The California State Senate Appropriations Committee voted to pass SB 649 out of committee and back to the Senate floor on Thursday.
The Wireless Telecommunications Facilities bill, which would define small cells according to federal standards and place them under state jurisdiction, passed through committee on a 6-to-0 vote. One member abstained as the committee voted on the bill that had been placed in the suspense file on May 16.
The item is set to be heard on the Senate floor today.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, and could cap the amount of rent local governments can charge for cell placement, as well as make the state responsible for where the cells can be placed.
Groups that support the bill include the Wireless Association and the California State Sheriffs’ Association.
Opponents of the bill include the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties.
