Governor Newsom Signs New Laws to Cut Red Tape and Save Neighborhood Restaurants

Bipartisan measures will cut red tape, speed up restaurant openings, and strengthen neighborhood economies across California

• Erin Ivie
• Director of Communications, Office of Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
• 510-619-8495
• [email protected]

LOS ANGELES - Yesterday, at a signing ceremony in Los Angeles, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new laws to cut red tape and support struggling restaurants across California. These new laws were authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino).

Assembly Bill (AB) 671, by Assemblymember Wicks, will help small restaurants open faster by cutting unnecessary red tape while preserving critical health and safety protections. The bill creates a voluntary, expedited path for permitting small, independent restaurants seeking to retrofit existing spaces - allowing licensed architects and engineers to self-certify simple plans while maintaining all required inspections and safety checks.

"For too long, opening a restaurant in California has meant endless hurdles and frustrating delays," said Assemblymember Wicks."With Governor Newsom's signature on AB 671, we're making it easier for small restaurateurs to turn their ideas into reality - opening their doors faster, hiring workers sooner, and bringing new energy to our main streets, all while maintaining the safety standards our communities rely on."

Assembly Bill (AB) 592, by Assemblymember Gabriel, will support California restaurants by cutting red tape and maximizing their ability to offer outdoor dining. This new law also will enable open-kitchen restaurants to fully leverage California's exceptional climate by easing permitting for windows, folding doors, and non-fixed storefronts.

"Neighborhood restaurants are the backbone of communities across California but too many are barely hanging on by a thread," said Assemblymember Gabriel. "This new law will cut red tape and support these cherished small businesses as they navigate inflation and economic headwinds. AB 592 also will allow neighborhood restaurants to leverage California's exceptional climate and offer more outdoor dining options to their customers. I applaud Governor Newsom for signing these bills and I am grateful to restaurant owners and local chambers of commerce from across California who helped fight for these important reforms."

Both measures received strong support from local restaurants and industry leaders, who view these reforms as critical to keeping small businesses alive and thriving in the wake of inflation and continued pandemic-era challenges.

What The Restaurant Industry Is Saying

"The California Restaurant Association is thrilled that Governor Newsom signed both AB 592 (Gabriel) and AB 671 (Wicks). Assemblymembers Gabriel and Wicks identified key chokepoints for restaurant development and operations - and tackled those head on. For that, we are grateful as neighborhood restaurants stand to benefit from these efforts to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, added costs, and hiring and opening delays," said Matt Sutton, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy for the California Restaurant Association.

"These two permitting reforms for restaurants are critical - and could not have come soon enough. Having both bills signed is a boon for neighborhood restaurants like mine. Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with expensive and unnecessary permitting delays when opening a new restaurant. Those delays mean fewer jobs and economic activation essential to local governments and community revitalization," said Allen Kou, Restaurants Owner and President of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Restaurant Association.

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