# California’s $1.1B Capitol Project: 2,000 NDAs and Growing Questions | The Center Square Daily

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680/california-s-1-1b-capitol-project-2-000-ndas-and-growing-questions-the-center-square-daily.md
Podcast: [The States](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-center-square-daily-6742680)
Published: 2026-05-21T21:07:39+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/americas-talking-network4
Audio file: https://afp-444292-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098/episodes/29d8323c-1573-4799-941e-30264d167849/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8b02661e-96f3-4975-81b1-e2aa11528098&awEpisodeId=29d8323c-1573-4799-941e-30264d167849&feed=yyj8m_Dh
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Duration seconds: 915

## Resource

Illinois lawmakers are raising questions about highly paid diversity commissioners and outside consulting work after new disclosures tied to the state’s $6 million Commission on Equity and Inclusion. Critics say the agency’s reported contracting progress may be misleading while the number of certified minority- and women-owned businesses eligible for state contracts has sharply declined amid ongoing system failures. Meanwhile, California’s controversial $1.1 billion Capitol renovation project is drawing renewed scrutiny over more than 2,000 non-disclosure agreements tied to lawmakers, contractors, and state officials. Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover is pushing legislation to ban secrecy agreements on public projects, arguing taxpayers deserve transparency on rising costs, delays, and unusual contracting decisions tied to the decade-long construction effort.

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