The California Assembly approved a bill Thursday authored by North Coast Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro that would allow the Smith River Rancheria to join the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority.
 
The bill, Assembly Bill 798, would amend the California Government Code to designate the Smith River Rancheria Tribal Council a “public agency” for the purpose of entering into a joint powers agreement with Del Norte County, Crescent City, or both.

Chesbro authored a similar bill last year, which passed the Legislature but was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to the release.