Assembly Budget Subcommittee Considers Williamson Act Subvention Funding

On Tuesday, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 4 discussed the issue of Williamson Act subventions. Assembly Member Susan Eggman, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, testified in support of inclusion of subvention monies in the 2014-15 State Budget, and referenced the bi-partisan legislative letter signed by 32 Members of the Senate and Assembly urging the same. 

Along with RCRC, several members of the Williamson Act Coalition also testified in support of subvention funding, including California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger. Other organizations lending supportive testimony included the Nature Conservancy, California Cattlemen’s Association, Western United Dairymen, the California Building Industry Association, and CSAC.

The item was held open, and will be brought up again at a later date, possibly as a vote only item. There was no indication as to the level of funding the Members of the subcommittee were considering. Members of the Williamson Act Coalition are working to secure a similar hearing in the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee Number 4.

For additional information, please contact RCRC Legislative Advocate Kathy Mannion at 916.447.4806 or kmannion@rcrcnet.org.