California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have established the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2020.  This bill would have created the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund (Fund) within the State Treasury, and made the moneys in the fund available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature.  This bill would have also required the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to administer the Fund and would have authorized IBank to provide financial assistance to any eligible sponsor or participating party for eligible climate catalyst projects.  Failed passage on the Assembly Floor.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $5.51 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  This bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  CARB would have also been required to define negative emissions and give preference to projects that provide negative emissions.  Remains at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have provided a partial income tax exemption to a resident leasing a solar electric generation system that meets or exceeds the compliance requirements of equipment used for purposes of complying with specified State buildings standards and the tangible personal property on a rental property.  Of interest to CARB, this bill would have required a transfer of the revenue value of the total dollar amount of solar tax exemptions provided by this bill from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund.  Was not heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited any high-speed train service that receives an operating subsidy from using the high-speed train system owned by the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), regardless of whether the service is provided by the Authority directly or provided by a third party pursuant to a lease agreement with the HSRA.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Economic Recovery, Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $6.98 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  As part of the bill, the bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have directed the High-Speed Rail Authority, in the development and implementation of intercity high-speed rail service, to prioritize projects based on the following criteria: (1) providing the most overall benefit to the State; (2) increasing passenger rail ridership; (3) replacing automobile trips with passenger rail trips.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have allowed a local air district to adopt and implement regulations to require data regarding air pollution within the district’s jurisdiction from areawide stationary sources to enable the calculation of health risks from toxic air contaminants.  The bill would have also specified that the district regulations may also require air pollution data from mobile sources drawn by those areawide stationary sources.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have suspended the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 fiscal years and transferred those amounts to the General Fund to support K–12 education and offset any funding reduction for K–12 education.  Was not heard in the Assembly Education Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide the Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel a report every two years with specified information on the implementation of the Healthy Soils Program and the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) beginning after January 31, 2021.  The Healthy Soils Program and SWEEP receive, or have received, funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.  Was not heard in the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

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Summary

Would have required Harbor and Port District Energy Management Plans to include an assessment of the capacity of ports to advance the State’s greenhouse gas reduction targets by facilitating the development, construction, and creation of a supply chain for eligible renewable energy resources.  Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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