California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required a State agency that receives and disburses funds provided under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act or other federal recovery funds to consider projects’ potential impact on specified goals, including restoring frontline communities and rapidly accelerating achievement of environmental justice and climate goals, as well as uplifting vulnerable workers by prioritizing high road employers. The bill would have required State agencies to document how proposed projects meet or align with the specified goals and requires the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to establish an internet website where the public can track the expenditure of federal ARP funds by the State and how funded projects meet the specified goals. Was not heard in Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

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Summary

Would have revised AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, by charging CARB with only the responsibility of regulating vehicular sources of greenhouse gas emissions in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would have charged each local air district with the responsibility of regulating all sources, other than vehicular sources, of greenhouse gas emissions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within its jurisdiction. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have revised the definition of “eligible materials” in the Buy Clean California Act to delete mineral wool board insulation and additionally include gypsum board, insulation, carpet and carpet tiles, and ceiling tiles, among other things. Moved to Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

Would have required an owner or operator of a natural gas plant to develop, install, operate, and maintain, in accordance with guidance developed by the appropriate local air district, a fence-line monitoring system to measure and record methane concentrations at or adjacent to a natural gas plant. The bill would have required the local air district and the owner or operator of a natural gas plant to collect real-time data from these fence-line monitoring systems, provide that data to the public, and maintain records of that data. The bill would have required an owner or operator of a natural gas plant to report methane concentrations readings that exceed background levels to the local air district and requires the local air district to report those readings to Members of the Legislature representing the district in which the natural gas plant is located. The bill would have required the owner or operator of a natural gas plant to be responsible for the costs associated with the fence-line monitoring system. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Allows a private, nonprofit corporation that provides services to zero-emission transportation systems or facilities, including, but not limited to, finance, design, construction, operation, or maintenance, to enter into a joint powers agreement with a public agency to facilitate the development, construction, and operation of zero-emission transportation systems or facilities that lower GHGs, reduce vehicle congestion and VMT, and improve public transit connections. Requires that a board of directors govern the joint agency formed, board membership determined by the participating public agencies, and prohibits the representation of corporations on the board from exceeding 50 percent. The bill will be repealed on January 1, 2032.

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Summary

Would have established, until January 1, 2028, the State-Regional Collaborative for Climate, Equity, and Resilience to provide guidance, by January 1, 2024, to CARB for approving new guidelines for sustainable communities strategies (SCS) and would have required CARB to update the guidelines for SCSs to incorporate Collaborative suggestions by December 2025. The Collaborative would have been chaired by CARB and consisted of one representative of the California Transportation Agency, the California Housing Department, and the California Strategic Growth Council, along with 10 public members representing local and State organizations, as specified. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Prohibits by January 1 of a given year, the sale or distribution of bulk hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) or bulk blends containing HFCs that exceed the specified global warming potential (GWP): shall not exceed 2,200 GWP by 2025; 1,500 GWP by 2030; and 750 GWP by 2033; unless the HFCs are reclaimed or for use in metered dose inhalers, as specified. This bill also prohibits the State from using refrigerants with a GWP greater than 750 that are not reclaimed to service existing equipment owned or operated by the State starting January 1, 2025. This bill also requires CARB to post an assessment on its internet website by 2025 specifying how to transition the State’s economy to ultra-low GWP or no-GWP alternatives no later than 2035. To achieve this transition, the bill requires CARB to initiate a rulemaking requiring low- and ultra-low GWP alternatives in all HFC sectors where it is practicable for entities in the sector to comply. The bill also states penalties for violations, among other provisions.

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Summary

Would have established a program for planning and projects to make California’s transportation more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Deems a housing development project, as defined, as an allowable use on a parcel that is within a zone where office, retail, or parking are a principally permitted use, if specified conditions are met, including requirements relating to density, public notice, comment, hearing, or other procedures, site location and size, consistency with sustainable community strategy, prevailing wage, and a skilled and trained workforce.

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Summary

Repeals obsolete code sections that required CARB to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of proposed sports complex development projects in Los Angeles and Sacramento. CARB's GHG determination, combined with many other environmental requirements, allowed the projects to qualify for expedited review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

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