to answer you question YES! FAR TO MUCH. i deal with it on a daily damn basis. the California Air Resources Board is something to be feared. If you think its not going to spread to you area, just wait and see. You will feel the pain.
I agree it can get out of hand, I lived in southern california. Have you seen the air quality there? It's terrible while the rules do seem overburdening at times I would rather that than what China has.
Do business in any of the other 49 states, and then do business in CA. It's a ugly world of difference. You really need to be a substance abuser to spend time on the phone dealing with the CA beaurocracy. If not before, then you will be after. If you don't believe me just set up a workmans comp policy there, you'll be a believer ; ) Costs to do biz in CA is waaaaaay higher than anywhere else in the U.S. It's almost not worth it. That why a lot of small business' have fled. Plus they'll throw you in jail for having a few firearms in the truck. And they make you wear a helmet on a mc. I won't even start on caltrans or calosha.