This week, SVLG convened our annual Advocacy Day event at Microsoft’s Offices in Sacramento. The day-long event brought together leading California lawmakers, key officials, and SVLG member companies for a series of discussions focused on shaping the future of technology, workforce development, and economic competitiveness in the state.
We strategically designed the program to feature some familiar faces from our greater Bay Area and Silicon Valley Caucus, as well as key committee chairs like Sen. Cabaldon, who chairs the (new) Senate Privacy Committee and oversees all things AI and tech. We also heard from the Governor’s Chief of Staff Nathan Barankin, as well as senior policy staff from the Senate pro Tem, Speaker, and GO-Biz.
Key Themes
Throughout the discussions, several central themes emerged:
The technology industry’s vital role underpinning California’s economic health: Coming the day before the Governor’s May revise, the discussions highlighted the vital role of the innovation economy in ensuring California remains a global leader and can continue to invest in the communities, businesses and technologies shaping the future.
A need to align technology innovation with workforce development: Legislators are looking for industry guidance on where the technology is headed, which roles are likely to change first, and what new skills workers will need to stay competitive. SVLG members shared their commitment to investing in the workforce through upskilling, reskilling and other public-private partnerships to align talent needs with the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Innovation depends on the physical and regulatory infrastructure needed to support it: California’s leadership in AI, electrification, and advanced technology will require greater energy capacity, more resilient grid planning, leaning into emerging technologies such as carbon capture and fusion, as well as a permitting environment that enables growth. SVLG members voiced concerns about the current set of proposals moving through the legislature that could stifle innovation and impose burdensome regulations.
Looking Ahead
SVLG is actively advocating for policies that maintain California’s global innovation position, across AI, infrastructure, healthcare, workforce, and education. This work complements SVLG’s policy and thought leadership initiatives, nested under our three Centers of Expertise and our Institute on California AI Policy (I-CAP), and task forces on Agentic AI, Physical AI, Future-Ready Workforce, and Innovation Infrastructure. Through these efforts, SVLG will continue to champion policies that foster innovation, promote economic growth, and prepare our workforce to compete globally.
