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Committee advances bill to add 10 on-sale liquor licenses for Colusa County to spur local economic development
Summary
Assemblymember Aguirre Curry introduced AB 445 to grant Colusa County ten on-sale liquor licenses after testimony that the county has not qualified for new licenses in decades and that demand has driven license prices as high as $400,000; the committee passed the bill to Appropriations as amended.
Assemblymember Aguirre Curry presented Assembly Bill 445 to the Government Organization Committee seeking to allocate ten on-sale liquor licenses to Colusa County. The bill’s author told the committee Colusa County has not qualified for new alcohol beverage licenses in over 20 years and that “small business is a force to pay up to $400,000 for licenses.” The committee voted to pass AB 445 as amended to the Appropriations Committee.
The author began by saying he would accept committee amendments and argued the licenses would support local economic development in the rural county of his district. He described the local scarcity of liquor licenses and the resulting high secondary-market prices as a barrier for small, community-rooted businesses.
No witnesses in opposition were recorded during public testimony; the author asked for the committee’s vote when a quorum was established. Later in the hearing the committee moved AB 445 as amended to Appropriations on a motion by Assemblymember Nguyen with a second by Assemblymember Sanchez. The committee’s roll call was taken and the measure recorded as passed to Appropriations.
Committee discussion during the hearing focused on the local economic effects and the author’s stated willingness to accept committee amendments. The transcript does not record additional details on the specific amendments adopted; any amendments will be reflected in the committee record at the time of the Appropriations referral.
