Committee approves adding Chico County to surface-water tax-credit program

Representative Howard Beatty (D-95) told the Senate Revenue & Tax Committee that House Bill 1624 would add Chico County to the list of counties eligible for income tax credits under the Water Resource Conservation Development Incentives Act.

"It was just an omission to add Chico County," Beatty said, describing the change as correcting an oversight after redistricting and arguing the inclusion would help landowners in his newly drawn district.

Members questioned how many residents would benefit and whether the state would incur new costs. The chair explained the bill does not change the statute's existing overall credit cap and therefore is revenue‑neutral in the state's fiscal forecast; committee members noted the transcript did not specify how much of the cap has already been used.

Senator Blake Johnson asked whether the bill was self‑serving; Beatty said it would help many residents in Chico County. After brief questioning and no opposition testimony on the record, Senator Dismay moved that the committee "do pass" the bill, Senator Blake Johnson seconded, and the committee advanced HB1624 by voice vote.