California Air Resources Board

Requires a battery supplier to be responsible for ensuring the end-of-life management of a vehicle traction battery and requires reporting information regarding the sale, transfer, or receipt of a vehicle traction battery or module to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The bill imposes related duties on a secondary user, a secondary handler, an auctioneer, all as defined, to report similar information regarding a vehicle traction battery or battery module to DTSC. The bill provides funding mechanisms for DTSC to implement the bill. CARB’s interest was conformity with technical specifications used in CARB’s regulations. Moved to the Assembly Inactive File.

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Extends the current January 1, 2026, sunset date for the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority’s sales and use tax exclusion program to January 1, 2028, adds fusion energy as an eligible alternative source, and modifies the stated purpose of the program to promote high-quality jobs and ensure that California communities and workers benefit from projects receiving financial assistance under the program.

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Authorizes the California Energy Commission to modify requirements for electric vehicle charger payment systems formerly set by CARB.

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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 appliances in residential or nonresidential buildings, and the buying, selling, or use of gasoline-powered vehicles or equipment. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Prohibits the delivery of commercial goods directly to a residence or to a business for its use or retail sale through the operation of an autonomous vehicle without a human operator on any highway within California. The bill requires that the Department of Motor Vehicles consult with CARB on how autonomous vehicles utilized to deliver commercial goods impact the 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality as part of an autonomous vehicle report to the Legislature due by January 1, 2031. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $20,000,000,000 to finance transit and passenger rail improvements, local streets and roads and active transportation projects, zero-emission vehicle investments, transportation freight infrastructure improvements, and grade separations and other critical safety improvements, including $3 billion for ZEVs and $2.5 billion for transportation freight infrastructure improvements. Remains in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Would have required CARB to consider, for any future regulation or amendment regarding the procurement or use of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by a public or private fleet, that car rental customers are responsible for a car's miles driven and any associated emissions, rather than the rental company. The bill also would have required CARB to “consider” how rentals can help obligated entities comply with regulations in a more cost-effective and flexible manner, as well as a myriad of other perceived benefits.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

 I am returning Assembly Bill 620 without my signature.

 This bill would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to consider, for any future regulation or amendment regarding the procurement or use of medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by a public or private fleet, that car rental customers are responsible for a car's miles driven and any associated emissions.

 In 2020, I issued Executive Order (EO) N-79-20, which directed CARB, among other things, to develop strategies to transition in-state sales of new passenger vehicles and trucks to 100 percent ZEVs by 2035, where feasible. Following this EO, CARB developed the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. While the United States Environmental Protection Agency did not grant a waiver to authorize the ACF regulation before the climate-change-denying Trump Administration took office, California remains committed to transitioning to zero­-emission transportation. This is why I recently issued EO N-27-25 reaffirming California's leadership in promoting ZEVs to protect our future, health, and economy.

 In my veto message to Assembly Bill 637 (Jackson) last year, I encouraged rental vehicle companies to work with CARB to explore the environmental and economic benefits of MD/HD ZEV rentals through existing regulatory processes. I continue to encourage rental vehicle companies to do so.

 For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

 Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Clarifies that a 21st century warehouse and a tier 1 21st century warehouse is required to comply with building standards in effect at the time that the building permit is issued and make other clarifying changes relating to permissibility of use of conduits and electrical hookups at loading bays at those locations. The bill revises the definition of “logistics use” and instead defines “logistics use development” for these purposes to mean a building that is primarily used as a warehouse for the movement or the storage of cargo, goods, or products that are moved to business or retail customers, or both, that does not predominantly serve retail customers for onsite purchases, and heavy-duty trucks are primarily involved in the movement of the cargo, goods, or product. The bill makes various other technical and conforming changes to the provisions governing logistics use development.

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Would have required CARB to create the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Appeals Advisory Committee to review appeals for denied requests for exemptions from CARB's Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. This bill would have also expanded existing ACF emergency vehicle exemptions to vehicles reasonably anticipated to respond to emergency situations or vehicles supporting those efforts. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have specified that any schoolbus that is replaced pursuant to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Initiative Project (HVIP) was to be excluded from the scrapping requirement for a frontier Local Educational Agency or small school district. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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