California Air Resources Board

Summary 

This bill suspends the Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation for one year and exempts suppliers of transportation fuels from the Cap-and-Trade program for one year. The bill also suspends motor vehicle fuel taxes and requires the State Controller to transfer an amount equal to State motor vehicle fuel tax revenue from the General Fund to the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account. Finally, the bill requires the State Controller to transfer an amount equal to the sale of allowances to the suppliers of transportation fuels under the Cap-and-Trade program in the 2021-2022 fiscal year to the General Fund. Failed passage and was granted reconsideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary 

Requires CARB, in administering the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, to deem a Tier 2 pathway application certified if CARB does not take action within 15 days or receipt, or if the application has been pending for more than 60 days as of January 1, 2024. The bill also requires CARB to revise the alternative diesel fuel regulations to authorize the sale of alternative diesel fuel that contains up to 20 percent biodiesel by volume. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary 

This bill creates the Climate Cashback Program to be administered by the Franchise Tax Board for the public purpose of mitigating the costs of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The bill requires the Franchise Tax Board to develop and implement the program by December 31, 2024, to deliver quarterly per capita cashback payments to all California residents and sets other requirements for the operation of the program. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary 

Requires CARB to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildland and forest fires in the Scoping Plan. Failed passage in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and was granted reconsideration.  

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Summary 

Requires CARB to initiate a regulatory process, consistent with statutory requirements for the Cap-and-Trade program, to evaluate potential updates to the market-based compliance mechanism, and regulatory changes shall take effect no later than January 1, 2025. The bill specifies the topics the evaluation shall focus on relating to allowance supply and recommendations by the IEMAC and EJAC. The bill requires CARB, beginning January 1, 2028, in consultation with the IEMAC and EJAC, on a triennial basis to conduct an evaluation of the Cap-and-Trade program focusing on the topics specified in the evaluation. The bill requires the Chair of CARB to appear before the JLCCCP to present the results of the evaluation and any proposed revisions to the Cap-and-Trade regulation and authorizes CARB to revise those regulations afterward to more effectively meet the goals of SB 32 and the most recent Scoping Plan.  Moved to the inactive file.

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Summary 

Enacts the Park Creation and Outdoor, Access, and Clean Energy Bond Act of 2024, which would authorize $15.5 billion in bonds, if approved by voters, at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election. As related to CARB, the bond allocates $150 million to CARB, and requires CARB to consult with the California Natural Resources Agency and State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to fund projects that provide long-term capital infrastructure to convert forest and other vegetative waste removed for wildfire mitigation to uses that maximize reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and increase local community resilience against climate change impacts. The bill also provides $500 million upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the California Energy Commission, in coordination with CARB, for grants to assist in obtaining, or as a match for, federal grants. Hearing postponed in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

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Summary 

Removes the requirement for public agencies to issue CEQA’s existing Statement of Overriding Concern for traffic only, when approving or carrying out a housing development project, as defined, a commercial project, or an industrial project. Hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee canceled at the author's request.

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Summary 

For CARB and air districts, this bill expands the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulatory process to apply to virtually every regulation CARB and districts might promulgate, regardless of environmental impact. Requires CARB, air districts, and other specified agencies to complete a specific alternative environmental analysis or the equivalent of an Environmental Impact Report for every regulation adopted that directly or indirectly requires emission reductions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, or toxic air contaminants. This bill might expand the circumstances under which a focused Environmental Impact Report could be used by regulated entities for the installation of air pollution control equipment and related components and also could add extensive labor requirements if the focused Environmental Impact Report is used, both under current law and under the expanded CEQA analysis on regulations required by this bill. Moved to the inactive file on the Assembly Floor.

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Summary 

Prohibits the County of Riverside, the County of San Bernardino, and jurisdictions therein from approving the development or expansion of any logistics use, as defined, that is adjacent to sensitive receptors, as defined, unless the local agency imposes certain requirements, as specified, including a minimum setback on the logistics use of 300 feet, if the logistics use consists of 400,000 or more square feet of building space, including, but not limited to, warehouses. Did not receive a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary 

Prohibits the establishment of new transformation or engineered municipal solid waste (EMSW) conversion facilities in the State until CalRecycle has determined that the State has achieved solid waste and organic waste policy goals for three consecutive years. Was not heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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