California Air Resources Board

Summary

Requires CARB, by January 1, 2027, to conduct an analysis of credits identified in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District’s (District) ledger of available emission reduction credits (ERCs) to determine if any credits were issued in violation of State, local, or district laws, rules, regulations, or procedures in place at the time of original issuance. The bill requires CARB to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing the analysis results. The bill requires the District to aggregate and make publicly available on its website specified information regarding permits issued during a specified 17-year span that require or required the use of one or more ERCs. Was not heard on Assembly Concurrence.

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Summary

Would have required the Ocean Protection Council (Council) by January 1, 2026, to implement a statewide voluntary vessel speed reduction and sustainable shipping program, as specified, for the California coast in order to reduce air pollution, the risk of fatal vessel strikes on whales, and harmful underwater acoustic impacts. The bill would have required the Council to coordinate with the coastal local air districts and consult with various entities, including CARB, on the program. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Allows, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2028, a credit against State taxes for a qualified taxpayer in an amount equal to $800 per ton of criteria air pollutant reduced beyond the baseline amount. The bill defines “qualified taxpayer” to mean a major source emitter, as defined, that has emissions levels of criteria air pollutants for the taxable year at least 5 percent below the requirements set by the federal Clean Air Act. The bill also defines “baseline amount” with respect to criteria air pollutants to mean the level of criteria air pollutants the taxpayer may emit to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act. Was not heard in the Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited a person from manufacturing, selling, delivering, distributing, holding, or offering for sale in the State: (1) a cleaning product that contains any intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) beginning January 1, 2026, and (2) a floor sealer or a floor finish containing intentionally added PFAS beginning January 1, 2028.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 727 without my signature.

This bill would prohibit, by 2026, the manufacture, distribution, or sale of cleaning products that contain intentionally added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and would apply this ban, by 2028, to floor sealer or floor finish products.

This is one of three single-product chemical bans passed by the Legislature this year that attempt to address serious concerns with the presence of PFAS in consumer products. These bills do not identify or require any regulatory agency to determine compliance with, or enforce, the proposed statute.

While I strongly support the author's intent and have signed similar legislation in the past, I am concerned this bill falls short of providing enhanced protection to California consumers due to lack of regulatory oversight. Previously enacted single-product chemical bans, which also lack oversight, are proving challenging to implement, with inconsistent interpretations and confusion among manufacturers about how to comply with the restrictions.

In order to instill consumer confidence and effectively address public health and environmental concerns, I am directing the Department of Toxic Substances Control to engage with the author and the Legislature and consider alternative approaches to regulating the use of these harmful chemicals in consumer products.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Requires every retail supplier of electricity to annually report information concerning electricity supply used to serve load to the California Energy Commission (CEC), including the retail supplier’s sources of electricity and the emissions of greenhouse gases associated with those sources of electricity. The bill also requires the CEC to share the information reported by retail sellers with the California Public Utilities Commission, CARB, and the California Independent System Operator, to the extent needed, and to annually publish on its internet website an aggregated summary of the data reported by each retail supplier.

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Summary

Would have authorized portable equipment to be operated during an emergency event or a public safety power shut-off event if the portable equipment, and the owner or operator of the portable equipment, complies with the emergency use provision of CARB's regulation establishing the Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the code section constituting an air quality health plan for counties to use in the case of a significant air quality event caused by wildfires or other sources. Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Secretary of Natural Resources Agency to work with local stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy for the Salton Sea, which must assess the environmental impacts and economic viability of the Salton Sea. Was not heard in Senate Natural Resources and Water.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the code section constituting CARB’s authority to adopt regulations relating to vehicular emissions standards to achieve federal ambient air quality standards. Failed to make it off of the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have required each local air district to establish a uniform permit program for mobile fueling on-demand tank vehicle operations (mobile refuelers) located in its jurisdiction that requires those operations to adhere to the strictest emission control standards established by the State for the loading, storage, and transfer of gasoline from those vehicles. The bill would have had various requirements for such a uniform permit program, including a consolidated permitting process for a source requiring more than one permit and an expedited permit review and fee schedule. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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