The last thing lawmakers did as they passed California’s $108 billion general fund budget this week was take up a mysterious tax break for the solar industry.
SB871, which extends a property tax for solar credits through 2024, was never heard by a regular policy committee and the public had little chance to provide input before the Democratic Legislature rammed it through last weekend.
Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, was among the critics when it reappeared as lawmakers’ last order of business in passing the budget.
Legislators said the measure wasn’t theirs, either, until Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, acknowledged ownership Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.
Campaign records show that solar power companies and a building industry association backing the tax break contributed $11,500 last year to Leno’s lieutenant governor account for 2018, when he is termed out of the Senate. Of that, $1,000 came from SolarCity.
SolarCity spokeswoman Molly Canales did not return a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday night.
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