California Air Resources Board

Summary

Budget Act of 2021. Among other things, the bill makes appropriations for CARB programs and makes re-appropriations to extend encumbrance and expenditure dates for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations, including those to CARB. The bill also signals the intent of the Legislature to appropriate money for zero-emission vehicles, climate resiliency, climate smart agriculture, and wildfire and forestry resiliency in a subsequent Budget Bill Junior.

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Summary

Would have added a requirement that new housing development in the coastal zone, as defined, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to the existing coastal zone requirement to minimize vehicle miles traveled and energy consumption.  Was not heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

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Summary

Would have provided a funding mechanism to reduce wildfire risks in California by establishing the Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience Act of 2020.  The bill would have required the California Natural Resources Agency to adopt an interim expenditure plan and an expenditure plan that focused on reducing wildfire risk on the ground and in communities through activities such as defensible space implementation, home hardening, and improved public safety.  The bill would have established the Wildfire Prevention and Community Resilience Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would have required moneys in the fund be used for the implementation of the expenditure plan.  The bill would have required that at least $50 million be available to CARB for projects that reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants related to forest treatments.  The bill would have required that preference be given to projects that could have provided negative emissions of greenhouse gases as determined by CARB.  Was not heard on the Senate Floor.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Climate Resiliency, Fire Risk Reduction, Recycling, Groundwater and Drinking Water Supply, Clean Beaches, and Jobs Infrastructure Bond Act of 2020.  If approved by the voters, the Act would have authorized the issuance of bonds in an unspecified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a climate resiliency, fire risk reduction, recycling, groundwater and drinking water supply, clean beaches, and jobs infrastructure program.  The bill would have required the bond act to be submitted to the voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election.  Was not heard in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.

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Summary

Would have required each five-year update to the California Transportation Plan (CTP) and the Strategic Growth Council’s report on the CTP and Sustainable Communities Strategies to include a forecast of the impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure and measures to address those impacts, among other provisions.  Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB to publish emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, and toxic air contaminants from catastrophic wildfires on its website.  The bill also would have required CARB to include emissions from catastrophic wildfires in its air pollution inventory.  Additionally, the bill would have indefinitely defined “district” to mean an air pollution control or an air quality management district under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.  Was not heard in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, no later than July 1, 2021, to adopt a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in the State by no later than December 31, 2045.  The bill would have required CARB to update the comprehensive strategy at least once every 5 years.  The bill would have required CARB to deliver a copy of the comprehensive strategy and any update the Legislature and to make recommendations for additional statutory authority to effectuate the goals of the comprehensive strategy.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required, no later than July 1, 2021, that the Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the California Environmental Protection Agency, CARB, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, establish carbon sequestration goals for natural and working lands.  The bill would have required CARB to include specified carbon dioxide removal targets as part of its Scoping Plan.  Finally, the bill would have required the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to maintain a registry of carbon sequestration projects seeking funding.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have required an aviation fuel retailer to provide a quarterly information return to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and would have set penalties and exemptions for a retailer that fails to file.  The bill would have required the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to calculate the revenue collected from the sale, storage, use, or consumption of aviation fuel in the State.  Was not heard in the Senate Government and Finance Committee.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the requirement for CARB to consult with other governments and nations to identify the most effective strategies and methods to reduce greenhouse gases.  The bill was amended to deal with nonlatex gloves.

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