Government Affairs
The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is passionate about legislative advocacy for business. We believe in transparency and share any letters of support or opposition that we send. The Government Affairs committee works with CalChambers and various other organizations to support or oppose legislation that affects our business community and the Imperial Valley.
The committee also hosts four (4) Legislative Day events that highlight legislation from Federal, State & local governments as well as community updates from the IID, CalTrans, Imperial County Board of Supervisors & Lithium Valley. If there is legislation that potentially affects your business, please feel free to reach out via email.
Chairperson - Sher Cowie
Prince and Associates
Vice-Chair - Deborah McGarry
SoCalGas
IVRCC is The Voice FOR Business
IVRCC ADVOCACY
Date of Letter | Oppose/Support | Item | Letter Sent To: | In Coordination With: | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8/17/2026 | SUPPORT | Letter | California Dept. of Food & Agriculture | Imperial Valley Community Foundation | Southern Desert Agricultural Water Efficiency and Conservation Initiative |
7/17/2026 | SUPPORT | Letter | Office of Community Oriented Policing Services - US Dept of Justice | City of El Centro | City of El Centro COPS Hiring Program Grant Application |
6/17/2026 | OPPOSE | Letter | Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas | CalChamber | Medical Benefits: Employer Reports |
4/30/2026 | OPPOSE | Letter | Members, Senate Appropriations Committee | Cal Chamber | Administrative Procedure Act: Major Regulations |
4/15/2026 | OPPOSE | Letter | Senate Energy Utilities & Communications Committee | SoCalGas | Gas Transition Responsibility and Electrification Act |
3/26/2026 | SUPPORT | Letter | Hon. John Laird & Hon. Caroline Menjivar | Senator Steve Padilla | Request to Provide Long Term Forgiveness of the Distressed Hospital Loan Program |
10/2/2025 | SUPPORT | Letter | Controlled Thermal Resources | CTR | Hell's Kitchen Project |
6/26/2025 | SUPPORT | Letter | Office of Community Oriented Policing Services | City of El Centro | COPS Hiring Program Grant Application |
6/18/2025 | SUPPORT | Letter | Attorney General Rob Bonta | City of El Centro | California Department of Justice 2025/26 Tobacco Grant Program |
5/9/2025 | OPPOSE | Sign On Letter | Assembly Appropriations Committee | Cal Chamber | AB 1313 (Papan) Water Quality Permits |
4/28/2025 | SUPPORT | Letter | Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Waste under Hazardous Waste Control Laws | County of Imperial | AB 1031 (Gonzalez) - Exemption for Geothermal |
4/15/2025 | SUPPORT | Letter | Assemblymember Cottie Petri-Norris - Chair, Assembly Committee on Utilities & Energy | County of Imperial | AB 1016 (Gonzalez) Power Facility & Site Certifications: Thermal Powerplants: Geothermal Resources |
