California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have added “climate change” to the definition of the term “disaster” for the purposes of the California Disaster Assistance Act, and would have specified that mitigation measures for climate change and disasters related to climate may include measures that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and investments in natural infrastructure, as specified.Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

Would have required a minimum of 40percent of funds received by the State as part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to be allocated to projects with direct benefits to disadvantaged communities and an additional 10 percent to be allocated for projects that provide benefits to low-income communities. It would have also established the Justice40 Advisory Committee to provide a recommendation for projects to fund under these requirements. Held on suspense in Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required projects and programs included in each Regional Transportation Improvement Program also be consistent with the most recently prepared applicable Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and State and federal air quality standards. This bill also would have prohibited funds from local transportation tax measures passed after 2023 from being spent until the proposed transportation projects were included in the most recently adopted SCS, and would have prohibited State funds from being used for a project that increased single-occupancy vehicle capacity, unless the project was included in an adopted SCS and provided sufficient enforceable mitigation to ensure that it would not increase the emissions of greenhouse gases and the metropolitan planning organization found that the project helps advance other regional goals. Was not heard in the Senate Committee on Transportation.

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Summary

Would have imposed specified existing public school prohibitions and requirements, which are related to environmental conditions that must be considered before selecting a school site, on the selection of private and charter school sites. Held on suspense in Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have exempted from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) a project financed pursuant to the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019, and would make all legal actions, proceedings, and decisions undertaken or made pursuant to the program exempt from CEQA. Was not heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited, notwithstanding any other law, State funds or personnel time from being used to fund or permit freeway widening projects in areas with high rates of pollution and poverty. Failed passage in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and administer the Green Means Go Grant and Loan Program to award competitive grants and revolving loans to cities, counties, and special districts within the Sacramento region for qualifying projects within and benefitting green zones, as defined.  Was not heard in Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required, for projects in a disadvantaged community, that air quality mitigation measures identified in an environmental impact report or mitigated negative declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) mitigate air quality impacts directly in the disadvantaged community. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would have authorized environmental leadership hospital projects, which would have allowed hospital projects to undergo expedited the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review if the project met certain requirements, including a CARB determination that the project maintained net-zero GHG emissions and other specified labor and environmental requirements. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary 

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission to consider minimizing or closing the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility as part of an existing proceeding and submit a report on demand reduction through investments in clean hydrogen projects to the Legislature annually. Failed passage on the Senate Floor.  

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