California Air Resources Board

Would have required local air districts to allow critical facility operators to use a permitted emergency backup generator in exceedance of the applicable runtime, testing, and maintenance limits under certain conditions. This requirement would have gone into effect on January 1, 2026, and would have applied to local air districts that do not have existing rules for emergency backup generators but will be adopting rules in the future. The bill would have required a critical facility allowed to exceed applicable limits, as specified, to attest to and provide evidence of having taken demonstrable steps toward implementing the use of backup power technologies that meet or exceed emission standards set by CARB. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Would have made changes to the county supervisor membership of the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) to one that is more diverse with a larger focus on members from cities representing the five supervisorial districts and public members. The bill also would have required ICAPCD to maintain a website and post specified information, including board agendas and permit, air monitoring, and enforcement information.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 675 without my signature.

This bill would restructure the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and impose new reporting and planning duties.

The Imperial County APCD plays a critical role in improving air quality and protecting public health in a county disproportionately impacted by severe air quality challenges. While increasing representation and transparency on governing boards is important work, change of this magnitude requires sufficient support and resources.

I am concerned that this bill would impose significant new financial obligations on the County, its cities, and ultimately its residents, without identifying a funding source to meet them.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Would have required the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, by December 31, 2027, to analyze specified policies to determine the cost of compliance, potential costs to consumers, impacts on State and local tax revenue, impacts to refinery employment, and impacts on the State gasoline supply, as provided. The bill would also have required those local air districts, by January 1, 2028, to try, in good faith, to minimize negative impacts found by the above research. For rulemaking related to oil refineries by these local air districts, the bill would have expanded the definition of “socioeconomic impact” to also mean the cost to consumers, impacts on State and local tax revenue, and impacts on the State gasoline supply. The bill would have required those local air districts to consider those additional socioeconomic impacts and try in good faith to minimize any negative impacts, as provided, before adopting a rule or regulation related to oil refineries. Was not voted on in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have required, to the extent that funding is appropriated by the Legislature, each large and medium local air district, by January 1, 2028, to implement and maintain a commercial voucher program to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment consistent with specified requirements. The bill would have provided that a violation of an ordinance adopted by a local government governing the use of any small off-road engine landscaping equipment can only be punishable by a warning or an administrative fine imposed in accordance with specified requirements.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2635 without my signature.

This bill requires local air districts to implement a commercial voucher program to support the transition to zero-emission small off-road equipment.

Small off-road engines are a significant source of harmful air pollution, particularly in communities already burdened by poor air quality. While I share the author's goal of helping marginalized communities transition to zero-emission equipment, this bill duplicates existing state and local air district programs. Under my administration, in partnership with the Legislature, we provided $30 million to incentivize the purchase of nearly 30,000 pieces of zero-emission landscape equipment. Additionally, zero-emission landscape equipment is now widely available from many manufacturers, which will further increase market competition.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Would have prohibited CARB from adopting any regulation or rule that would have added more than $0.02 to the cost of a gallon of gasoline or added $2,000 or more to the cost to build any home. The bill would have prohibited the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) from adopting any regulation or rule that would have added more than $0.02 to the cost of a gallon of gasoline, added $2,000 or more to the cost to build any home, or added $5,000 or more to the cost to build a nonresidential building. The bill would have required CARB, as well as SCAQMD, to submit data to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature demonstrating how a proposed regulation is compliant with this prohibition. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have authorized a local or State law enforcement agency to buy and install an incinerator for destroying seized controlled substances, as provided. The bill would have required the local or State law enforcement agency to follow specified federal regulations and to notify CARB and the local air district of the project, as specified. The bill would have exempted a project to buy and install an incinerator that complies with these requirements from the California Environmental Quality Act. Amended to deal with guidance for management and disposal of controlled substances in the possession of law enforcement.

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Would have required that CARB members from local air districts receive the annual salary provided to other members of CARB. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have established a new regulatory structure at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for metal shredding facilities. The bill, among other things, would have required that any metal shredding facility permit action taken by DTSC consider the conclusions and recommendations set forth in a community emissions reduction program prepared by a local air district and any other health risk assessment conducted by a local air district pursuant to the Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act of 1987 or other applicable law. The bill would have required that, if an air quality health risk assessment had not been conducted, the owner or operator of the facility would have had to conduct an analysis of equivalent scope and depth as approved by the local air district.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 404 without my signature.

The bill would establish a comprehensive regulatory program for metal shredding facilities to be administered by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and would require metal shredding facilities to obtain a permit from DTSC.

I support the author's intent to create a uniform structure for permitting metal shredding facilities in California. These facilities are critical to maintaining supply chain stability, recycling millions of end-of-life vehicles, household appliances, and other metallic items produced, used, and discarded annually in California. Unless recycled, these metal materials would overwhelm available landfill capacity, creating a massive accumulation of damaged and abandoned cars, appliances, and other items.

However, this bill lacks clear definitions regarding the materials processed at these facilities, including what "hazardous waste" requirements are applicable. Without this clarity, this bill is not as protective, places a significant burden on DTSC, and cannot be successfully implemented.

I encourage the author to work closely with DTSC and interested parties to remedy this issue, as well as ensure that any future legislation requires metal shredding facilities operate, and be permitted to operate, in a health-protective manner.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Summary

Requires an owner or operator of a metal shredding facility to reimburse a local air district for reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the local air district in implementing facility-wide fence-line air quality monitoring requirements at the metal shredding facility. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Requires a local air district without a specified rule on emergency backup generators, as of January 1, 2026, that adopts such a rule to include in the rule provisions that allow the operator of a critical facility to use a permitted emergency backup generator in exceedance of the applicable runtime and testing and maintenance limits if specified conditions are met. The bill requires a critical facility allowed to exceed applicable limits, as specified, to attest to and provide evidence of having taken demonstrable steps toward implementing the use of backup power technologies that meet or exceed emission standards set by CARB. Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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