VICA Counts Victories as Legislative Session Ends

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association announced successes Friday as the California Legislature ended its session for the year. For the tourism industry, VICA advocated on behalf of SB 905, which allows cities to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption until 4 a.m. The bill passed into law. “A robust, vibrant nightlife is a key step in bringing visitors and investment to Los Angeles,” VICA President Stuart Waldman said in a statement. “By extending hours of operation, we’re helping the entire community by creating jobs, increasing tax revenue and promoting night life in specific communities.” In the entertainment sector, VICA supported extension of the California Film and Television Tax Credit from its original sunset date. In construction, VICA praised passage of SB 961, which provides an additional financing tool for cities and counties to build housing near transit areas. Another VICA-supported bill that passed was SB 2162, which streamlines the approval of projects that include permanent housing units for the homeless. On the energy front, VICA supported passage of AB 1879, which prevents the California Public Utilities Commission from imposing a moratorium on new natural gas connections without first providing a report on the necessity for the action. The business group also praised the defeat of SB 845, which would have imposed a hidden “remission” on water bills across California. VICA was disappointed that SB 100, which would set expensive and unrealistic mandates on renewable energy and drive up costs for California employers and families, was sent by the Legislature to Gov. Jerry Brown. “Experts know that 100 percent renewable energy simply isn’t feasible without increasing rates to unaffordable levels for small businesses and families,” Waldman said in a statement. “Legislators have passed a bill that jeopardizes energy choice, affordability and reliability.” Based in Van Nuys, VICA advocates on behalf of businesses at the local, state and federal levels of government.