California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would have required CARB to convene a youth advisory council of 35 members ages 16 to 21 representing each local air district to advise CARB on air pollution issues that impact youth in California. CARB would have been required to conduct public outreach to encourage applications and do additional outreach efforts in areas disproportionately impacted by pollution in each local air district, as well as prioritize those disproportionately impacted by pollution in membership. The bill would have authorized the council to conduct research and other activities with administrative support from CARB. Amended to deal with judicial officer disqualifications.

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Summary

Allows local air districts, in support of Tribal sovereignty, to enter into written agreements with federally recognized California Native American Tribes to allow cultural burning in their ancestral territories without undergoing the permitting, regulatory, or administrative requirements for prescribed burning. In the event of a disagreement between a local air district and a tribe in developing or implementing an agreement, the Secretary for Environmental Protection must assist in resolving the disagreement. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to enter into written agreements with federally recognized California Native American tribes in support of tribal sovereignty with respect to cultural burning in their ancestral territories. The Secretary may agree in the written agreement that compliance with specified permitting or regulatory requirements is not required.

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Summary

Would have required the Senate to direct its policy committees to incorporate more effective equity considerations in their analyses of future energy and climate legislation and would have resolved the Senate to explore methods to integrate equity more formally into its daily activities. Remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Summary

Extends the deadline for implementation of various health, safety, and environmental requirements for oil or gas production facilities or wells with a wellhead within a health protection zone.

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Summary

Would have established the Equitable Access to Zero-Emission Vehicles Fund and would make moneys in the fund available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish a program no later than January 1, 2025, to offer rebates for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles to underserved individuals, as specified. This bill would have also required CARB to submit a report to the Legislature every two years, starting on or before December 31, 2026, that describes the rebates, recommendations to improve the equitable distribution of the Fund, and any recommendations to better complement the Clean Cars 4 All Program. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation.

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Summary 

Would have directed CARB to work with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and Department of Housing and Community Development to create guidance for the programming of projects that expand the physical footprint of a highway to address the impact on the highest 10% of CalEnviroScreen communities. The bill would have required that this guidance be incorporated into the programming cycle, starting January 1, 2028. The bill would have required CTC to "establish a target" to use 15% of annual funds for investments in zero-emission infrastructure, beginning in cycle starting after January 1, 2025, and increase that by 5% each year, until setting the goal of 50%. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary 

Would have required State agencies and departments to consider the use of more inclusive practices to advance equity and defined “equity” as addressing the disparities in opportunities and outcomes of underserved populations, and empowering and meeting the unique needs of diverse and underserved populations, to ensure that communities facing the greatest inequities are not left behind, in a fair and just way. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission, upon appropriation from the Legislature and in consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission, CARB, and the California Integrated Travel Project, to establish a competitive grant program to award moneys for projects that provide an eligible low-income resident with a payment card that may be used at any publicly available electric vehicle charging station. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission (CEC) to assess the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needed to support the levels of electric vehicle adoption required for the State to meet the goal of ensuring 100% of new cars and light trucks sold in California are zero-emission vehicles and evaluate the electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs of specified use cases to ensure an equitable deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The bill would have also required CEC to assess whether Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are disproportionately distributed, whether drivers whose homes are located in rural or urban communities have disproportionate access to charging station infrastructure, whether homes have equal access to electrical panel capacity sufficient to support at-home charging, and whether charging station infrastructure necessary to fulfill the requirements of the California Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program has been disproportionately distributed. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Energy Commission (CEC) to equitably allocate money appropriated by the Legislature for hydrogen-fueling infrastructure to specifically prioritize rural communities and low-income communities. The bill also would have required CEC and CARB to jointly review and submit a report to the Legislature on the progress toward establishing this hydrogen-fueling infrastructure. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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