California Air Resources Board

Would have required CARB to update regional greenhouse gas (GHG) targets indefinitely, rather than only until 2050 and authorized CARB to update the years to which those targets apply. The bill would have required a metropolitan planning organization, prior to adopting amendments to a regional transportation plan that could impact a Sustainable Communities Strategy, to quantify the reduction in GHG emissions and difference due to the amendments. This bill would have also updated the Sustainable Communities Strategy review process for CARB and metropolitan planning organizations, among other provisions. Was not heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited the County of Riverside, the County of San Bernardino, and jurisdictions therein from approving the development or expansion of any logistics use, as defined, that is adjacent to sensitive receptors, as defined, unless the local agency imposes certain requirements, as specified, including a minimum setback on the logistics use of 300 feet, if the logistics use consists of 400,000 or more square feet of building space, including, but not limited to, warehouses. Was not heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate between stakeholders and provide guidance and recommendations to ensure the performance of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor, the 351-mile rail line running between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. Additionally, the Transportation Secretary must: 1) develop a report  with assistance from the Secretary of Environmental Protection and Secretary for  Natural Resources and submit a report to the Legislature, no later than two years after appropriation by the Legislature for purposes of the report, about capital improvement projects, resiliency improvement projects, zero-emission infrastructure, and other recommendations, 2) convene a working group of stakeholders to submit consensus recommendations and feedback on or before February 1, 2026, on various topics relating to rail service in the corridor and 3) work with rail operations stakeholders to submit a report to the Legislature on the performance of the corridor no later than three years after an appropriation by the Legislature and biennially thereafter.

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Summary 

Would have required the California Energy Commission to form a 21-member Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Taskforce, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and would have required the taskforce to prepare a report by January 1, 2027, with information on existing fueling infrastructure and recommendations for how it might be used in conjunction with alternative fuels infrastructure at retail gasoline fueling stations, among other things.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 983 without my signature.

This bill would require the California Energy Commission (CEC) to form the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Task Force to conduct a study with information and recommendations on existing fueling infrastructure and how it might be used in conjunction with alternative fuels infrastructure at retail gasoline fueling stations.

This bill's implementation would result in additional cost pressure on the CEC's primary operating fund. Additionally, many provisions of this bill are duplicative of existing law, which requires the CEC, in consultation with various state entities, to prepare a transportation fuels transition plan.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary 

Would have required the California Transportation Agency and the California Energy Commission to jointly convene a Zero-Emission Freight Central Delivery Team (California Department of Transportation, CARB, California Public Utilities Commission, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, among others) to lead the statewide coordination of zero-emission freight infrastructure planning and implementation. This would have built off the recommendations of the assessment required by SB 671 (Gonzalez, Chapter 769, Statutes of 2021). This bill would have required the Central Delivery Team to promote the timely and equitable deployment of freight zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure by:  1) Strategically selecting project locations for freight ZEV infrastructure; 2) Coordinating actions among State agencies, utilities, and other stakeholders and developing a process to include nongovernmental stakeholders; 3) Identifying leads from regional transportation planning agencies, ports, State agencies, and other stakeholders; 4) Identifying available funding sources and public private partnership models; 5) Developing standardized station deployment models; and 6) Working with community colleges and ports to support training of skilled freight workers. The bill also would have required a report to be delivered every five years, with the first due on or before March 1, 2026, that outlined the team’s actions in the last year, best practices for planning and implementation, policy recommendations, and an assessment of the State's progress. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary 

Would have established a freight coordinator, as appointed by the Governor, to serve as the advisory and coordinating entity for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The freight coordinator would have: 1) advised and coordinated policies that promote the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability for freight and the supply chain across the State, 2) promoted and assessed the continued economic vitality and sustainability of the freight sector, 3) advised the Governor and director on issues affecting the State’s freight and supply chain, including economic strategy, investment, improvements in technology, policy, and regulations, and 4) worked directly with specified State agencies including CARB, to address and discuss ongoing freight and supply chain issues. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary 

Would have directed CARB to work with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and Department of Housing and Community Development to create guidance for the programming of projects that expand the physical footprint of a highway to address the impact on the highest 10% of CalEnviroScreen communities. The bill would have required that this guidance be incorporated into the programming cycle, starting January 1, 2028. The bill would have required CTC to "establish a target" to use 15% of annual funds for investments in zero-emission infrastructure, beginning in cycle starting after January 1, 2025, and increase that by 5% each year, until setting the goal of 50%. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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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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