The morning began with an Issues Breakfast. Here, along with our legislative advocates, we walked through several issues facing our industry, such as indemnity reform, public-private partnerships and transportation funding. We discussed the current status of these topics and how to articulate our message to the legislature.

In addition to morning visits with legislators, several of our members sat in the Assembly Budget subcommittee. Here, members watched one of our lobbyists, Keith Dunn, support efforts on our behalf to expedite bond funding to local agencies.

We returned together for a Legislative Luncheon, where we were honored to have Senator Anthony Cannella (a civil engineer himself) speak to us about the political realities facing California and how the pieces of “transportation funding” might fit together this year. We also heard from Steve Hall, vice president of Government Affairs for ACEC national. Steve spoke about key issues facing us at the federal level, and also encouraged attendance at the ACEC national convention.

Following an afternoon of meetings at the Capitol, ACEC California members took the opportunity to relax and mingle with legislators, legislative staff, consultants and representatives from other like-minded organizations at

Tequila Mayahuel, a restaurant close to the Capitol and famous for their patron’s ability to rent a locker for their pre-purchased bottles of tequila.

Over 25 senators and assembly members socialized with ACEC California members at the legislative reception that evening, and I’m pleased to say that Governor Jerry Brown was also in attendance!

At the reception, we watched ACEC California President Mary Erchul present to the governor an award, declaring him Infrastructure Champion of 2014. Governor Brown spoke to the packed room for about 15 minutes and then “worked the room,” talking to individual ACEC California members for another 20 minutes. Thank you, Governor!

And thank you ACEC California members for all of your continual dedication and efforts. We are here because of you!

For a complete understanding of that for which we are lobbying, and the next steps from our Legislative Visits Day, please follow our weekly legislative briefs (link here to the briefs), and take action when we ask!

For more information on Legislative Visit Day, please contact Kelly Garman, ACEC CA Legislative Affairs Director at kgarman@acec-ca.org. For information on the Board of Directors meeting or lodging, please contact Stephanie Frieders, Program & Event Manager at sfrieders@acec-ca.org.