California Air Resources Board

Would have made changes to the county supervisor membership of the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) to one that is more diverse with a larger focus on members from cities representing the five supervisorial districts and public members. The bill also would have required ICAPCD to maintain a website and post specified information, including board agendas and permit, air monitoring, and enforcement information.

View full bill text here  

Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 675 without my signature.

This bill would restructure the governing board of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and impose new reporting and planning duties.

The Imperial County APCD plays a critical role in improving air quality and protecting public health in a county disproportionately impacted by severe air quality challenges. While increasing representation and transparency on governing boards is important work, change of this magnitude requires sufficient support and resources.

I am concerned that this bill would impose significant new financial obligations on the County, its cities, and ultimately its residents, without identifying a funding source to meet them.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s veto message here

Requires CARB to develop a response framework that establishes best practices and guidance for addressing fugitive and natural sources of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas and for community preparation and response to H2S exposure events. The bill requires the response framework to consider cross-media releases, develop integrated, multi-agency approaches to identify and address fugitive and natural sources, develop methods for reducing identified fugitive and natural sources of H2S gas in impacted communities, and consider acute and chronic reference exposure levels as well as the influence of varying climates and settings on exposure, among other things. The bill requires the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to update the acute and chronic reference exposure levels for H2S and to develop additional health guidance values for H2S, if the need is identified by CARB.

View full bill text here  

Summary

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, and CARB, in consultation with all California balancing authorities and as part of a public process, on or before January 1, 2026, and subsequently as part of the SB 100 joint report, to issue a report to the Legislature that contains a clean energy infrastructure development plan setting out the infrastructure and processes necessary for the state to accomplish the state policy of supplying 90 percent of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers by December 31, 2035, as specified. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Would have requested the Regents of the University of California to conduct a pilot project in the County of Imperial and the Coachella Valley to develop a three-day wintertime regional dust forecast capability and a dust storm early warning system for the monsoon season. The bill would have repealed the provisions on January 1, 2030. Was held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

View full bill text here

Summary

Establishes the Salton Sea Conservancy (Conservancy) within the California Natural Resources Agency to operate, maintain, and manage projects that are planned and built under the authority of the Salton Sea Management Program to fulfill the State's obligations under the State Water Resources Control Board Order WR 2017-0134. The bill creates a board of directors to govern the Conservancy and adds CARB as one of seven nonvoting ex officio members. Operation of the statute established by SB 583 is contingent upon passage by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 at the November 2024 State election.

View full bill text here

Governor’s Signing Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am signing Senate Bill 583, which creates the Salton Sea Conservancy within the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to operate, maintain, and manage projects that are planned or built under the authority of the Salton Sea Management Program.

The Salton Sea Management Program is committed to building 30,000 acres of habitat and dust suppression projects around the Salton Sea to improve air quality and provide critical environmental habitat for birds along the Pacific Flyway. As the first projects are near completion, the state will need to transition to the operation and maintenance of completed projects. This bill will centralize the operation and maintenance of these projects in a new, mission-focused conservancy, led by the state, with extensive local community involvement and partnership. Importantly, enactment of this bill is contingent upon passage by the voters of the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, placed on the November 2024 ballot.

I support this approach, which balances the creation of a new, mission-focused conservancy with viable and stable funding sources. In signing this bill, I expect that this conservancy will remain focused on fulfilling its primary objective - operation, maintenance, and management of Salton Sea restoration projects - without placing undue pressure on the state's General Fund.

Sincerely,
Gavin Newsom

View Governor’s signing message here

Summary

Provides that any executed contract for the purchase of goods or services by a State or local agency, including the price and terms of payment, is a public record subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The bill provides that any provision in a written agreement that purports to exclude a contract, as specified above, from disclosure by agreeing to consider it a confidential or proprietary record of the vendor is void and unenforceable as a matter of law.

View full bill text here