Wilton Rancheria’s plan to build a tribal casino in Elk Grove took another step forward Tuesday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill ratifying a compact between the state of California and the tribe.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1606, giving the Wilton Rancheria Tribe the go-ahead to build a $400 million casino in Elk Grove, which became a hotly contested issue in the community over the last couple years.

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law Assembly Bill 1606, which ratifies the tribal gaming compact between Wilton Rancheria and the State of California. The governor’s action followed unanimous votes by the State Senate and State Assembly to ratify the agreement, and the Governor’s approval of the compact on July 19.

Chairman Hitchcock was invited to provide a response to a story posted on this site yesterday

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed two gaming compacts. The legislature has approved one of them and will soon take up the other. The compacts are with the Tule River tribe and the Wilton Rancheria of Miwok Indians.

The California State Assembly on Thursday voted unanimously to pass Assembly Bill 1606, which ratifies Wilton Rancheria’s tribal gaming compact with the State of California. The Assembly action, together with the unanimous vote last week by the State Senate to pass the legislation, represents a key milestone in the Tribe’s path to self-sufficiency and its plans to build a resort and casino in Elk Grove.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang early this month dismissed their legal challenge and ruled the city did no foul.

California State Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove) has introduced urgency legislation for the compact between the State of California and the Wilton Rancheria.