North Orange County Chamber Urges State Senate to Reevaluate AB 1421

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2026

North Orange County Chamber Urges State Senate to Reevaluate AB 1421

Buena Park, CA — The North Orange County Chamber of Commerce has formally submitted letters to members of the California State Senate expressing opposition to Assembly Bill 1421 in its current form and respectfully urging careful reconsideration as the measure advances.

In correspondence dated February 9, 2026, addressed to Senators Steven Choi, Tom Umberg, and Tony Strickland, the Chamber outlined concerns regarding the long-term economic impact of AB 1421 and its proposed framework directing state agencies toward the development of a mileage-based fee system through 2035.

While acknowledging California’s ongoing transportation funding challenges, the Chamber emphasized that residents and businesses are already facing significant financial pressures across nearly every category of daily life, including fuel, housing, utilities, insurance, transportation, and consumer goods.

The Chamber’s position is not rooted in resisting innovation, but in evaluating the broader economic implications such policy shifts may have on employers, families, and regional competitiveness.

The Chamber further raised concerns about the administrative complexity of a mileage-based system, noting that new reporting requirements, oversight mechanisms, enforcement structures, and dispute resolution processes could increase compliance burdens for businesses and generate additional administrative costs for the state.

“As a regional chamber representing a diverse and mobility-dependent economy, we believe this issue warrants a measured and disciplined approach,” said Andrew W. Gregson, President & CEO of the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce. “Before layering additional costs onto residents and employers, we believe the state should first demonstrate accountability, efficiency, and measurable outcomes from existing transportation revenues.”

In its letters, the Chamber respectfully requested that the Senate pause and reevaluate AB 1421, strengthen fiscal guardrails, and more directly engage employers and regional stakeholders prior to advancing a framework that could lead to permanent new costs for Californians.

The North Orange County Chamber stands ready to participate in constructive dialogue and to help identify responsible, practical solutions that support infrastructure needs without further straining households, small businesses, or the state’s long-term economic stability

The Chamber has begun outreach to additional state legislators and will continue sharing its position with policymakers throughout the region.

For more information, please contact:
North Orange County Chamber of Commerce
nocchamber.com
714.871.3100