California Air Resources Board

Summary 

Would have allowed the California Natural Resources Agency to authorize teal carbon demonstration projects and develop, with consultation from CARB and other parties, a teal carbon demonstration project program starting January 1, 2028. The bill would have also allowed the California Coastal Commission (Commission) to authorize blue carbon demonstration projects and develop, with CARB and other parties, a blue carbon demonstration project program. The bill would have allowed the Commission to require an applicant with a nonresidential project that impacts coastal wetland, subtidal, intertidal, or marine habitats or ecosystems to build or contribute to a blue carbon demonstration project. The bill would have required these provisions (both teal and blue carbon demonstration projects programs) to be implemented only upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1992 without my signature.

This bill would authorize the California Coastal Commission and the California Natural Resources Agency to facilitate the development of blue and teal carbon demonstration projects in certain coastal areas and inland wetlands.

California is a global leader in advancing nature-based carbon capture and sequestration solutions, having built and expanded our portfolio of actions over decades. In fact, between 2020 and 2023 alone, the State invested approximately $9.6 billion in nature-based solutions. Additionally, I signed Assembly Bill 1757 (C. Garcia) in 2022, which required the State to develop achievable carbon removal targets for natural and working lands. This same year, the Natural and Working Land Climate Smart Strategy cataloged over 350 efforts across State agencies to deliver meaningful nature-based solution climate action.

While I share the author's desire to accelerate novel nature-based climate solutions, this bill creates a new, unfunded program. In partnership with the Legislature this year, my Administration has enacted a balanced budget that avoids deep program cuts to vital services and protected investments in education, health care, climate, public safety, housing, and social service programs that millions of Californians rely on. It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission (CEC) to equitably allocate money appropriated by the Legislature for hydrogen-fueling infrastructure to specifically prioritize rural communities and low-income communities. The bill also would have required CEC and CARB to jointly review and submit a report to the Legislature on the progress toward establishing this hydrogen-fueling infrastructure. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Expresses the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would further support California’s efforts to decarbonize the built environment. Remains at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have required cities and counties to complete a plan for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the public right-of-way and updated the requirements of the statewide assessment of necessary electric vehicle charging infrastructure the California Energy Commission (CEC) prepares pursuant to existing law. The bill would have also required CEC, working with CARB and the California Public Utilities Commission, to prepare a statewide assessment of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to support the levels of light- and heavy-duty electric vehicle adoption required for the State to meet the goals of a specified executive order, a mobile source strategy, and achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible and no later than 2045. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report to the Legislature discussing potential lower carbon emission versions of asphalt mixtures, cement, and concrete used in State transportation projects. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to require bidders to submit environmental product declarations for, and the amounts of, asphalt mixtures and concrete used in a project. CARB would have been in a consulting role. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Prohibits State agencies and local governments from adopting or enforcing a rule, regulation, resolution, or ordinance that directly or indirectly results in prohibiting the use of gas stoves in residential and nonresidential buildings. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission, on or before June 1, 2024, to adopt a strategy, with milestones, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for the building sector consistent with the targets and strategies identified in the most recent scoping plan. CARB would have been in a consulting role. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Makes several operational and technical changes to last year's AB 2446 (Holden, Chapter 352, Statutes of 2022) that requires CARB to establish a framework and strategy for embodied carbon in building materials to make the program workable. The bill also authorizes, instead of requires, CARB to establish an embodied carbon trading system.

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Summary 

Authorizes the CEC to set a maximum gross gasoline refining margin, petition a court to enjoin a refiner from exceeding the gross margin, and impose a civil penalty on a refiner for exceeding the gross margin. The bill requires CEC and CARB, by December 31, 2024, to prepare a Transportation Fuel Plan. The plan will be required to include how to ensure that the supply of petroleum and alternative transportation fuels is affordable, reliable, equitable, and adequate to meet the demand for those transportation fuels described in the most current scoping plan approved by the CARB.

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Summary 

Removes the requirement for public agencies to issue CEQA’s existing Statement of Overriding Concern for traffic only, when approving or carrying out a housing development project, as defined, a commercial project, or an industrial project. Hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee canceled at the author's request.

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