California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have extended the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) until January 1, 2024.  This bill would also have authorized CARB to charge a fee for the greenhouse gas emission determination for each project, added specified requirements for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures, and required a minimum 20 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled for approved projects.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee at author’s request.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have prohibited a local air district that contains a Community Air Protection Program per AB 617 (C. García, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) from authorizing a new major source of emissions, or revisions to an existing source of emissions, that would have increased toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants above the levels included in the Community Emissions Reduction Program for that community, unless the local air district required the major source to mitigate the increased emissions directly in the affected communities.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee at author’s request.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required, by January 1, 2021, specified agencies, including CARB, to provide to the Legislature a joint assessment of options for redefining the term “cost-effective” for the purposes of prioritizing public investment opportunities.  In this assessment, the agencies would have been required to consider the impact that investments would have on specified factors, such as public health benefits to the State and alignment with other State programs and priorities.  The bill also would have required the agencies to conduct a joint public process for the assessment.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have enacted the Climate Resiliency, Fire Risk Reduction, Recycling, Groundwater and Drinking Water Supply, Clean Beaches, and Jobs Infrastructure Bond Act of 2020.  If approved by the voters, the Act would have authorized the issuance of bonds in an unspecified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a climate resiliency, fire risk reduction, recycling, groundwater and drinking water supply, clean beaches, and jobs infrastructure program.  The bill would have required the bond act to be submitted to the voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election.  Was not heard in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have redefined a “major regulation” to be a regulation that a State agency estimates will have an economic impact on California business enterprises and individuals in an amount exceeding $30 million.  The current threshold for a major regulation is $50 million.  Was not heard in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC) to consider the different electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regions in the CEC biennial statewide assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to meet certain State goals.  This bill also would have required each MPO to submit to the CEC a zero‑emission readiness plan, as specified.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required each five-year update to the California Transportation Plan (CTP) and the Strategic Growth Council’s report on the CTP and Sustainable Communities Strategies to include a forecast of the impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure and measures to address those impacts, among other provisions.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required each Sustainable Communities Strategy to identify areas within the region sufficient to house an eight-year projection of the emergency shelter needs for the region, as specified.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation or Natural Resources Committees.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have allowed a city or county, as part of its authority over land use permitting and after consultation with the relevant local air districts, to develop and adopt air monitoring plans.  After the adoption of an air monitoring plan, the bill would have allowed the city or county to require the installation of continuous and periodic monitoring systems for hydrocarbon emissions from nonrefinery stationary sources.  The bill would have provided a funding mechanism to support such air monitoring.  The bill also would have required the Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM)—formerly known as the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources—in the Department of Conservation by January 1, 2021, to review and evaluate its existing regulations that apply to a sensitive production facility, as defined.  The bill also would have required CalGEM to update such regulations, as appropriate, and prioritize actions needed to reduce specified emissions from oil and gas operations and to ensure environmental justice goals are achieved.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have required CARB to publish emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, and toxic air contaminants from catastrophic wildfires on its website.  The bill also would have required CARB to include emissions from catastrophic wildfires in its air pollution inventory.  Additionally, the bill would have indefinitely defined “district” to mean an air pollution control or an air quality management district under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.  Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

View full bill text here