Sacramento, California – Lobbying spending in California soared to unprecedented levels in 2024, with more than $540 million poured into influencing lawmakers and state officials—a 10% jump from the previous year, according to a CalMatters analysis of newly filed data with the Secretary of State.
The highest ever recorded spike was fueled by aggressive advocacy from tech giants like Google, oil companies, and utilities, particularly during intense legislative battles in the third quarter. The rise underscores California’s government’s growing influence on national policy and corporate strategy.
“Half a billion is kind of normal,” said Francesco Trebbi, an economics professor at UC Berkeley. “Given California’s size—14% of U.S. GDP—this level of spending aligns with what you’d expect in a full-time Legislature within the world’s fifth-largest economy.”…