Anti-Monopoly Bill Hits Make-or-Break Moment in California by David Dayen

[justaprogressive]

https://prospect.org/2026/06/29/anti-monopoly-bill-hits-make-or-break-moment-in-california/]

A bill to update the antitrust laws in the nation’s most populous state faces a critical legislative hearing this week. At a time when California is among the states being relied upon as a substitute for proper antitrust enforcement, which is moribund at the federal level thanks to Trump administration corruption, advocates say the state must have a full suite of tools to succeed.

Monied interests are working diligently to stop the bill, but it gained important momentum late last week when a key senator signed on. The office of state Sen. Ben Allen, who is running for statewide office to become California’s insurance commissioner, told the Prospect that “the Senator is very likely going to be supporting the bill.” Allen was one of a handful of Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats whose position on the bill was uncertain as of last week.

Allen is roommates in Sacramento with Sen. Henry Stern; they represent nearby districts in Southern California and often vote in concert. Stern has also been considered a swing vote on the legislation. His office did not respond to a request from the Prospect for clarification.

There are 13 members on the committee, 11 Democrats and 2 Republicans. If Allen and Stern support the bill, it likely has enough votes to get out of the committee. Sen. Scott Wiener, who is running for Congress from San Francisco, previously told the Prospect he would support it, and five other Democrats are expected yes votes, with three others undecided, including the chair, Sen. Tom Umberg. As chair, however, Umberg could influence several committee members with his recommendation, so the outcome remains uncertain.

[Celerity]

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