California Air Resources Board

Establishes a unit within the Legislative Counsel Bureau to provide advice and investigation services related to climate change policies and allocates Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) moneys to specified funds and continuously appropriates certain amount of moneys in the fund for certain purposes. This bill also requires CARB to conduct a study and report to the Legislature evaluating and making recommendations on the use of offsets no later than December 31, 2026 and by January 1, 2029, update all existing compliance offset protocols to reflect the best available science. This bill also requires CARB to evaluate all compliance offset protocols and consider whether updates are necessary by January 1, 2034, and every 5 years thereafter.

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Would have extended the sales and use tax exemptions to January 1, 2028 for zero-emission transit buses sold to public agencies that are eligible for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) program. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have, beginning January 1, 2028, prohibited a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale a cleaning product, dental floss, juvenile product, food packaging, and ski wax, as specified, and beginning January 1, 2030, cookware, as specified, that contains intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as defined, except for previously used products and as otherwise preempted by federal law.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 682 without my signature.

The bill, beginning January 1, 2028, prohibits a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale a cleaning product, dental floss, juvenile product, food packaging, or ski wax, as specified, that contains intentionally added PFAS. Additionally, this bill, beginning January l, 2030, prohibits a person from distributing, selling, or offering for sale cookware that contains intentionally added PFAS.

I share the author's goal to protect human health and the environment by phasing out the use of PFAS in consumer products. However, the broad range of products that would be impacted by this bill would result in a sizable and rapid shift in cooking products available to Californians. I appreciate efforts to protect the health and safety of consumers, and while this bill is well-intentioned, I am deeply concerned about the impact this bill would have on the availability of affordable options in cooking products. I believe we must carefully consider the consequences that may result from a dramatic shift of products on our shelves.

I encourage the author and stakeholders to continue discussions in this space, while ensuring that we are not sacrificing the ability of Californians to afford household products like cookware with efforts to address the prevalence of PFAS.

For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Creates the Gravity-Based Energy Storage Well Pilot Program and authorizes the Supervisor of the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) to authorize the conversion of 250 wells for use as gravity-based energy storage wells, as defined.Requires CalEPA, in consultation with entities operating these wells, CalGEM, CARB, and other specified entities, to evaluate the pilot program and make recommendations to the Legislature for a framework to implement a permanent program, as specified. The bill requires a well operator to notify CalGEM, CARB, the appropriate regional water quality board, and any schools or community members within 3,200 feet of the well in the event of a loss of mechanical integrity or a fluid leak, and requires CalGEM to consult with CARB and the State Water Resources Control board on criteria for fluid leak monitoring and reporting.

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Would have authorized an air district participating in Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) to submit a disbursement request for additional funds to CARB if the district determines its balance of available funding is less than its total expenditures under the program over the prior 4 months. If there are sufficient funds available from funds allocated to CC4A to cover the request while retaining a specified reserve, CARB must issue the requested amount of funding to the air district within 60 days of submittal of the request. This bill was gut and amended to instead require the Attorney General to establish and maintain a specified program to build internal expertise in artificial intelligence. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. 

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Would have required CARB to publish a yearly assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the transportation of oil in California from the point of origin to its point of destination in California, for oil produced out of state and in state. Would have also required the state board to post on its internet website a report on the air quality impact of potentially importing 5% to 10% of the State’s gasoline supply using tanker ships. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Revises current State agency language survey requirements under the Dymally-Alatorre Act to require not only a survey of the language needs but also an assessment every two years utilizing various recent data sources and community input to understand the needs of LEP individuals. The bill also expands the definition of “substantial number of non-English speaking people” to include individuals who are eligible to served instead of just served by an agency. 2-Year bill as noted in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Removes the requirement to prioritize recipient entities and projects serving disadvantaged, low-income, and under-resourced communities for grants and contracts after January 1, 2026. The bill would also require an administering state agency to advance a payment to a recipient entity and state the percentage that may be distributed as advance payment in the solicitation for the grant or contract. 2-year bill as noted in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have required California State agencies under the direct authority of the Governor to adopt certain cybersecurity standards and methodologies outlined in President Biden’s Executive Order (EO) 14028 on “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity.” In particular, it would require adoption of a “Zero Trust” model for the State’s information technology security architecture. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Would have required CARB to ensure the Clean Cars 4 All program (CC4A) is available in all areas of the State including areas the local air district has not elected to participate in the program and requires CARB to manage the distribution of incentives to eligible residents of those areas. Would have required the performance analysis of the clean mobility options component to include an evaluation of the funding and targeted outreach to areas with the highest number of vehicles manufactured before 2004 or that are at least 20 years old. Would have also required CARB to consider the total value of vouchers deployed and metrics for retired vehicles in funding allocations to local air districts and delete the requirement to consider population. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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