Calif. Broadband Permits Bill Passes Senate; TikTok Bill Punted

The California Senate passed a broadband bill that seeks to streamline permitting. But state legislators punted on a proposed TikTok ban. The Senate voted 40-0 Wednesday for AB-965, which would allow simultaneous processing of multiple broadband permit applications for similar project sites under a single permit and require local governments to decide applications within a reasonable time (see 2308170044). Local government groups had been the bill’s main foes but became neutral after some Senate amendments. The Assembly previously passed the bill but must vote again after Friday to concur with Senate changes. Also Wednesday, the Assembly ordered SB-74 to the inactive file at the request of Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D). It proposes prohibiting high-risk social media apps that, like TikTok, are at least partly owned by an entity or “country of concern.” A spokesperson for sponsor Sen. Bill Dodd (D) said the bill isn't dead. “It won’t be taken up before the end of this session but will be taken up next year.” The procedural maneuver “allows Sen. Dodd to continue working with stakeholders to refine it,” gives the senator more time to review the governor's AI executive order from this week (see 2309060037) and reduces how many bills legislators must deal with before session ends Sept. 14, the spokesperson said. Bryan didn’t comment. On Tuesday, state senators voted 35-0 to pass AB-414, which would create a digital equity bill of rights. The Assembly may take it up for concurrence as soon as Friday. Also Tuesday, the Senate voted 39-0 for AB-947, which would add immigration and citizenship status to the California Consumer Protection Act’s definition of sensitive personal information. It previously passed the Assembly and next needs a signature from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).