California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have, among other provisions, increased local planning requirements and guidelines for permitting development in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and directed local governments to develop retrofit strategies for structures in their communities that need fire hardening.  The bill would have also established a grant program for small jurisdictions, as defined, that contain very high fire risk areas.  Administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, this grant program would have funded wildfire risk reduction planning activities.  This bill would have required CARB to compile the greenhouse gas quantification data for the grant program if the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund was identified as the funding source for the program.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 182 without my signature.

This bill would impose certain fire hazard planning responsibilities on local governments and would require cities and counties to make specified findings on fire standards prior to permitting development in the very high fire hazard severity zone.

I strongly support strengthening land use planning requirements in order to better protect our communities from wildfire.  The importance of reducing the number and impact of fires in our communities cannot be overstated.  However, this bill creates inconsistencies, duplicates existing requirements, creates a loophole for regions to not comply with their housing requirements, fails to account for consequences that could increase sprawl and places significant cost burdens on the state.

New state laws and policies are already directing housing to communities near transit, jobs and urban centers and away from fire risk areas, including integration into the current housing planning cycle.  Additionally, the 2019-20 Budget requires the California Department of Housing and Community Development, in collaboration with the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, to develop recommendations to improve the regional housing need allocation process to promote and streamline housing development to address California's housing shortage.

Wildfire resilience must become a more consistent part of land use and development decisions.  However, it must be done while meeting our housing needs.

For these reasons, I am returning Senate Bill 182 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would have made appropriations to support CARB activities and programs from various funds.  This bill also would have made re-appropriations for the purposes of extending encumbrance, expenditure, and liquidation dates for certain Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriations, including those to CARB.  Was not heard in the Assembly Budget Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to adopt regulations by January 2022 to develop a loan, grant, and incentive payment program to improve California’s statewide recycling and composting infrastructure.  This bill would have created the California Recycling and Composting Infrastructure Fund in the State Treasury to support the regulations.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have created the Sea Level Rise Revolving Loan Program (Program) within the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to provide low-interest loans to local jurisdictions for the purchase of coastal properties in their jurisdictions identified as vulnerable coastal property.  This bill would have also required the California Coastal Commission to determine criteria and guidelines for the identification of vulnerable coastal properties eligible for participation in the program by January 2022.  The bill would have authorized specified cities and counties to apply for, and be awarded, a low‑interest loan under the Program if the city or county develops and submits to the bank a vulnerable coastal property plan.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have enacted the California Climate Technology and Infrastructure Financing Act to require the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), in consultation with CARB, to administer the Climate Catalyst Revolving Fund (Catalyst Fund), to provide financial assistance to eligible projects.  The bill would have required IBank to administer the continuously appropriated Catalyst Fund for climate catalyst projects for any improvement, technology, service, or measure that avoids greenhouse gas emissions.  CARB would have had a consultation role to help IBank establish project eligibility and program guidelines, and CARB’s Chair would have served as a member of the advisory body for the development of a three-year funding guidance document.  Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have established the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program (Program), to be developed and implemented by the California Energy Commission (CEC).  The Program would have provided loans to electrical corporations to fund activities that minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires due to electrical lines and equipment or that reduce the need for public safety power shutoffs.  This bill would have required the High-Speed Rail Authority to transfer any unencumbered moneys appropriated from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to CEC as a loan to be deposited in the Electrical Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund (Fund), which the bill would have established in the State Treasury.  The bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would have required CEC to expend the moneys from the Fund for purposes of the Program.  Was not heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Advisory Environmental Farming Act Science Advisory Panel (Panel) to assist government agencies to incorporate the conservation of natural resources and ecosystem services practices into agricultural programs.  The bill would have required the California Department of Food and Agriculture, with advice from the Panel, to establish and administer the California Environmental Farming Incentive Program (Program), subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.  The bill would have required the Program to support on-farm practices seeking to optimize environmental benefits while supporting the economic viability of California agriculture.  The bill would have also required the Program to provide incentives to farmers or ranchers who want to pursue adopting management practices that contribute to wildlife habitat and result in on-farm activities that provide multiple conservation benefits.  Was not heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

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Summary

Spot bill related to the Environmental Farming Program.  Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.  

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Summary

Would have required the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to create two additional traffic lanes on northbound and southbound Interstate Route 5 and State Route 99 that would not have a maximum speed limit.  Funding for the additional traffic lanes would have been from a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation.  Amended to require Caltrans to develop a report to the Legislature on the advantages and feasibility of implementing a German Autobahn-like system in California.   

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Summary

Would have established the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2020.  This bill would have created the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund (Fund) within the State Treasury, and made the moneys in the fund available for expenditure, upon appropriation by the Legislature.  This bill would have also required the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to administer the Fund and would have authorized IBank to provide financial assistance to any eligible sponsor or participating party for eligible climate catalyst projects.  Failed passage on the Assembly Floor.

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