California Retailers Association

05/14/2026

Update on one of our sponsored bills!

AB 1693 (Zbur), co-sponsored by CRA, passed off the Assembly floor today. We thank Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur for championing California's retail industry!

Get • is proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation and thanks for introducing this bill.

CRA President and CEO Rachel Michelin:

"California retailers continue to recover from a worldwide pandemic and are now grappling with tariff's and very complex and lengthy local permitting processes across the state. AB 1693 is a commonsense proposal that will simplify local bureaucracy and support the retail industry, local economies and consumers, which are all struggling with affordability."


Get • Retailers shouldn’t have to wait months to reopen for simple interior renovations. That’s why I’m proud to introduce to help brick-and-mortar retailers open sooner without cutting corners on safety.

This bill establishes a professional certification program and ensures permit decisions within 20 business days.

TY to sponsors and the WC3, including , , and .

04/15/2026

Thank you to Retail's Most Wanted for having CRA's President and CEO Rachel Otte Michelin
on a recent episode to talk about the purpose behind the California Retail Law Center and its role in helping retailers navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

By bringing together legal leaders across the industry, the Center aims to improve collaboration, surface risks earlier, and enable more proactive engagement in the policymaking process.

Full episode: https://www.retailsmostwanted.com/episodes/episode67

LVT (LiveView Technologies)

03/11/2026

This morning, California Retailers Association's President and CEO Rachel Michelin testified in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, which held an informational hearing on federal policy impacts on California’s labor market and workforce. Thank you to Committee Chairwoman Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas for the important discussion and invitation to participate in the informational hearing.

CRA President Michelin during the hearing:

“California's retail stores are one of the most accessible entry points for our state's workforce. Today, retailers are navigating a significant level of uncertainty at the federal level. Tariffs have increased costs throughout the supply chain and ultimately translate into higher costs for consumers including every day staples families depend on.

"We need to look at the regulatory compliance in CA to help with offsetting these costs. Navigating overlapping regulatory systems can be cost consuming for employers. Complex and duplicative compliance costs ripple through the economy and affect prices. This is how CA can help control costs with what is coming out of Washington. If retailers know California's regulatory process is clear, predictable and coordinated, it makes it easier for them to hire across the state even with mixed signals from the federal government.

"There are specific steps California can take that will make a difference including aligning formats and timelines across state regulatory agencies, proactively reviewing new statutes and new regulations for conflicts with existing rules with a clear mechanism to resolve these quickly, state agencies sharing data and reducing duplicative paperwork.

"Every dollar California saves by running its regulatory systems more effectively is a dollar saved protecting Californians from federal cuts."

Rachel Otte Michelin

03/09/2026

The California Retailers Association is proud to announce the promotions of two exceptional members of our team whose work has made a meaningful difference for retailers across California. Sarah Pollo Moo and Ryan Allain have been promoted to Vice President roles in recognition of their leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to CRA members.

The California Retailers Association (CRA) is proud to announce the promotions of two exceptional members of our team whose work has made a meaningful difference for retailers across California. Sarah Pollo Moo and Ryan Allain have been promoted to Vice President roles in recognition of their leader...

03/05/2026

The California Retailers Association announced the official launch of the California Retail Law Center, a new legal and policy initiative designed to support retail legal teams navigating California’s complex and fast-evolving legal and regulatory environment.

The California Retail Law Center will be chaired by Danielle Hohos, Deputy General Counsel for Williams Sonoma and former Chair of the California Retailers Association Board of Directors.

The Center brings together in-house retail counsel and trusted legal partners to collaborate on the most pressing litigation, regulatory, and compliance issues facing retailers doing business in California.

“California sets the pace for the nation when it comes to regulation, litigation, and public policy,” said Hohos. “The California Retail Law Center creates a dedicated forum for retail legal leaders to share best practices, track emerging legal trends, and engage directly in shaping policies that impact our industry.”

Read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE California Retailers Association Launches California Retail Law Center to Address Retail’s Top Legal and Regulatory Challenges Sacramento, CA — The California Retailers Association (CRA) announced the official launch of the California Retail Law Center, a new legal and p...

02/04/2026

is proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation and thanks Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur for introducing this bill.

CRA President and CEO Rachel Otte Michelin:

"California retailers continue to recover from a worldwide pandemic and are now grappling with tariff's and very complex and lengthy local permitting processes across the state. AB 1693 is a commonsense proposal that will simplify local bureaucracy and support the retail industry, local economies and consumers, which are all struggling with affordability."

Retailers shouldn’t have to wait months to reopen for simple interior renovations. That’s why I’m proud to introduce to help brick-and-mortar retailers open sooner without cutting corners on safety.

This bill establishes a professional certification program and ensures permit decisions within 20 business days.

TY to sponsors and the WC3, including , , and .

01/30/2026

Fails to Advance – PAGA Deal Remains Intact. SB 310 sought to again open the door to unscrupulous attorneys seeking costly settlements to their frivolous lawsuits — changes that would have done nothing to help employees. Read more:

https://calretailers.com/sb-310-fails-to-advance-paga-deal-remains-intact/

01/24/2026

NO on SB 310 (Wiener). President and CEO: "The reemergence of this bill is a bad case of legislative déjà vu. “Lawsuit abuse was rampant before the PAGA reform we achieved and now is not the time to go backwards.”

For Immediate Release Contact: John Myers [email protected] | [email protected] Business Coalition Urges Legislature To Reject Senate Bill 310

01/06/2026

Congratulations to Senator Monique Limón, the first woman of color to be sworn in as Senate President pro Tempore. We look forward to working with Pro Tem Limon and her leadership team to support CA's industry, consumers and the economy S. Monique Limón Senator Monique Limón

12/02/2025

is proud to be an official sponsor of the Atrium 916 Sustainable Santa event! Sustainable Santa isn’t just another photo op, it’s a movement. Each year, thousands of visitors join this heartwarming celebration of art, family, and environmental care. Together, we make the holidays magical again, without the waste.
Get • Shop small shop local shop Sacramento made at the Atrium with the sustainable Santa.Experience - sculpt your own clay ornament with warm cozy drinks. Shop eco-friendly and sustainable and Sacramento made while getting family portraits.
Sustainable Santa is a whole experience for the family.
Support hyper local in Old Sacramento this small business weekend..
Huge, thank you to our sponsors who make this experience possible and affordable for the community- and The Hoyt Company.