California Air Resources Board

Requires State or local agencies that directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians to expand the categories to include major Middle Eastern or North African groups in any provided form that offers respondents the option of selecting one or more ethnic or racial designations. The aggregated data can be shared with the public, but not data that would permit identification of individuals.

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Would have required CARB to consider, for any future regulation or amendment regarding the procurement or use of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by a public or private fleet, that car rental customers are responsible for a car's miles driven and any associated emissions, rather than the rental company. The bill also would have required CARB to “consider” how rentals can help obligated entities comply with regulations in a more cost-effective and flexible manner, as well as a myriad of other perceived benefits.

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Governor’s Veto Message

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

 I am returning Assembly Bill 620 without my signature.

 This bill would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to consider, for any future regulation or amendment regarding the procurement or use of medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by a public or private fleet, that car rental customers are responsible for a car's miles driven and any associated emissions.

 In 2020, I issued Executive Order (EO) N-79-20, which directed CARB, among other things, to develop strategies to transition in-state sales of new passenger vehicles and trucks to 100 percent ZEVs by 2035, where feasible. Following this EO, CARB developed the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. While the United States Environmental Protection Agency did not grant a waiver to authorize the ACF regulation before the climate-change-denying Trump Administration took office, California remains committed to transitioning to zero­-emission transportation. This is why I recently issued EO N-27-25 reaffirming California's leadership in promoting ZEVs to protect our future, health, and economy.

 In my veto message to Assembly Bill 637 (Jackson) last year, I encouraged rental vehicle companies to work with CARB to explore the environmental and economic benefits of MD/HD ZEV rentals through existing regulatory processes. I continue to encourage rental vehicle companies to do so.

 For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.

 Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Clarifies that a 21st century warehouse and a tier 1 21st century warehouse is required to comply with building standards in effect at the time that the building permit is issued and make other clarifying changes relating to permissibility of use of conduits and electrical hookups at loading bays at those locations. The bill revises the definition of “logistics use” and instead defines “logistics use development” for these purposes to mean a building that is primarily used as a warehouse for the movement or the storage of cargo, goods, or products that are moved to business or retail customers, or both, that does not predominantly serve retail customers for onsite purchases, and heavy-duty trucks are primarily involved in the movement of the cargo, goods, or product. The bill makes various other technical and conforming changes to the provisions governing logistics use development.

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Would have authorized a project to satisfy the CEQA mitigation requirements for transportation impacts by contributing an amount of money per vehicle mile traveled, as determined by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), to the Transit-Oriented Development Implementation Fund for the purposes of the Transit-Oriented Development Implementation Program. The bill would have required LCI, on or before July 1, 2029, and at least once every 3 years thereafter, to update the price per vehicle mile traveled based on specified factors. The bill also would have required, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the contributions to be available to the department to fund developments located in the same region with preference given to specified projects. Was not heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

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Allows any coastal development permit for the Port of Los Angeles Zero Emissions Port Electrification and Operations project (ZEPEO), or "associated project required for completion of ZEPEO," within the boundaries of the Los Angeles Harbor District, to be reviewed only by the Los Angeles Harbor Department and not be reviewed by any of the other jurisdictions that ordinarily review the permit application. The bill prohibits the "project" from deploying, purchasing, or installing any fully automated cargo handling equipment or infrastructure supporting the charging or fueling of this equipment. Additionally, State agencies that receive a permit application for the "project" are required to review and rule on the permit within 90 days of application submission. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Requires the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) board to update Rule 1157 to improve air quality and increase data collection. The bill requires permanent and temporary aggregate operations, by January 1, 2027, to install and maintain a fenceline monitoring system, maintain fencing above the height of open piles, limit open storage piles to 8 feet tall if the covered facility is within 500 feet of a sensitive receptor, and cease all activities if PM10 emissions reach threshold limit set by SCAQMD. The bill requires, on and after July 1, 2027, that a covered facility with a demonstrated history of PM10 emissions at or above the threshold limit set by the SCAQMD and whose property line is within 500 feet of a sensitive receptor to fully enclose any existing open storage piles. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Would have expanded the fuels allowed by the Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel Regulation to include any fuel that has a lower carbon intensity than marine diesel oil or marine gas oil for the auxiliary engines, main engines and auxiliary boilers. Amended to deal with paratransit recertification eligibility.

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Authorizes up to 35 projects per year that are exclusively for noncommercial wildfire fuels reduction in timberland, less than 1,500 acres in size, and paid for in part or in whole with public funds, to prepare a timber harvesting plan as an alternative to complying with CEQA. The provision expires on January 1, 2031. Was not heard in the Senate Committee of Natural Resources and Water Committee.

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Requires CARB to designate public fire protection agencies or other equivalent agencies to oversee controlled burning activities and to exempt wildland vegetation management burning, as defined, from permitting requirements if conducted by or under the supervision of a public fire protection agency or other equivalent agency designated by CARB. The bill also requires CARB to develop guidelines and best practices for wildland vegetation management burning to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Was not heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

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Allows CARB to adopt and enforce rules and regulations for indirect sources of emissions. Within 120 days of statewide indirect source rule (ISR) adoption, air districts would determine if the district or CARB will implement and enforce the regulations within air the district. If the air district elects to implement and enforce a statewide ISR, it must propose regulations enacting those measures no later than six months following CARB's ISR adoption. The air district could, at any time, adopt and enforce more stringent indirect source regulations than the regulations adopted by CARB. The bill allows CARB to establish a schedule of fees on facilities and mobile sources to cover the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the regulations and requires the fees to be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund and made available to CARB upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill also requires CARB to prepare an annual presentation on the impacts and effects of any ISRs that it adopts. Was not heard on the Assembly Floor.

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