California Sees Over $500 Million in Lobbying from Special Interests Last Year

Lobbying expenditures in California reached an unprecedented $540 million in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the prior year, driven by entities like Google, oil firms, and utilities during pivotal sessions. Experts indicate that the state's substantial economy fuels this trend, enticing more interest groups to engage seriously with legislative activities. The Western States Petroleum Association notably spent over $17 million; Google, traditionally less active, ramped up efforts significantly, primarily opposing legislation on media and AI. Corporate lobbying success remains around 60%.