Senator Strickland Named OCBC’s 2026 Legislator of the Year

Oct
26
2026
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OCBC honors Sen. Strickland for the second straight year for his pro-business leadership

For the second consecutive year, Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) has been named the Orange County Business Council’s 2026 Legislator of the Year. OCBC announced the recognition this morning, citing his work on issues that matter to Orange County businesses, employers, and families.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the Orange County Business Council two years in a row,” said Senator Strickland. “Orange County’s businesses create jobs, support families, and keep our local economy moving. But the rising cost of living and doing business makes it harder for employers to grow and families to get ahead. I remain committed to making California a more affordable place to live and work, and a better place to do business, create jobs and build a stronger future for the next generation.”

This year, Senator Strickland is a coauthor of Senate Joint Resolution 15 (SJR 15), which urges Congress to protect California businesses from a looming federal unemployment tax increase tied to the state’s outstanding unemployment insurance (UI) debt.

California’s failure to repay its federal UI loans has triggered higher federal unemployment taxes for employers. According to the California Business Roundtable, employers face a potential federal UI tax rate of 5.2%, nearly nine times the rate paid by employers in states without outstanding federal UI debt. Paying down the debt is important to prevent further tax increases, reduce the financial burden on employers, and help protect California jobs and small businesses.

OCBC Legislator of the Year

“Senator Strickland has been a strong voice on issues that affect Orange County’s economy and business community,” said Jeff Ball, President and CEO of OCBC. “We appreciate Senator Strickland’s leadership and his work to support employers, encourage investment, and strengthen Orange County’s economy both in Sacramento and in his district.”

“Thank you to Jeff and the entire OCBC team for the partnership and for recognizing my work on behalf of Orange County’s business community in Sacramento. I look forward to continuing our work together,” concluded Senator Strickland.

Notable pro-business legislation that Senator Strickland voted in support of: 

  • Senate Bill 690: Changes how certain privacy-law claims involving online activity can be pursued, restricting those particular lawsuits to the Attorney General rather than allowing injured individuals to bring them directly. 

  • Senate Bill 1036: Changes how certain development impact fees account for changes to existing uses, which in turn can reduce fees attributable to pre-existing development impacts. 

  • Assembly Bill 685: Updates eligibility requirements for California's small-business technical assistance grant programs, allows certain technical assistance centers to apply together under a single fiscal agent, and establishes standardized performance measures and reporting requirements. 

  • Assembly 2044: Requires a completed estimate of compliance costs, including supporting assumptions, before the California Building Standards Commission can approve or adopt a building standard, promoting greater transparency and predictability in building regulations.  

  • Assembly Bill 2418: Gives businesses another option to move certain building permits forward when local government reviews take too long, potentially helping reduce delays in commercial construction and tenant improvements.