On May 13, 2026, CAL SMACNA kicked off its 2026 Day at the Capitol (DAC) event. The annual event brings CAL SMACNA members together to visit and talk with legislative members to share their concerns, collaborate, and explain the day-to-day impact that political decisions have on contractors and their businesses. In total, 27 CAL SMACNA representatives (contractors and chapter staff) traveled to Sacramento with their families to meet their Legislators and discuss issues of importance to the industry.
The event was smaller than usual but packed a big punch. CAL SMACNA members attended in-person meetings with 44 different legislative offices. It was terrific to hear members remark how meaningful they felt the meetings actually were and that they were listened to by the legislators and their staff.
The Four Goals for this Day at the Capitol were:
1. Create, Build, and Maintain Relationships
2. Hit Pause — Educate Your Legislator on the Real-World Difficulty of Being an Employer in California
3. Oppose New Litigation Costs in California — AB 1898 (Schultz) Workplace AI Tools & New Litigation
4. Support SB 33 (Cortese) — Change Order Reform
AB 1898 (Schultz) was held (killed) in the Appropriations committee. This is a big win for the sheet metal industry.
Day at the Capitol attendees also heard from guest speakers Ashley Zavala and Dan Walters during a panel discussion titled, California Politics in 2026: Power, Policy, and Pitfalls. The goal of the panel discussion was to have a candid conversation about how California’s politics reflect taxpayers’ and residents’ needs, or doesn’t, and what is driving lawmakers and voters in the upcoming election cycle.
Visit calsmacna.smugmug.com/CAL-SMACNA-Day-at-the-Capitol to view photos from the Day at the Capitol event.
Thank you to the CAL SMACNA Legislative Committee and to every attendee for taking the time to meet with Legislative members! We hope to see you in Sacramento in 2027! ▪
