California Air Resources Board

Would have authorized two or more specified local governments to jointly form a Reinvestment in Infrastructure for a Sustainable and Equitable California (RISE) district to use tax increment financing and other revenue options to finance infill supportive infrastructure and affordable housing, among other things, near major transit stops, as specified. The bill would also have required the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to develop guidelines for the formation of RISE districts, and require the Infrastructure and Economic development Bank to establish a RISE District Revolving Loan Program, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to provide RISE districts with initial startup funding for eligible projects, as specified. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have transferred Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds currently provided to the High-Speed Rail Authority to the State’s General Fund and made the funding available for rural road safety. Failed passage in the SenateTransportation Committee.

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Would have required CARB to update regional greenhouse gas (GHG) targets indefinitely, rather than only until 2050 and authorized CARB to update the years to which those targets apply. The bill would have required a metropolitan planning organization, prior to adopting amendments to a regional transportation plan that could impact a Sustainable Communities Strategy, to quantify the reduction in GHG emissions and difference due to the amendments. This bill would have also updated the Sustainable Communities Strategy review process for CARB and metropolitan planning organizations, among other provisions. Was not heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would have created the Climate Cashback Program to be administered by the Franchise Tax Board for the public purpose of mitigating the costs of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The bill would have required the Franchise Tax Board to develop and implement the program by December 31, 2024, to deliver quarterly per capita cashback payments to all California residents and set other requirements for the operation of the program. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Summary

Would have created the California Compost Tax Credit Fund providing refundable tax credits for California farmers, ranchers, and landowners who employ farming practices that maximize carbon sequestration through the utilization of compost on natural and working lands. Would have transferred one percent of annual Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund proceeds, not exceeding $120 million per fiscal year through FY 2035-36 to the California Compost Tax Credit Fund. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the Deputy Secretary for Climate within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to create and maintain a green jobs website that serves as the central hub for employment opportunities related to the transition to carbon-neutral jobs. The bill would have extended by a year the due date of the report to the Legislature on key findings and recommendations regarding the development and implementation of the workforce transition to a sustainable and equitable clean energy economy. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have provided that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that provides that the policy of the State is to ensure that companies that contract with the State are not contributing to tropical deforestation, either directly or through their supply chains. Remains at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would have required the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop procedures, in consultation with CARB, for local jurisdictions to request technical assistance on meeting the State’s organic waste recycling requirements.

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Governor's Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 972 without my signature.

This bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to develop procedures for local jurisdictions to request technical assistance regarding the disposal of organic material in landfills. It also requires CalRecycle to consider providing technical assistance before exercising its enforcement authority, if a local jurisdiction has submitted a technical assistance request.

While I appreciate the author's intent to assist local jurisdictions in meeting California's organic waste reduction and diversion targets established in Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016), this bill is unnecessary and duplicative of existing efforts. CalRecycle currently offers a suite of technical assistance materials and comprehensive staff assistance for all jurisdictions in the state specific to Senate Bill 1383. Further, the Local Assistance and Market Development branch within CalRecycle regularly meets with local jurisdictions, including monthly Senate Bill 1383 roundtables, and conducts annual site visits to provide customized assistance consistent with each jurisdiction's needs.

For this reason, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Enacts the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, which would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10,000,000,000 if approved by voters, for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience; wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions; climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands; park creation and outdoor access; and clean air programs.

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Summary 

Would have allowed the California Natural Resources Agency to authorize teal carbon demonstration projects and develop, with consultation from CARB and other parties, a teal carbon demonstration project program starting January 1, 2028. The bill would have also allowed the California Coastal Commission (Commission) to authorize blue carbon demonstration projects and develop, with CARB and other parties, a blue carbon demonstration project program. The bill would have allowed the Commission to require an applicant with a nonresidential project that impacts coastal wetland, subtidal, intertidal, or marine habitats or ecosystems to build or contribute to a blue carbon demonstration project. The bill would have required these provisions (both teal and blue carbon demonstration projects programs) to be implemented only upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1992 without my signature.

This bill would authorize the California Coastal Commission and the California Natural Resources Agency to facilitate the development of blue and teal carbon demonstration projects in certain coastal areas and inland wetlands.

California is a global leader in advancing nature-based carbon capture and sequestration solutions, having built and expanded our portfolio of actions over decades. In fact, between 2020 and 2023 alone, the State invested approximately $9.6 billion in nature-based solutions. Additionally, I signed Assembly Bill 1757 (C. Garcia) in 2022, which required the State to develop achievable carbon removal targets for natural and working lands. This same year, the Natural and Working Land Climate Smart Strategy cataloged over 350 efforts across State agencies to deliver meaningful nature-based solution climate action.

While I share the author's desire to accelerate novel nature-based climate solutions, this bill creates a new, unfunded program. In partnership with the Legislature this year, my Administration has enacted a balanced budget that avoids deep program cuts to vital services and protected investments in education, health care, climate, public safety, housing, and social service programs that millions of Californians rely on. It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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