Government Affairs · Legislative Strategy · Public Affairs
Schumsky Consulting
Senior government affairs counsel with 25+ years of experience shaping policy, building coalitions, and delivering outcomes across California's most contested legislative and regulatory battlegrounds.
About
Schumsky Consulting provides senior-level government affairs, legislative strategy, and public affairs counsel to corporations, trade associations, and advocacy organizations operating in California's complex political environment.
Founded by Matt Schumsky, the firm brings 25+ years of direct experience in the rooms where policy is made — from the California State Capitol to city councils, planning commissions, and federal offices. Matt has served as the California State Director and then National Vice President of Legislative Affairs at FreedomWorks, Political Director of the California Republican Party, and senior campaign official on some of the most consequential races in California political history.
Clients rely on Schumsky Consulting for its genuine quality federal and state relationships, proven ballot measure expertise, and sophisticated understanding of when to lobby directly, when to mobilize a coalition, and when to take a fight to the voters.
Services
Direct advocacy before the California Legislature, Governor's office, state regulatory agencies, and local governments. Bill tracking, committee strategy, floor vote management, and regulatory engagement on behalf of corporate and association clients.
Full-cycle ballot measure management — from initiative drafting and title strategy through signature gathering, coalition formation, media strategy, advertising, and voter contact. Experience spanning both statewide and local measures across 20+ years.
Identifying, recruiting, and managing diverse coalitions of business, civic, labor, and community stakeholders. Building the broad-based support structures that give legislative campaigns and ballot measures credibility and staying power.
Designing and executing grassroots and grasstops organizing campaigns — signature drives, community engagement, earned media strategy, digital and traditional advertising, and mobilization of constituent voices to influence legislative outcomes.
Strategic engagement with California state agencies, boards, and commissions on rulemaking, permitting, and enforcement matters. Navigating the regulatory process to protect client interests and create pathways for business expansion.
Translating complex legislation and regulatory proposals into clear strategic guidance. Issue monitoring, threat and opportunity assessment, opposition research, and scenario planning across California's rapidly shifting policy environment.
Policy Record
A cross-section of major California statewide ballot measures and legislation on which Schumsky Consulting has provided strategic counsel, direct lobbying, coalition management, signature gathering oversight, media strategy, and advertising.
| Measure | Description | Outcome | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prop 22 (2020) | App-Based Drivers as Independent Contractors — $225M campaign; lobbied against AB 5 (Asm. Gonzalez) | Passed 58% | Support |
| Prop 26 (2010) | Required Two-Thirds Vote for State Levies and Charges | Passed | Support |
| Prop 20 (2010) | Redistricting of Congressional Districts | Passed | Support |
| Prop 23 (2010) | Repealed AB 32 Climate Regulations Until Unemployment Below 5.5% | Failed | Support |
| Prop 6 (2018) | Repealed SB 1 Gas Tax — Directed 940,000+ Signature Drive | Failed | Support |
| Prop 32 (2012) | Prohibited Payroll-Deducted Funds for Political Use | Failed | Support |
| Prop 36 (2012) | Revised Three Strikes Law — Life Sentence Only for Violent Strikes | Passed | Support |
| Prop 47 (2014) | Reduced Nonviolent Offenses from Felonies to Misdemeanors | Passed | Support |
| Prop 57 (2016) | Criminal Sentences and Juvenile Proceedings Reform | Passed | Support |
| Prop 36 (2024) | Increased Penalties for Drug and Theft Crimes | Passed | Support |
| Prop 64 (2016) | Marijuana Legalization — Adult Recreational Use | Passed | Support |
| Prop 22 (2010) | Prohibited State from Taking Local Transportation/Government Funds | Passed | Support |
| Prop 1 (2018) | Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act | Passed | Support |
| Prop 68 (2018) | Water, Parks, Climate, and Coastal Protection Bonds | Passed | Support |
| Prop 4 (2024) | $10 Billion Bonds for Water Infrastructure & Environmental Programs | Passed | Support |
| Prop 31 (2022) | Upheld Flavored Tobacco Products Ban | Passed | Support |
| Prop 34 (2024) | Restricted Prescription Drug Revenue Spending — Health Care Providers | Passed | Support |
| Prop 35 (2024) | Made Permanent the Tax on Managed Health Care Insurance Plans | Passed | Support |
| Prop 55 (2016) | Extended Income Tax Increases for Education and Healthcare | Passed | Oppose |
| Prop 10 (2018) | Expanded Rent Control Authority for Local Governments | Failed | Oppose |
| Prop 8 (2018) | Kidney Dialysis Clinic Regulation — Limits on Charges | Failed | Oppose |
| Prop 14 (2010) | Open Primaries / Top Two Primary Act | Passed | Oppose |
| Bill | Description & Key Legislators | Outcome | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB 5 (2019) | Gig Worker Reclassification — Asm. Lorena Gonzalez; secured contractor protections for gig economy clients | Signed | Support |
| SB 822 (2018) | California Net Neutrality Act — Sen. Wiener & de León; opposed on behalf of AT&T and Verizon | Signed | Oppose |
| SB 1 (2017) | Road Repair Gas Tax — Sen. Jim Beall; led Prop 6 repeal signature drive (940,000+ signatures) | Signed | Oppose |
| SB 100 (2018) | 100% Clean Electricity Mandate by 2045 — Sen. Kevin de León | Signed | Oppose |
| SB 32 (2016) | Extended GHG Reduction Targets (40% below 1990 levels) — Sen. Fran Pavley | Signed | Oppose |
| AB 1400 (2022) | CalCare Single-Payer Healthcare — Asm. Ash Kalra; bill defeated in Assembly | Failed | Oppose |
| SB 330 (2019) | Housing Crisis Act — Sen. Nancy Skinner; prohibited cities from downzoning | Signed | Support |
| SB 35 (2017) | Streamlined Housing Approvals in Cities — Sen. Scott Wiener | Signed | Support |
| AB 68 (2019) | ADU Permitting Streamlining Statewide — Asm. Phil Ting | Signed | Support |
| AB 375 / CCPA (2018) | California Consumer Privacy Act — Asm. Ed Chau | Signed | Support |
| AB 2257 (2020) | AB 5 Amendments / Contractor Exemptions — Asm. Lorena Gonzalez | Signed | Support |
| SB 17 (2017) | Drug Price Transparency — Sen. Ed Hernandez | Signed | Support |
| SB 81 (2021) | Sentencing Enhancement Reform — Sen. Nancy Skinner | Signed | Support |
| SB 993 (2018) | Services Tax Study — Sen. Robert Hertzberg; opposed extension of sales tax to services | Failed | Oppose |
| SB 1107 (2016) | Public Campaign Financing in Cities/Counties — Sen. Jerry Hill | Signed | Oppose |
| AB 1714 (2022) | Broadband Infrastructure Buildout Funding — supported for telecom clients | Signed | Support |
Contact
For inquiries about government affairs counsel, legislative strategy, ballot measure work, or coalition management in California, reach out directly.
Phone
(619) 944-2833Location
Winchester, California