Assembly Revenue and Taxation committee advances film credits, hemp rules and multiple tax measures; several bills sent to appropriations

The California State Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met to hear a slate of bills affecting local taxes, wildfire recovery, cannabis regulation, housing and the film industry. Committee members advanced several measures to the Appropriations Committee, placed others on the suspense file and left at least one bill held in committee.

Assemblymember Addis introduced AB 761, which would allow the Monterey–Salinas Transit district (MST) to place a countywide sales-tax ballot measure before Monterey County voters if two-thirds of the MST board approves the measure without requiring each member jurisdiction’s separate approval. MST representative Matt Robinson told the committee that Measure Q, a one‑eighth‑cent sales tax enacted in 2014, “has generated approximately $8,500,000 annually,” funding services for veterans, older adults and people with disabilities. Robinson said the bill would let MST “seek a two‑thirds approval of that board, before we move to the ballot.” The committee ultimately moved AB 761 forward; the vote record in the hearing indicated the item was carried and later announced as passed by the body.

On recovery and property taxes, Assemblymember Schultz presented AB 1253, aimed at reducing reassessment risk for homeowners rebuilding after wildfire and other declared disasters. Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang said emergency permits that temporarily allow rebuilding up to 110 percent of the previous structure have created confusion about property‑tax reassessment. Prang said AB 1253 would provide a “clear, temporary, and limited fix allowing assessors to recognize rebuilding up to 10% of the home's original size without triggering reassessment”…