals the commission released would instead insulate most power lines and increase PG&E’s revenue by a maximum of 13%. The commission could not say what the increase would be for the average residential customer.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings and Events
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Zoe Bilis
Associate Manager of Regulatory Policy
Washington, D.C.
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Emily Cassel
Govt. Affairs Events & Project Manager
San Diego
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Laure Clark
Sr. Director, Federal Policy & Govt. Affairs
Washington, D.C.
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Melanie Cohn
Sr. Director, Regional Policy & Govt. Affairs
SD, LA, Bay Area
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Jimmy Jackson
Senior Vice President
& Chief Policy Officer
San Diego
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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 all levels of federal, state, and local governments to collectively pursue outcomes that benefit regional life science growth and contribute to a more innovation-friendly state. With over 28 years of experience, Biocom California works on behalf of more than {{{dynamic_content_1600}}} member companies statewide.
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