California Air Resources Board

Summary

Would require CARB to adopt additional greenhouse gas targets for 2045 and 2050, and vehicle miles traveled targets for 2035, 2045, 2050, by 2024; would modify the timeline for Sustainable Community Strategies (SCS) development; and would require CARB to reject SCSs if they are not implementable based on specific evidentiary basis.  Would require local governments to collect data on housing, jobs, and transit infrastructure and report every two years to metropolitan planning organizations to demonstrate how SCS strategies are implemented, using the data described above. Was not heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would contain statutory provisions necessary to implement the Budget Act of 2021. Related to CARB, would establish the Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program of 2021, developed and administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and CARB to provide regions with funding, including grants. Eligible activities for transformative planning and implementation would include administering specified programs, providing jurisdictions and other local agencies with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing, or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, accelerating infill development, planning and upgrading infrastructure, creating multimodal transportation communities, shifting travel behavior through reducing driving, and increasing transit ridership, each as specified. HCD, in collaboration with COPR, SGC and CARB would review applications, and HCD would award funds, as specified.  Was not heard in the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.

View full bill text here

Summary

Requires the courts, until January 1, 2025, to resolve CEQA challenges within 365 days for up to seven transit projects in Los Angeles County that meet specific vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emission criteria.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would establish an Office of Racial Equity to be administered by a Racial Equity Advisory and Accountability Council. Would require all State agencies develop and implement a Racial Equity Action Plan (Plan) that aligns with the Racial Equity Framework and will be updated every three years. Each Plan would include goals, strategies, and plans to achieve equity within the agency and for services provided to the public, and metrics to measure current conditions and outcomes, as specified. Each agency would prepare an annual report on its progress with data documentation. Was not heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Reauthorizes the AB 900 program, which requires the courts to resolve CEQA challenges within 270 days for mega development projects that meet specified environmental requirements, and establishes a new category for housing developments between $15 and $100 million. Requires the Governor to make a net zero greenhouse gas determination on projects except those in the new housing category, authorizes the Office of Planning and Research to charge an applicant fee to cover costs to the Governor's Office to implement the program, and updates labor requirements.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would establish, until January 1, 2028, a Just Transition Advisory Commission in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and requires the commission, through a public process, to develop and adopt a Transition Plan that contains recommendations to transition the state’s economy to a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy that maximizes the benefits of climate actions while minimizing burdens to workers, especially workers in the fossil fuel industry, and their communities, especially those that face disproportionate burdens from pollution. Held on suspense in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would authorize expedited CEQA review for student housing projects if the project meets specified environmental and affordable housing requirements, including being located within two miles of campus; at least 15 percent extremely low, very low, or low-income households, and certified LEED Gold for construction. Was not heard in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have exempted from the requirements of CEQA projects by a public transit agency to construct or maintain infrastructure to charge or refuel zero-emission trains, provided certain requirements are met, including giving prior notice to the public and holding a noticed public meeting, as provided. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would require the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and administer the Green Means Go Grant and Loan Program to award competitive grants and revolving loans to cities, counties, and special districts within the Sacramento region for qualifying projects within and benefitting green zones, as defined. Was not heard by the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

View full bill text here

Summary

Among other provisions, would have expanded the content of CARB’s SB 150 Progress Report on the SB 375 program; would have required metropolitan planning organizations to submit data for the report, as feasible; would have required additional collaboration on the Strategic Growth Council’s AB 285 Report on the California Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS); would have required local governments to submit a progress report one year after an SCS is accepted; and would have required the Department of Transportation to submit a proposal for a bicycle highway pilot program. Vetoed by the Governor.

View full bill text here

Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1147 without my signature.

This bill adds new and modified reporting at the local and regional levels on compatibility of land use and transportation planning with greenhouse gas reduction goals and a proposal for a pilot program to create a network of bicycle highways.

Although the bill seeks to improve transparency to the Sustainable Community Strategies process, it does not require or incentivize regional and local governments to make land use decisions that change development and transportation patterns.

While I share the author's goal to align policies and promote the use of active transportation modes such as walking and biking, the bill is not necessary because state agencies are already collaborating on these policies and updating local requirements.

I proposed $7.6 billion to make key investments in a wide variety of critically necessary projects including high speed rail, transit connectivity projects in advance of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, active transportation, and a variety of other rail system improvements. Not only will these projects improve safety and access for bicyclists and pedestrians, they will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are key to meeting our state's climate objectives. I look forward to re-engaging with the Legislature to finalize and pass a comprehensive transportation package early next year.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here