In September, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom officially repealed California’s 2016 ban on state-funded travel to states with laws targeting LGBTQ+ people.

The idea behind the ban — which applied to bureaucrats, lawmakers, academics and even college athletes — was to use California's economic heft to dissuade other states from enacting such laws. By that metric, it was an abysmal failure; in the past seven years, the number of states with objectionable laws increased from four to 26.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Governor Gavin Newsom signed nine bills Saturday to enhance California's protections for people in LGBTQ+ communities. They specifically include measures to better support the youth.

THE BUZZ — California legislators are confronting LGBTQ rights in a way that might have seemed unimaginable just a handful of years ago. A nationwide wave of anti-transgender bills and rhetoric has come to the state, and Democrats and the governor are deciding how to respond.

That tension is expected to play out this week with back-to-back rallies by groups on opposite sides of the debate over trans-inclusive policies in schools.

Welcome Tim Jemal, NAIOP SoCal CEO, as he sits down with a diverse network of industry leaders, rising young professionals, and elected officials and to discuss what drives these individuals to succeed and contribute the communities in which we live. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and learn from the personal and professional journeys of those who have influenced our industry.