CAPITOL UPDATE- JANUARY 26, 2023
By Chris Wysocki
Budget Deficits and Tax Increases
The Legislature is quickly gearing up to handle budget deficits, and a lot of discussion this week has focused on a new proposal contained in Assembly Bill 259 to create a global wealth tax. Sponsored by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose), his measure would add a 1.5% tax on California residents with a global net worth of more than $1 billion. A 1% tax would be imposed on residents with a global net worth of more than $50 million.
To read AB 259, please click on the following link:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB259
California Continues to Lose Population
While it is true that very few California residents would be impacted by AB 259, policymakers are aware that the state lost another 114,000 people between 2021 and 2022 as reported by the United States Census Bureau. The demographics of the migration out of the state are interesting, and to view the Census report, please click on the following link:
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA
Legislative Deadline Approaching
The deadline has now passed for legislators to submit to the Legislative Counsel ideas for new legislation. Legislators will have until February 17th to introduce bills, and many of them will be “spot bills” that declare an intent to fix some problem without any real substantive language. WMA continues to monitor bill introductions, and as of today; there have been a total of 526 bills introduced, but this number will significantly grow as we get closer to the bill introduction deadline.
Please continue to check the WMA website for bills we are tracking that affect the manufactured home communities industry by clicking on the following link:
https://www.wma.org/bills-interest
Assembly Leadership Challenges
Last November, the Assembly Democrat Caucus unanimously voted to keep Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) in his leadership role until June of 2023 and decided that Assemblyman Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) would be his replacement on June 30th.
Recent press reports indicate hard feelings remain as Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) may seek another vote to undo the “deal” reached last November. To read more about this issue, please review the following article:
Why does it matter who holds the gavel as Assembly Speaker? Simply put, the Speaker decides who serves on committees and largely determines what committees will hear the thousands of bills that are expected to be introduced.
High Speed Internet
WMA has been working over the past several months working with Kwikbit Internet to help mobilehome parks tap into federal funds that can be used to build a broadband internet infrastructure in mobilehome parks (MHPs).
Fast, reliable internet speeds of up to 1,000 mbps can be possible in parks without disruptive trenching that often comes with fiber wires being installed. To find out if your park is eligible for a free upgrade using federal funds to provide wireless One Gig internet, click here:
This form needs to be filled out by March 10, 2023, and Kwikbit will determine your eligibility for government-subsidized internet infrastructure and respond within eight business days.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and please feel free to e-mail me at chris@wma.org or call me at (916) 288-4026 with any questions.
