California Air Resources Board

Would have prohibited, beginning January 1, 2028, a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale a covered product that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances unless the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued a regulatory response for the covered product pursuant to the Green Chemistry program or the prohibition is preempted by federal law. The bill would have authorized a manufacturer of a covered product to petition DTSC to evaluate the covered product. The bill would have required DTSC to evaluate and provide a regulatory response for a covered product under the Green Chemistry program, as specified. The bill also would have required DTSC, on or before January 1, 2028, to adopt regulations to carry out the bill’s provisions. Was not heard in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.

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Would have required guidance for a fenceline-monitoring system for a petroleum refinery adopted by the local air district to include a process for the refinery to provide substantial evidence to the appropriate local air district to exclude a pollutant for monitoring in a fence-line monitoring system. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have required local air districts to allow critical facility operators to use a permitted emergency backup generator in exceedance of the applicable runtime, testing, and maintenance limits under certain conditions. This requirement would have gone into effect on January 1, 2026, and would have applied to local air districts that do not have existing rules for emergency backup generators but will be adopting rules in the future. The bill would have required a critical facility allowed to exceed applicable limits, as specified, to attest to and provide evidence of having taken demonstrable steps toward implementing the use of backup power technologies that meet or exceed emission standards set by CARB. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited, beginning January 1, 2027, a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale artificial turf, carpets or rugs, cleaning products, cookware, dental floss, fabric treatments, or upholstered furniture that contain intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill would have authorized the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to adopt regulations to designate additional consumer product categories to prohibit the distribution, selling, or offering for sale of consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS within those consumer product categories if DTSC determines that safer alternatives are readily available at comparable costs. Was not heard in the Senate Health Committee.

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Would have made changes to the county supervisor membership of the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) to one that is more diverse with a larger focus on members from cities representing the five supervisorial districts and public members. The bill also would have required ICAPCD to maintain a website and post specified information, including board agendas and permit, air monitoring, and enforcement information.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 675 without my signature.

This bill would restructure the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and impose new reporting and planning duties.

The Imperial County APCD plays a critical role in improving air quality and protecting public health in a county disproportionately impacted by severe air quality challenges. While increasing representation and transparency on governing boards is important work, change of this magnitude requires sufficient support and resources.

I am concerned that this bill would impose significant new financial obligations on the County, its cities, and ultimately its residents, without identifying a funding source to meet them.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Spot bill would have stated that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation related to clean air basins. Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Requires CARB to develop a response framework that establishes best practices and guidance for addressing fugitive and natural sources of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas and for community preparation and response to H2S exposure events. The bill requires the response framework to consider cross-media releases, develop integrated, multi-agency approaches to identify and address fugitive and natural sources, develop methods for reducing identified fugitive and natural sources of H2S gas in impacted communities, and consider acute and chronic reference exposure levels as well as the influence of varying climates and settings on exposure, among other things. The bill requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to update the acute and chronic reference exposure levels for H2S and to develop additional health guidance values for H2S, if the need is identified by CARB.

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Would have required the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, by December 31, 2027, to analyze specified policies to determine the cost of compliance, potential costs to consumers, impacts on State and local tax revenue, impacts to refinery employment, and impacts on the State gasoline supply, as provided. The bill would also have required those local air districts, by January 1, 2028, to try, in good faith, to minimize negative impacts found by the above research. For rulemaking related to oil refineries by these local air districts, the bill would have expanded the definition of “socioeconomic impact” to also mean the cost to consumers, impacts on State and local tax revenue, and impacts on the State gasoline supply. The bill would have required those local air districts to consider those additional socioeconomic impacts and try in good faith to minimize any negative impacts, as provided, before adopting a rule or regulation related to oil refineries. Was not voted on in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have required, to the extent that funding is appropriated by the Legislature, each large and medium local air district, by January 1, 2028, to implement and maintain a commercial voucher program to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment consistent with specified requirements. The bill would have provided that a violation of an ordinance adopted by a local government governing the use of any small off-road engine landscaping equipment can only be punishable by a warning or an administrative fine imposed in accordance with specified requirements.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2635 without my signature.

This bill requires local air districts to implement a commercial voucher program to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment.

Small off-road engines are a significant source of harmful air pollution, particularly in communities already burdened by poor air quality. While I share the author's goal of helping marginalized communities transition to zero-emission equipment, this bill duplicates existing state and local air district programs. Under my administration, in partnership with the Legislature, we provided $30 million to incentivize the purchase of nearly 30,000 pieces of zero-emission landscape equipment. Additionally, zero-emission landscape equipment is now widely available from many manufacturers, which will further increase market competition.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Would have authorized a local or State law enforcement agency to buy and install an incinerator for destroying seized controlled substances, as provided. The bill would have required the local or State law enforcement agency to follow specified federal regulations and to notify CARB and the local air district of the project, as specified. The bill would have exempted a project to buy and install an incinerator that complies with these requirements from the California Environmental Quality Act. Amended to deal with guidance for management and disposal of controlled substances in the possession of law enforcement.

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