This week, RCRC-opposed Senate Bill 649, authored by Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), was determined to have potential significant fiscal impacts and was placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee (Committee) suspense file. Bills placed on the suspense file will be voted on and may pass out of Committee the end of August 2017.
SB 649 would eliminate local consideration of the aesthetic and environmental impacts of “small cell” structures and force counties to lease space to wireless companies at a rate set by the Legislature. RCRC and its local government partners remain strongly opposed to the legislation. At this time, seventeen RCRC member counties have submitted letters of opposition, which can be accessed here. The text of the bill can be accessed here.
In order for SB 649 to be considered by the Governor this year, it must pass out of the Assembly and Senate by September 15, 2017.