SACRAMENTO – As Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to sign into law a slew of new regulations, a leading retailers’ advocacy group hopes to see more reforms to help businesses succeed.
“We’re in a wait-and-see approach; there’s a number of bills related to torts that are going through the process,” Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association, said.
Tort reform is a high priority for retailers, she said.
Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Association
“There have to be opportunities for businesses to thrive," she said. "Over-regulation and the threat of lawsuits and all of that can jeopardize business climate in California. So, we want to be able to be a partner with folks on making sure that doesn’t happen.”
Tort reform will likely be an ongoing conversation with the administration, Michelin said. Economic losses that result from tort litigation are estimated to cost the state billions every year.
“We always want to create a robust business community in California," she said. "We want to make sure that businesses can thrive because that means consumers are able to benefit, and when consumers are spending their money, they’re paying sales tax, which goes into the general fund for the state and it’s also a job creator.”
“Every governor has their own style, I’m sure Gov. Newsom will want to do things differently than his predecessor," Michelin said. "They all want to set their own tone for their administration.
“In terms of legislation, our first priority is to work with various stakeholders really to ensure that we have a great economy in the state of California.”