A bill requiring the Santa Clarita Sanitation District to hold its board meetings within the Sanitation District boundaries passed unanimously off the Assembly Floor Thursday.

Assembly Bill 951 was authored by assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita.

AB 951 is a result of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board’s decision to require the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District to reduce the level of chloride it discharges into the Santa Clara River, according to a news release. The SCVSD chose to reduce the chloride level by using Deep Well Injection, or DWI, and then storing brine underground below the communities of Westridge and Stevenson Ranch.

However, the communities were stunned to learn of this plan and the public outrage has made the SCVSD, at least temporarily, pull back from their proposed location, according to a news release.

Currently the SCVSD holds their meetings in the city of Whittier, 50 miles from the community they have jurisdiction over, according to a news release. Naturally, this discourages public testimony from ratepayers and hinders their ability from staying informed on issues that directly affect their home values and water rates.

As a result, AB 951 would require the SCVSD to hold their board meetings within the boundaries of the district, according to a news release.

“Ratepayers ought to be able to testify in their hometown and not have to drive to Whittier,” Wilk said. “I look forward to advocating for this measure in the Senate.”

AB 951 now heads to the Senate.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses Simi Valley, the northwestern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.