Lemon Law Veto
At the close of the 2024 legislative session, a backroom Bill between consumer attorneys and A major automaker proposed sweeping changes to California’s lemon laws, threatening both consumers and automakers.
Cobalt Public Affairs was brought in by a coalition of consumer groups and automakers to draw public and political attention to the bill and to create a favorable environment for a veto.
Our Approach
In just one week, Cobalt Public Affairs implemented a high-impact campaign to oppose the bill. This effort involved mobilizing public action, crafting compelling messaging, and leveraging media outreach to spotlight the bill’s harmful consequences for both consumers and automakers. Key tactics included:
Grassroots Mobilization
Activated Californians to directly engage with lawmakers and the governor's office.
Media Advocacy
Positioned coalition voices in the media to amplify the negative consequences of the bill.
Targeted Messaging
Framed the narrative to highlight specific impacts on consumers and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
Key Deliverables
We delivered a suite of solutions to position the organization for long-term success:
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Developed clear, concise messaging to educate stakeholders on the bill’s potential harm to consumer protections and the growing EV market.
Crafted narratives emphasizing the risks to California’s reputation as a leader in consumer rights and innovation.
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Mobilized more than 1,000 calls and emails to the governor and legislative offices within a week.
Encouraged coalition members to amplify the campaign’s message through their own networks, building a groundswell of oppositio
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Pitched impactful stories to media outlets, highlighting the bill’s potential to undermine California’s consumer protection standards.
Positioned coalition leaders as authoritative voices in the debate, ensuring their perspectives shaped public discourse.
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Produced engaging visuals and social media content to drive awareness and action among the public and policymakers.
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Drafted op-eds, fact sheets, and press materials that clearly outlined the stakes of the bill for consumers and automakers, particularly EV manufacturers.
Results
Through targeted grassroots mobilization, media outreach, and strategic messaging, Cobalt Public Affairs created significant public and political pressure that led to the bill's veto, generated widespread awareness of the coalition’s concerns among key stakeholders and the public, and protected California’s lemon laws, preserving critical consumer protections and supporting the state’s innovative EV market.