All Eyes on Senate Judiciary Committee Ahead of Tuesday Anti-Monopoly Bill Hearing
SACRAMENTO – As the COMPETE Act heads to a key vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Tech Oversight California is calling on lawmakers to advance the landmark anti-monopoly bill, which would stop the state’s largest corporations from crushing competitors before they can get off the ground, over a coordinated, big-money campaign to kill it:
“The COMPETE Act is a must-pass for California’s economy because it would stop the biggest corporations from crushing competitors before they ever get off the ground. Big Tech will spend whatever it takes to protect its monopolies, but COMPETE is gaining momentum even in the face of a coordinated opposition campaign. Tuesday is the moment for the Judiciary Committee to stand with Californians, not Big Tech monopolies,” said Tech Oversight California Executive Director Sacha Haworth.
Support for the bill is building on the Judiciary Committee even as the opposition escalates, with members signaling the COMPETE Act has increasing support.
That momentum comes despite an onslaught of lobbying targeted at powerful Judiciary Committee members. CalChamber, which receives major funding from Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta, has made killing the COMPETE Act its top priority this session. The Chamber spent $13.5 million lobbying state lawmakers last year, boosted by a $3.1 million top-up payment from Meta. Big Tech companies spent another $12 million lobbying California legislators directly, with Meta alone accounting for at least $4.6 million, more than in any previous year. Judiciary Committee members will cast their votes under a coordinated, well-funded push from the very monopolies the bill targets.
Support for the COMPETE Act spans labor, small business, and consumer advocates – from the California Labor Federation of Unions and Teamsters California to Small Business Forward, Small Business Majority, the Consumer Federation of California, and dozens more (full coalition list below).
The case for the COMPETE Act
Daily Journal – OPINION: California should lead on competition while Washington falters (Gene Kimmelman, 6/23/26)
San Francisco Chronicle – OPINION: California has an affordability crisis. Passing this bill to rein in Big Tech would help (Teri Olle, 6/8/26)
Big Tech’s war on California’s COMPETE Act
“The Senate Judiciary Committee has been seen as a location for corporate interests to make a stand … Big-money lobbyists have already added amendments into AB 1776, including exemptions for small businesses and requirements to provide evidence of market power in any liability cases. Predictably, CalChamber has said that the amendments only add uncertainty and continue to put all businesses in litigation risk.” – The American Prospect, 6/29/26
“Last week, the Chamber launched a six-figure campaign around Sacramento featuring an ad on the back of a truck that called Aguiar-Curry out by her first name, which the lawmaker called a bullying tactic … This week, the Chamber sent a letter … to the full Assembly, asking members not to vote for the bill.” – POLITICO, 5/27/26
“The opposition is led by the largest corporations in the state. Not one signatory is a small business. Rather, the letter is signed by 45 local subsidiaries of the California Chamber of Commerce and a host of technology, real estate, hospital, and finance trade associations representing the most dominant firms in their respective industries.” – American Economic Liberties Project, 5/27/26
“Big Tech lobbying in Sacramento added up to an eye-popping $12 million year-end total in 2025. Additionally, CalChamber, which lobbies on behalf of the tech industry, spent a total of $13,464,741 on lobbying in Sacramento, and had its political coffers replenished with $3.1 million from Meta.” – Tech Oversight CA, 2/3/26
Widespread support for California’s COMPETE Act
The broad coalition of advocates supporting the landmark antitrust overhaul includes Tech Oversight California, the Amalgamated Transit Union, the American Economic Liberties Project, California Association of Microenterprise Opportunity (CAMEO), California Black Chamber of Commerce, California Labor Federation of Unions, California Low Income Consumer Coalition (CLICC), California Nurses Association, California Public Banking Alliance, California Work & Family Coalition, Center for Responsible Lending, Communication Workers of America District 9, Consumer Attorneys of California, Consumer Federation of California, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), Courage California, End Poverty in California (EPIC), Economic Security California Action, Engineers & Scientists of California, IFPTE Local 20, Future of Music Coalition, Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 80, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Latino Prosperity, Kapor Center Advocacy, PCR Business Finance, Propel San Francisco, Responsible Online Commerce Coalition, Rise Economy, Small Business Forward, Small Business Majority, SMART – Transportation Division, Teamsters California, TechEquity Action, UDW AFSCME Local 3930, UFCW Western States Council, Warehouse Workers Resource Center, and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.