Bill Would End Fines For Brown Lawns In Drought
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California Assembly has approved legislation protecting residents from fines if they do not water their lawn during the drought.
AB1 by Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown advanced unanimously Thursday with 74 votes. It prohibits cities from penalizing residents for having brown lawns.
The San Bernardino Democrat abandoned a similar bill last year because cities in her district relaxed their landscaping rules. She revived the legislation this year as some cities continued warning of penalties for dry lawns even as the California drought persisted.
A Glendora couple last summer was threatened with a $500 fine for not watering their lawn on the same day the state approved $500 fines for wasting water outdoors.
California's drought-busting slogan is 'Brown is the new green.'
AB1 now heads to the Senate.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
