California Air Resources Board

Summary

Exempts university housing projects from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) until 2030, if the projects meet specified requirements, including an independent third-party evaluation of whether the project results in net additional emission of greenhouse gases, qualifying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum level, and other environmental and labor requirements.

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Summary 

Would have prohibited the use of well stimulation techniques in oil and gas wells beginning January 1, 2022. The bill would have required California Geologic Energy M​anagement Division CalGEM to adopt a safety regulation for oil and gas facilities including setbacks from sensitive receptors, as defined in statute and as defined by CARB. Was amended to deal with expert witnesses. 

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Summary 

Would have required CARB, by January 1, 2024, to develop and adopt regulations requiring corporations with revenues in excess of $1 billion doing business in California to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to an emissions registry and contract with that registry to develop a reporting and registry program. The bill would have required CARB to establish auditor qualifications and a process for approval of auditors that ensures sufficient auditor capacity, as well as timely reporting. The bill would have required CARB by July 1, 2026, contract with a university, as specified, to report on public disclosures made by these businesses, including in the context of State GHG reduction goals. Finally, the bill would have required CARB to update the disclosure deadlines by January 1, 2029 to ensure Scope 3 emissions are reported as close in time as practicable to Scope 1 and 2 emission disclosures. Failed passage on the Assembly Floor. 

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Summary

Would change retention rules surrounding information captured by automatic license plate readers (ALPR).  Current law authorizes the Department of the California Highway Patrol to retain license plate data captured by license plate reader technology for not more than 60 days unless the data is being used as evidence, or for the investigation of felonies. This data can be shared with law enforcement agencies and requires both an ALPR operator and an ALPR end-user, as those terms are defined, to implement a usage and privacy policy regarding that ALPR information. This bill would require, if the ALPR operator or ALPR end-user is a public agency and not an airport authority, ALPR data be destroyed within 24 hours if it does not match a hot list. Held on suspense in Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Extends the sunset on the Road Usage Charge (RUC) Technical Advisory Committee until January 1, 2027, requires the State Transportation Agency to implement a RUC pilot program, as specified, to identify and evaluate issues related to the collection of revenue for a road charge program by January 1, 2023, and requires two reports to the Legislature, by 2024 and 2026 respectively.

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Summary

Would prohibit the use of well stimulation techniques in oil and gas wells beginning January 1, 2022. The bill would require CalGEM to adopt a safety regulation for oil and gas facilities including setbacks from sensitive receptors, as defined in statute and as defined by CARB. The bill failed passage in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee and was granted reconsideration.

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Summary

Would have required CARB by January 1, 2023, to develop and adopt regulations requiring corporations with revenues in excess of $1 billion doing business in California to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also would have required CARB, by July 1, 2025 to prepare a report on the greenhouse gas emissions of reporting entities, including estimates of reductions needed to maintain global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius, estimate of emissions based on California’s current climate programs, and recommendations for reporting entities to reduce their emissions. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Would have authorized a local government to pass an ordinance, notwithstanding any local restrictions on adopting zoning ordinances, to zone any parcel for up to 10 units of residential density per parcel, if the parcel is located in a transit-rich area, a jobs-rich area, or an urban infill site.  The bill also would have required the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Office of Planning and Research, to determine jobs-rich areas and publish a map of those areas every five years.  Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act, until 2023, various transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities projects, charging infrastructure for zero-emission buses, and new rapid transit, bus, or light rail service. Projects must be carried out by a public lead agency, located in an urbanized area on or within an existing public right-of-way, not add physical infrastructure that increases new automobile capacity on existing rights-of-way, not require demolition of affordable housing units, and be completed by a skilled and trained workforce, except as provided.

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