California Air Resources Board

Would have amended the California Constitution to declare that the people have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment. Missed deadline for bill passage in the Assembly.

Summary 

Would have imposed an additional annual $4 charge on each motor vehicle registered in the state to be collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the revenues deposited into the Air Quality Improvement Fee Fund, which the bill would have created. The bill would have continuously appropriated the revenues in the fund to the DMV for distribution upon request to air districts based upon the amount of the charges collected from motor vehicles registered within each air district. This bill would have required these revenues to be used for the reduction of air pollution from motor vehicles and for related planning, monitoring, enforcement, and technical studies, as specified, or for the attainment or maintenance of State or federal ambient air quality standards or the reduction of toxic air contaminant emissions from motor vehicles. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Would have prohibited the County of Riverside, the County of San Bernardino, and any other political subdivisions located within those counties, from approving the development or expansion of any qualifying logistics use, as defined, within 1,000 feet of sensitive receptors, as defined, except as provided. The bill would have authorized a public agency to approve the development or expansion of a qualifying logistics use greater than 500 feet from a sensitive receptor and within 1,000 feet of a sensitive receptor only if the qualifying logistics use complies with certain requirements, including that all heavy-duty vehicles domiciled onsite meet certain requirements. The bill would have authorized an individual affected by a violation of these provisions or the Attorney General to bring an action to enjoin a violation of the provisions of this bill and would have provided that these provisions do not relieve a public agency from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act. Hearing cancelled at request of author in the Assembly Committee on Local Government.

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Summary

Urges the United States Congress and President Biden to support a $100 million supplemental funding request to address the ongoing impacts on public health, the environment, and the local economy caused by cross-jurisdictional pollution from the Navy North Hangar Fire in Tustin, and to include in future federal budgets sufficient ongoing operational and maintenance funding for Navy North Hangar Fire remediation. The measure urges President Biden to declare a national emergency due to the ongoing impacts.

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Summary

Would have directed CARB, by July 1, 2026, or as soon as feasible, to revise regulations on indoor air cleaning devices establishing the emission concentration standard for ozone emissions to not greater than 0.005 parts per million, to the extent consistent with federal law. This would have been a more protective standard.The bill would have required the CARB regulations on indoor air cleaning devices to include a ban on the sale or the offering for sale of devices that exceed that emissions limit, even if previously certified, after a date determined by CARB, unless CARB determines an exemption applies. Was not heard in Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have repealed existing law authorizing the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to adopt regulations to establish management standards for metal shredding facilities for hazardous waste management activities within DTSC’s jurisdiction, and would have established a new comprehensive regulatory framework within DTSC for metal shredding facilities. The bill would have repealed existing law that provides that treated metal shredder waste that is managed in accordance with those regulations is deemed to be solid waste, and not hazardous waste. Was not heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required, upon appropriation by the Legislature, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), the Office of Emergency Services (OES), and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), in consultation with relevant academic and research institutions, government agency, and educational institution, to form a workgroup related to exposure of toxic heavy metals after a wildfire. The bill would have required the workgroup to take certain actions, including establishing best practices and recommendations for wildfire-impacted communities and first responders to avoid exposure to heavy metals after a wildfire. The bill would have authorized CalFire to contract with public universities, research institutions, and other technical experts to support the work of the workgroup. The bill would have required CalFire, OES, and DTSC to report their findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2026. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have requested the Regents of the University of California to conduct a pilot project in the County of Imperial and the Coachella Valley to develop a three-day wintertime regional dust forecast capability and a dust storm early warning system for the monsoon season. The bill would have repealed the provisions on January 1, 2030. Was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have established the Wildfire Smoke and Health Outcomes Data Act, which would have required the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, to create, operate, and maintain a statewide integrated wildfire smoke and health data platform no later than July 1, 2026. The data platform would have, among other things, integrated wildfire smoke and health data from multiple databases with the purpose of providing adequate information to understand the negative health impacts on California’s population caused by wildfire smoke and evaluating the effectiveness of investments in forest health and wildfire mitigation on health outcomes in California. Was held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited, beginning January 1, 2032, a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale a product that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) unless the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has made a determination that the use of PFAS in the product was a currently unavoidable use, the prohibition is preempted by federal law, or the product was previously used. The bill would have required DTSC to maintain on its website a list of each determination of currently unavoidable use, when each determination expires, and the products and uses that are exempt from the prohibition. The bill would have imposed an administrative penalty for a violation of the prohibition. The bill would have required DTSC, by January 1, 2027, to adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of the bill. Was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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