California Air Resources Board

Summary

Among other provisions, would have expanded the content of CARB’s SB 150 Progress Report on the SB 375 program; would have required metropolitan planning organizations to submit data for the report, as feasible; would have required additional collaboration on the Strategic Growth Council’s AB 285 Report on the California Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS); would have required local governments to submit a progress report one year after an SCS is accepted; and would have required the Department of Transportation to submit a proposal for a bicycle highway pilot program. Vetoed by the Governor.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1147 without my signature.

This bill adds new and modified reporting at the local and regional levels on compatibility of land use and transportation planning with greenhouse gas reduction goals and a proposal for a pilot program to create a network of bicycle highways.

Although the bill seeks to improve transparency to the Sustainable Community Strategies process, it does not require or incentivize regional and local governments to make land use decisions that change development and transportation patterns.

While I share the author's goal to align policies and promote the use of active transportation modes such as walking and biking, the bill is not necessary because state agencies are already collaborating on these policies and updating local requirements.

I proposed $7.6 billion to make key investments in a wide variety of critically necessary projects including high speed rail, transit connectivity projects in advance of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, active transportation, and a variety of other rail system improvements. Not only will these projects improve safety and access for bicyclists and pedestrians, they will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are key to meeting our state's climate objectives. I look forward to re-engaging with the Legislature to finalize and pass a comprehensive transportation package early next year.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would authorize a public agency that issues a permit to an operator for mobility services, such as a transportation network company like Uber or Lyft, to require an operator to share data as specified and periodically submit to the public agency anonymized trip data, which would have interfered with CARB’s Clean Miles Standard regulation.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

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Summary

Contains statutory provisions necessary to implement the Budget Act of 2021. Related to CARB, establishes the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program of 2021, to be developed and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and CARB to provide regions with funding, including grants. Eligible activities for transformative planning and implementation include, but are not limited to,  administering specified programs, providing jurisdictions and other local agencies with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing, or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, accelerating infill development, planning and upgrading infrastructure, creating multimodal transportation communities, shifting travel behavior through reducing driving, and increasing transit ridership, each as specified. HCD, in collaboration with OPR, SGC and CARB shall review applications, and HCD shall award funds, as specified.

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Summary

Would create the Joint Legislative High-Speed Rail Oversight Committee consisting of three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly to provide ongoing and independent oversight of the high-speed rail project by performing specified duties, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the appropriate standing policy and budget committees of both houses of the Legislature to guide decisions concerning the State’s programs, policies, and investments related to high-speed rail. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would prohibit the California High Speed Rail Authority from directly or indirectly using local, State, federal, or any other public or private funding to purchase, lease, operate, or maintain a passenger or freight train powered by a diesel engine or other type of fossil fuel combustion engine, and from enabling such a train to operate on authority-owned rail infrastructure designed for speeds in excess of 125 miles per hour, except as specified. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee. 

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Summary

Among other things, this bill would suspend the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation to the High‑Speed Rail Authority for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 fiscal years and would transfer those amounts to the General Fund to augment funding for K–12 education and to support full-time in-person instruction for all students. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act, until 2023, various transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities projects, charging infrastructure for zero-emission buses, and new rapid transit, bus, or light rail service. Projects must be carried out by a public lead agency, located in an urbanized area on or within an existing public right-of-way, not add physical infrastructure that increases new automobile capacity on existing rights-of-way, not require demolition of affordable housing units, and be completed by a skilled and trained workforce, except as provided.

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Summary

Would have authorized a public agency to require an operator, such as a transportation network company, to periodically submit anonymized trip data.  The bill would have also allowed the public agency to share anonymized trip data with specified entities if specified conditions were met, including that the purpose of sharing the data was to assist the public agency in the promotion and protection of transportation planning, integration of mobility options, and road safety.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have established the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program (Program), to be developed and implemented by the California Energy Commission (CEC).  The Program would have provided loans to electrical corporations to fund activities that minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires due to electrical lines and equipment or that reduce the need for public safety power shutoffs.  This bill would have required the High-Speed Rail Authority to transfer any unencumbered moneys appropriated from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CEC as a loan to be deposited in the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund (Fund), which the bill would have established in the State Treasury.  The bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would have required CEC to expend the moneys from the Fund for purposes of the Program.  Was not heard in the Senate Transportation 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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