California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have added a requirement that new housing development in the coastal zone, as defined, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to the existing coastal zone requirement to minimize vehicle miles traveled and energy consumption.  Was not heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

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Summary

Would have authorized a local government to pass an ordinance, notwithstanding any local restrictions on adopting zoning ordinances, to zone any parcel for up to 10 units of residential density per parcel, if the parcel is located in a transit-rich area, a jobs-rich area, or an urban infill site.  The bill also would have required the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Office of Planning and Research, to determine jobs-rich areas and publish a map of those areas every five years.  Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have made eligible under the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) a category of transit projects that meet specified vehicle miles traveled requirements.  Was contingent on the enactment of SB 995 (Atkins), which did not receive Senate Concurrence.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 757 without my signature.

This bill expands the types of environmental leadership projects eligible for streamlined judicial review through the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011(AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2011) to include zero-emission, public transit projects, provided the lead agency applies for the Governor's certification no later than January 1, 2023 and the project is approved no later than January 1, 2024.  The provisions of this bill are contingent on the enactment of Senate Bill 995 by Senator Atkins, which did not successfully pass in the Legislature.

While I support efforts to accelerate transit projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce miles traveled, enactment of this bill is contingent on the successful statutory extension of the AB 900 statute by SB 995, which unfortunately failed passage in the Legislature.

For this reason, I am returning SB 757 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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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 increased to 50 percent, from 25 percent, the allowable parcel area of a transit priority development project that may be farther than a half-mile from a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor and still meet the requirements for limited California Environmental Quality Act review.  Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have required a local agency, as defined, to allow an applicant for a housing development project to reduce the required number of motor vehicle parking spaces based on the number of long-term bicycle parking spaces and car-sharing spaces provided, subject to certain limitations, as specified.  Was not heard in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.

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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 extended the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) until January 1, 2024.  This bill would also have authorized CARB to charge a fee for the greenhouse gas emission determination for each project, added specified requirements for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation measures, and required a minimum 20 percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled for approved projects.  Hearing canceled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee at author’s request.

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Summary

Authorizes special environmental review procedures similar to the Jobs and Economic Improvement through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 (AB 900, Buchanan, Chapter 345, Statutes of 2011) for the San Diego Area Council of Governments for a suite of transit projects on an underused U.S. Navy site in San Diego.  The procedures include authorizing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) streamlining in exchange for complying with several environmental requirements and a CARB greenhouse gas emission determination with specified local mitigation measures.

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Summary

Would have required the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC) to consider the different electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) regions in the CEC biennial statewide assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to meet certain State goals.  This bill also would have required each MPO to submit to the CEC a zero‑emission readiness plan, as specified.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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