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Bill would let San Luis Obispo voters raise local sales tax above state cap for transportation projects
Summary
Sen. Laird told the Assembly Local Government Committee that SB 333 would let San Luis Obispo County voters decide whether the combined local sales tax limit can exceed 2% to fund transportation projects; the committee moved the bill forward 7-2.
Sen. Heather Laird introduced SB 333 on June 19, 2025, saying the bill would allow voters in San Luis Obispo County to decide whether the countywide combined local sales tax limit may exceed 2 percent to finance transportation services.
Supporters said the measure is aimed at enabling a countywide transportation tax where previous ballots narrowly failed. "The voters did not approve a transportation tax three cycles ago by a handful of votes," Laird told the Assembly Local Government Committee. She said the seven cities in the county and the county government have endorsed the bill and that local governments need the option in place if they put a measure to voters next year.
The bill’s sponsor on the record was Gus Kory of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, who asked the committee for a vote. No witnesses registered opposition during the hearing.
Why it matters: The bill does not itself raise taxes; it would authorize a local ballot measure to exceed the statutory 2 percent combined local sales tax limit if approved by local voters. Proponents said the change is necessary to allow the county and its cities to finance planned transportation improvements.
The Assembly Local Government Committee took a roll-call vote and moved SB 333 forward to the Revenue and Taxation Committee. The committee vote recorded on the hearing was 7-2.
What’s next: The measure was ordered to the Revenue and Taxation Committee for further consideration.
