SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation to strengthen the state’s business climate.
The Governor signed the following bills today:
• AB 229 by Assemblymember John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles): Authorizes a city or county to form an infrastructure financing district to finance projects on a former military base and dedicate any portion of its funds from the RDA Property Tax Trust Fund to the district. Also allows district to finance projects in former RDA areas.
• AB 337 by Assemblymember Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach): Updates California’s international trade strategy to include an evaluation of the ports of entry to the state and their capacity for handling international trade, including industrial and postconsumer secondary material, originating from or destined for other states.
• AB 520 by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast): Expands the types of licensees that may provide instructional tasting events regarding wine or distilled spirits at on-sale retail licensed premises.
• AB 983 by Assemblymember Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore): Makes updates to the California Self Storage law that make it more current with other states.
• AB 1711 by Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova): Requires an economic impact assessment to be included in a state agency’s initial statement of reasons when adopting, amending or repealing a non-major regulation.
• AB 2022 by Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside): Redefines economically distressed areas under the Target Area Contract Preference Act to encourage business in areas with the highest unemployment and poverty.
• AB 2109 by Assemblymember Tom Daly (D-Anaheim): Requires the State Controller to report annually on the imposition of each locally assessed parcel tax, as specified, and requires each county, city, and special district to provide any information required by the Controller in order to complete the report.
• AB 2289 by Assemblymember Tom Daly (D-Anaheim): Allows for the electronic filing of documents relating to several industries regulated by the Department of Business Oversight.
• AB 2292 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland): Allows local communities to use infrastructure financing districts, a funding mechanism that requires voter approval, to create communitywide broadband projects.
• SB 614 by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis): Allows a local agency, until January 1, 2025, to use tax increment financing in a newly formed or reorganized district to fund infrastructure improvements in disadvantaged unincorporated communities.
• SB 628 by Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose): Allows local agencies to create enhanced infrastructure financing districts to finance specified infrastructure projects and facilities.
• SB 1175 by Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Niguel): Allows extra-long semitrailers of up to 56 feet on California roads if they are used primarily in connection with motorsports when a permit is issued through the Department of Transportation.
• SB 1228 by Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego): Continues the existence of the Trade Corridors Improvement Fund in order to receive revenues from new funding sources and governs the expenditure of those funds.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Today’s action builds on the legislation Governor Brown signed earlier this month to expand, extend and improve the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program (AB 1939) and a number of bills signed last year to support California businesses. Last year, Governor Brown also signed legislation to revamp the state’s economic development program, known as the Governor’s Economic Development Initiative (AB 93 and SB 90). The Initiative, which received broad, bipartisan support in the Legislature, established a statewide sales tax exemption on all manufacturing equipment and research and development equipment purchases for biotech and manufacturing companies; hiring credits for businesses in areas with the highest unemployment rate and poverty; and provides the opportunity for California businesses to compete for available tax credits based on the number of jobs to be created and retained, wages paid in those jobs and other factors.
Since taking office in 2011, the Governor has approved legislation to modernize the workers’ compensation system, the regulatory and fee structure for the timber industry, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requirements and the facility inspection process for the life sciences industry. In addition to these legislative actions, Governor Brown has established the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) as the state’s lead economic development office to advance business opportunity in California and enacted administrative changes to streamline the oil and gas drilling permitting process.