You can call it advocacy, influence peddling, or the more neutral lobbying. But whatever the name, it can help determine the fate of key legislation — and it’s a big business at the state Capitol.

Sameea Kamal

CalMatters

How big?

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, more than $358 million was spent by nearly 4,000 companies, organizations, and local governments to lobby California’s government. That’s a slight increase from the $333 million during the same nine months in 2022.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, more than $358 million was spent by nearly 4,000 companies, organizations, and local governments to lobby California’s government. That’s a slight increase from the $333 million during the same nine months in 2022.

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Chevron Leads the Pack

CalMatters data journalist Jeremia Kimelman analyzed the numbers for the past legislative session and also found:

• Chevron Corp. ($10 million) and the Western States Petroleum Association ($5.3 million) spent the most on lobbying. For the past four legislative sessions, they were among the top three lobbying spenders. Among the bills they lobbied on: a “windfall profit” tax on the oil industry that was watered down.
• The third highest spender was the Hawaiian Gardens Casino in Los Angeles County at $5.1 million, far more than the roughly $120,000 a year it spent in recent legislative sessions. This year, it lobbied on bills regulating card rooms.
• The...

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