California Air Resources Board

Would have clarified that incidental and unintentional expulsion of residual oil from injection of carbon dioxide fluid as part of a carbon capture and sequestration project shall not be considered enhanced oil recovery and would have prohibited the sale or trade of that residual oil. Did not receive a vote in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have required CARB to adopt regulations or utilize existing programs and regulations to ensure the State achieves carbon dioxide removals equivalent to at least 100% of GHG emissions by 2045. The bill would have required CARB to only certify carbon dioxide removal processes that meet specified requirements, including that they be consistent with statutory requirements for geologic storage projects. Would have required CARB to conduct a community engagement process, as specified, before adopting a regulation pursuant to the bill. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Would have suspended the Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation for one year and exempted suppliers of transportation fuels from the Cap-and-Trade program for one year. The bill also would have suspended motor vehicle fuel taxes and required 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 would have required 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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Requires CARB to ensure that the multimedia evaluation of gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol by volume is completed by July 1, 2025. Requires CEC to submit report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2025, regarding potential solutions to increase the supply of gasoline through the production enhancement strategies identified by the commission in its 2024 assessment submitted to the Legislature and the Governor, as specified. Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Would have required California Energy Commission to post and regularly update a dashboard on its website that includes the identification of all California-specific taxes, fees, regulations, and policies that contribute to gasoline prices within the State; the relative contribution of each of those to higher costs; and the extent to which these higher costs are passed on to consumers. Would have required the dashboard to also include the difference in average California gasoline prices compared to national prices, and any substantiated evidence of price gouging or other anticompetitive behavior within the petroleum industry, including the relative contribution of this behavior to the price difference. Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Would have prohibited CARB from amending the Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations prior to January 1, 2026. Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Would have exempted transportation fuels from the Cap-and-Trade program. Would have required CARB to grant variances from CARB’s gasoline specifications, including for importation from outside the State, whenever a refinery outage or other similar supply interruption would otherwise result in substantial short-term price increases for California consumers and businesses. Would have required CARB to waive Reid vapor pressure requirements on summer-blend gasoline and allow for the early transition to winter-blend gasoline to lower gasoline prices for California consumers and businesses if CARB determines that the gasoline market is experiencing a sudden and unusual increase in gasoline prices. Did not receive a vote in the Assembly Petroleum and Gasoline Supply Committee.

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Would have added prioritizing methane reduction strategies to the existing requirement for State agencies to consider and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Would have required CARB, California Public Utilities Commission, and other relevant agencies to timely consider new programs, or changes to existing programs to reduce methane emissions, including from imported natural gas. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have authorized the Governor to certify sustainable aviation fuel projects for CEQA streamlining benefits, including a 270-day limit on challenges to an environmental impact report. Would have defined sustainable aviation fuel as meeting the requirements of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the standards for alternative jet fuels established by the ASTM International. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have prohibited CARB from including avoided methane emissions from the carbon intensity calculations when evaluating or re-evaluating dairy and livestock fuel pathways in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Was not heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.