Cannabis Taxation Relief – Passage of AB 195
A bill that was signed by the governor and took effect on July 1, 2022 provides much needed relief to over-taxation that has negatively impacted the California cannabis industry for years. Assembly Bill 195 indefinitely halts the cultivation tax and shifts excise tax collection from distribution to retail. The bill gives tax relief for at least three years, did not end up including a previously proposed automatic tax increase (which would have taken effect in 2024), bolstered enforcement against unlicensed operators, and provided additional relief for social equity operators.
The board of supervisors’ 2022 legislative platform – that is, the top legislative positions that support the board’s 2022 priority objectives – includes support for tax relief for the cannabis industry, as well as effective enforcement on illegal cannabis operations. I also help advocate for better regulations for the California cannabis industry through my membership on the California State Association of Counties’ cannabis workgroup.
NACo Annual Conference
I recently attended the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) annual conference, where I continued my work advocating for Nevada County’s interests on the national stage. This event is the largest meeting of county elected and appointed officials from across the country. Participants from counties of all sizes come together to shape NACo's federal policy agenda, share proven practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.
Some of the issues I focused on are resources for our public land managers (think US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.), payments in lieu of taxes from public land holders to the County, resources for climate adaptation and resilience, and broadband.
