Keep tabs on climate and energy legislation in California and urge your representatives to take action for a climate-safe future.
AB 1177 (Santiago, et al) This bill, the California Public Banking Option Act (Act), will establish in state government the Public Banking Option Board to administer the BankCal Program, which the Act would create for the purpose of protecting one quarter of California residents who lack access to traditional banking services from predatory, discriminatory, and … Read more
AB 1346 (Berman/Gonzalez) This bill requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt regulations to prohibit emissions from new small off-road engines, to apply to engines produced on or after January 1, 2024, or as soon as ARB determines it is feasible, whichever is later. STATUS: Signed by the Governor October 10.
SB 533 (Stern) This bill requires IOUs to identify which circuits are frequently de-energized and the steps taken to reduce the need for de-energization in their wildfire mitigation plans, and requires electrical corporations to collaborate with local governments, tribal governments, and CCAs to develop microgrids and other energy solutions. STATUS: Signed by the Governor on … Read more
AB 322 (Salas) This bill would require the California Energy Commission to allocate not less than 20% of the funds appropriated for the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. STATUS: Signed by the Governor September 23, 2021.
AB 416 (Kalra) The Deforestation-Free Procurement Act aims to eliminate contracts for goods and services procured by California that result in deforestation. See author’s factsheet. STATUS: Vetoed by the Governor on October 5. Read his Veto Statement.
AB 843 (Aguiar-Curry) This is a bill that empowers Community Choice agencies (CCAs) to submit eligible bioenergy procurement contracts to the CPUC for cost recovery, as investor owned utilities (IOUs) are able to do. STATUS: Signed by the Governor September 23, 2021.
AB 1124 (Friedman) This bill would revise the definition of “solar energy system” to include any structural design feature by eliminating the provision that it be a feature of a building. The bill would specify certain structural design features to be included in the definition, including solar racking, solar mounting, and elevated solar support structures, … Read more
SB 1 (Atkins) Addresses sea level rise. This bill would create within state government the California Sea Level Rise State and Regional Support Collaborative. STATUS: Signed by the Governor September 23, 2021.
SB 44 (Allen) Would provide expedited judicial review of CEQA challenges for Environmental Leadership Transit Projects, which are defined as major public transit rail line infrastructure projects that meet certain sustainability standards and labor requirements. STATUS: Signed by the Governor on October 7.
SB 83 (Allen) This bill would create the Sea Level Rise Revolving Loan Program within the I-Bank to provide low-interest loans to local jurisdictions for the purchase of coastal properties in their jurisdictions identified as vulnerable coastal property. STATUS: Vetoed by the Governor. Read his Veto Statement.