From the shift to SMAs and ETFs and what that means for deal structures and the yield curve, to how the buy-side is looking at municipal credit as the proliferation of AI explodes, our panelists will give their take on the status of the municipal investor base.

How are developers engaging in the California Public Finance community? As the federal government pulls back funding generally, is there growth and opportunity here for state and local governments to work with these newer players? 

With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, Southern California faces an unprecedented deadline to deliver a seamless, “transit-first” mobility plan. Set against a complex backdrop of evolving local funding initiatives, uncertain federal capital grants, and post-pandemic transit recovery, transportation leaders find themselves at a crucial turning point.

Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies promise increased efficiency and productivity for all market participants. However, automation without rigorous oversight creates significant risks. This panel will look beyond the “AI hype” and discuss implementing anticipatory governance to harness the power of technology without sacrificing the integrity of the balance sheet.

What’s at stake in Washington as the midterm elections loom? Are there threats to municipal tax policy? After an increased scrutiny of Joint Powers Authorities, public-private partnership structures, and disclosure practices, what are the regulators looking to accomplish now?

California’s fiscal outlook: structural deficits, volatile revenues, and shifting costs. How is the state faring as it continues to face a structural imbalance between ongoing revenues and spending? To what extent do recent efforts to close that gap rely on spending reductions that have yet to be fully realized? How exposed is the state’s fiscal position to stock market volatility and other unusually strong revenue sources? And as federal policies shift more costs and responsibilities to the state, what does that mean for California’s budget and its ability to fund other priorities?