Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Leah Barros

No. 98 Leah Barros

Barros has quietly become one the head of the most effective boutique lobbying shops in Sacramento, with a client list that includes the California Hospital Association, NRG, Planned Parenthood and AT&T among others. Not too shabby for a small, two-person firm. Barros has had a hand in several significant social justice measures in recent years, including the passage of the CROWN Act, former State Sen. Holly Mitchell’s bill that bars discrimination based on a person’s hairstyle. That law has now been adopted in dozens of states. Barros has also championed the Silenced No More Act, which grants whistleblowers the power to speak out about discrimination and harassment (regardless of NDA’s) without fear of reprisal. She is widely respected for her ability to build coalitions and her resilience under pressure.