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Bill to add 12 restaurant liquor licenses in Santa Cruz County clears committee as amended
Summary
AB 2731 would authorize 12 additional Type 47 restaurant liquor licenses in Santa Cruz County (six for Watsonville) to address local equity in license distribution; the committee passed the bill as amended including limits on annual issuances and a prohibition on secondary‑market sale.
Assemblymember Addis presented AB 2731, which would authorize the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue 12 additional Type 47 restaurant licenses for Santa Cruz County—six reserved for the city of Watsonville and six for other southern county communities. "This is a matter of equity," Kim DeSerpa, a Santa Cruz County supervisor, told the committee, noting the disparity in licenses between similar-sized communities and the high secondary‑market prices that block new entrants.
Tamara Vides, Watsonville city manager, described local ordinances and enforcement tools the city uses to prioritize responsible operations and said the bill would provide limited, equitable expansion. The author and supporters noted the measure prevents the newly authorized licenses from being sold on the secondary market and discussed an amendment limiting issuance to no more than five such licenses per year under the specified provisions.
The committee passed AB 2731 as amended to the committee on appropriations; members recorded support during roll call and the chair said the bill had the votes to advance.
