During the final panel of the Fresno County Economic Development Corp. Real Estate Forecast, industry leaders discussed state policy, permitting timelines, and regulatory uncertainty. The panel included Sacramento-based lobbyist Matthew Hargrove, president and CEO of the California Business Properties Association, and Bonique Emerson, vice president of Precision Civil Engineering’s planning division. Hargove described Sacramento as a "minefield" for developers due to the number of bills introduced annually, with the commercial real estate industry tracking around 400 of these. The most common issues were the California Environmental Quality Act, zoning, greenhouse gas regulations, taxation and fees. The discussion also included Assembly Bill 98, which introduced industrial buffers of up to 900 feet from sensitive receptors such as homes. Despite challenges and uncertainty, Nick Audino said Fresno remains the place to be.