By SACRAMENTO, California (CalMatters)– Last year, nearly 100 interest groups spent more than $820,000 to sponsor trips for 92 state lawmakers. The nonprofit was also the largest trip patron for legislators in 2022 and 2023. Six lawmakers attended a November trip to Taiwan and Vietnam focused on electric vehicles, high-speed rail and natural-disaster preparedness. nd-largest sponsor of trips lawmakers took in 2024 was the Independent Voter Project, a nonprofit that focuses on voter education of public policy issues. “The trips advance California and Israel’s long partnership on issues such as agriculture, technology and innovation,” Russell said.