The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly ACCESS Luncheon on Nov. 18 at the Citrus Heights Event Center featuring guest speaker State Sen. Roger Niello. 

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly ACCESS Luncheon on Nov. 18 at the Citrus Heights Event Center, 6300 Fountain Square Drive, where State Sen. Roger Niello outlined major regulatory, budgetary and legislative issues affecting local employers.

This month’s luncheon sponsored by California American Water and Dignity Health, is part of a monthly series hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to connect professionals with regional decision-makers.

The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce announced four new additions to the chamber.

Chamber Executive Director Sheri Merrick introduced guest speaker Niello, outlining his long career in both business and public service.

“Niello is a lifelong Sacramento area resident and a UC Berkeley and UCLA graduate, who began his career as a certified public accountant before joining his family’s Niello Auto Group in 1974,” Merrick said.

She highlighted Niello’s roles in the auto industry, his terms in the State Assembly and his leadership positions on various community boards. Merick also emphasized Niello’s role as a founding member of the Capitol Caucus Foundation, a bipartisan collaboration created to strengthen the region’s business climate.

Niello began his remarks by noting the importance of district-level work.

“I thought I'd talk a little bit about things that have gone on in the Capitol but what goes on in the district is important too,” Niello said.

He pointed to district offices in Rancho Cordova and Roseville as resources for constituents.

“Our district staff is a resource for anybody if you need help with anything in the state,” Niello said.

The senator detailed several areas of focus, including regulatory reform, the state budget and his recent legislative efforts, noting that five of his bills advanced through the Legislature this year.

On regulatory issues, Niello addressed what he described as “drive-by lawsuits.” These are legal claims filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state access laws, where a number of law firms send demand letters alleging access violations and seek settlements from small businesses to avoid litigation.

Niello’s bill seeks to give small businesses up to 120 days to correct alleged violations before they can be sued.

The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support in both 2023 and 2025 but stalled in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

“We are doing our very best to have a leadership communication, where at least the bill should get a hearing in 2026,” Niello said.

The senator also addressed the authority of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which administers regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Niello said that the agency’s rules have reduced emissions in California at a significant cost for residents and with no significant effect to global totals.

“California accounts for less than 1% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the world,” Niello said.

He previously introduced a bill to shift California Air Resources Board from a rulemaking body to an advisory agency, requiring the Legislature to approve major regulations. That bill was defeated but Niello said he is considering a new proposal requiring California Air Resources Board to publish compliance cost estimates for each regulation.

Business owners, community leaders, residents and local officials attended the monthly ACCESS Luncheon on Nov. 18 at the Citrus Heights Event Center.

On budget matters, Niello criticized the state’s approach to Proposition 36, which revised certain criminal justice provisions.

“The governor’s 2025–26 budget proposed zero funding for Prop. 36,” Niello said. He argued that the measure requires substantially more support than the $100 million approved by the Legislature.

“It requires at least 250 to 300 million to help counties fund,” Niello said.

Niello also voiced concern over the state’s outstanding $20-billion unemployment insurance debt to the federal government incurred when claims surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every other state to this point has paid back their debt. California’s is still $20 billion,” Niello said.

He warned that employers bear the rising costs.

“As long as that debt is outstanding, your unemployment insurance rate per employee increases every year,” Niello said. “Guess how much money the budget allocated to pay back the federal government… zero.”

Lastly, Niello addressed ballot measure transparency, focusing on who writes the official “title and summary” that appears on voter information materials. Under current law, the Attorney General writes the title and summary, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office, an impartial budget advisor, prepares the detailed fiscal analysis.

Niello proposed moving the writing of the title and summary to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, arguing it would separate the task from a partisan office.

The bill passed the Senate Elections Committee unanimously in 2023 but died in the Appropriations Committee’s suspense file, where bills can be held without a vote. Niello said similar efforts in 2025 met the same fate.

“I will continue to flail at that windmill,” Niello said.

The next Citrus Heights ACCESS Luncheon is scheduled for Dec. 16 and will feature Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez, District 4.