California Air Resources Board

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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Summary

Would have enacted the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $5.51 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  This bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  CARB would have also been required to define negative emissions and give preference to projects that provide negative emissions.  Remains at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have provided a partial income tax exemption to a resident leasing a solar electric generation system that meets or exceeds the compliance requirements of equipment used for purposes of complying with specified State buildings standards and the tangible personal property on a rental property.  Of interest to CARB, this bill would have required a transfer of the revenue value of the total dollar amount of solar tax exemptions provided by this bill from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund.  Was not heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

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Summary

Would have prohibited any high-speed train service that receives an operating subsidy from using the high-speed train system owned by the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), regardless of whether the service is provided by the Authority directly or provided by a third party pursuant to a lease agreement with the HSRA.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have enacted the Economic Recovery, Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $6.98 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection.  As part of the bill, the bond would have provided $50 million to CARB to fund projects that convert forest and vegetation waste to beneficial uses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help to increase local community resilience against climate change impacts.  Remains in the Assembly Rules Committee.

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Summary

Would have directed the High-Speed Rail Authority, in the development and implementation of intercity high-speed rail service, to prioritize projects based on the following criteria: (1) providing the most overall benefit to the State; (2) increasing passenger rail ridership; (3) replacing automobile trips with passenger rail trips.  Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have suspended the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund appropriation to the High-Speed Rail Authority for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 fiscal years and transferred those amounts to the General Fund to support K–12 education and offset any funding reduction for K–12 education.  Was not heard in the Assembly Education Committee.

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