California Air Resources Board

Summary 

Would have required CARB to establish the Zero-Emission Aftermarket Conversion Project (ZACP) to provide an applicant with a rebate for the aftermarket conversion of a motor vehicle into a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV). This bill would have also required, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or at the discretion of CARB, to fund the program using funds available from a clean transportation program that is in effect on or after the date CARB establishes ZACP. The bill would have also required CARB’s guidelines to require that an eligible ZEV have a range of at least 100 miles and have completed an inspection of safety systems and components by a licensee of the Bureau of Automotive Repair, as provided.

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Governor’s Veto Message 

To the Members of the California State Senate:  

I am returning Senate Bill 301 without my signature.  

This bill would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish the Zero-Emission Aftermarket Conversion Project (ZACP) to provide an applicant with a financial rebate for converting a gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicle into a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV).  

California is showing the world what's possible - fostering innovation and creating space for an industry to flourish as the sale of ZEVs reach record highs, with over 1 .8 million ZEVs now on California's roads. The state continues to invest billions of dollars in ZEV deployment and supporting infrastructure to achieve our ambitious climate and clean air goals.  

While I share the author's desire to further accelerate the state's transition to ZEVs, this bill creates a new program at a time when the state faces a $44.9 billion shortfall for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Additionally, there is no funding currently identified or available in the state budget to support this new program. 

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill. 

Sincerely, 

Gavin Newsom 

View Governor’s veto message here 

Summary 

Would have required CARB to establish the Zero-Emission Aftermarket Conversion Project (ZACP) to provide an applicant with a rebate for the aftermarket conversion of a motor vehicle into a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV). This bill also requires, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or at the discretion of CARB, to fund the program using funds available from a clean transportation program that is in effect on or after the date CARB establishes ZACP. Placed on the Assembly Inactive File.

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Summary 

For CARB and air districts, this bill expands the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulatory process to apply to virtually every regulation CARB and districts might promulgate, regardless of environmental impact. Requires CARB, air districts, and other specified agencies to complete a specific alternative environmental analysis or the equivalent of an Environmental Impact Report for every regulation adopted that directly or indirectly requires emission reductions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, or toxic air contaminants. This bill might expand the circumstances under which a focused Environmental Impact Report could be used by regulated entities for the installation of air pollution control equipment and related components and also could add extensive labor requirements if the focused Environmental Impact Report is used, both under current law and under the expanded CEQA analysis on regulations required by this bill. Moved to the inactive file on the Assembly Floor.

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Summary

Would have required CARB, air districts, and other specified agencies to complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or alternative environmental analysis, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and as specified, for every rule or regulation adopted that requires emission reductions of greenhouse gases (GHG), criteria air pollutants, or toxic air contaminants (TAC), or compliance with a performance standard or treatment requirement that requires emission reductions of GHGs, criteria air pollutants, or TACs. This bill also would have added extensive labor requirements if a focused EIR was used for the installation of pollution control equipment projects to reduce TACs, criteria pollutants, or GHGs that was undertaken to comply with the any of the regulations specified above.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate: 

I am returning Senate Bill 1136 without my signature.

This bill expands the environmental review process for California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations that require the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, or toxic air contaminants.

I share the author's goal in seeking ways to streamline and accelerate critical projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, this bill restricts CARB from using standard California Environmental Quality Act streamlining tools for environmentally beneficial regulations.

In addition, this bill would create significant delays in the promulgation of environmentally beneficial regulations. This bill also exposes state and local public agencies to new litigation risks and results in millions of dollars in costs not accounted for in the budget.

With our state facing lower-than-expected revenues over the first few months of this fiscal year, it is important to remain disciplined when it comes to spending, particularly spending that is ongoing. We must prioritize existing obligations and priorities, including education, health care, public safety and safety-net programs.

The Legislature sent measures with potential costs of well over $20 billion in one-time spending commitments and more than $10 billion in ongoing commitments not accounted for in the state budget. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Summary

Would have prohibited a city or county from imposing or enforcing minimum parking requirements on housing development projects located within one-half mile of a major transit stop, except as
specified. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires the circulation element of a general plan to include specified contents related to bicycle plans, pedestrian plans, and traffic calming plans, and requires the implementation of those plans.

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Summary

Would have allowed, for taxable years 2023 through 2027, a credit against personal income taxes to a qualified taxpayer in an amount equal to $1,000 for each household with zero registered vehicles, as defined.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate: 

I am returning Senate Bill 457 without my signature.

This bill creates a $1,000 tax credit for households with no registered vehicles until the 2028 tax year and makes the credit refundable or eligible for carry over.

Addressing climate change is one of our state's highest priorities. We have made historic investments in programs to reduce emissions and improve public transportation. I support approaches to incentivize a transition from vehicles to more sustainable transportation, however the estimated cost to implement this bill is nearly one billion dollars per year and is not accounted for in the budget.

With our state facing lower-than-expected revenues over the first few months of this Appropriations year, it is important to remain disciplined when it comes to spending, particularly spending that is ongoing. We must prioritize existing obligations and priorities, including education, health care, public safety, and safety-net programs.

The Legislature sent measures with potential costs of well over $20 billion in one-time spending and more than $10 billion in ongoing commitments not accounted for in the state budget. Bills with a significant Appropriations impact, such as this measure, should be considered and accounted for as part of the annual budget process.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely, 

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Summary

Would require electric investor-owned utilities to offer an allocation of certain electrical resources to other load-serving entities, specifically, community choice aggregators and electric service providers, that serve departing load customers who bear cost responsibility for those resources. These electrical resources include product attributes to comply with resource adequacy, the Renewables Portfolio Standard program, and others. Was not heard in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

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Summary

Would enact the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by voters, would have authorized the issuance of bonds for $5,595 billion to finance projects for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection. If approved by voters on the 2022 ballot, this bill would authorize the issuance of $50 million in bonds to CARB, in consultation with California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Forestry and Fire, to incentivize new projects in California that convert forest and other vegetation waste removed for wildfire mitigation to beneficial uses that maximize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, provide local air quality benefits, and help increase local community resilience against climate change impacts. Moved to the Senate Inactive File.

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