Existing law, the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act, establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and prescribes the authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the commission pertaining to energy matters. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and other relevant state agencies, to identify and designate Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones. The bill would authorize the county in which a proposed zone is located to submit a request for designation and would authorize the county board of supervisors to, by resolution, authorize the request for designation. The bill would authorize multiple counties to submit a request for designation if a proposed zone crosses the jurisdictional boundaries of the counties, as provided. The bill would require the commission to approve or deny a complete submission within 180 days. The bill would require a zone to consist only of geographic areas located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county submitting the request for designation and would require that certain criteria be satisfied, including that the zone be in an area identified by state or federal agencies as containing significant deposits or identified production potential of critical minerals used in battery, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing supply chains, as specified. The bill would require the commission to review the designated zones at least every 5 years and authorize the commission to update the designated zones as appropriate based on changes in energy resources, infrastructure, or economic development planning. The bill would require state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects, infrastructure investments, and technical assistance located within designated zones that support large-scale clean energy production or energy-intensive industrial development. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to consider designated zones when administering programs intended to support advanced manufacturing, clean technology industries, energy storage supply chains, and other energy-intensive industries. The bill would authorize the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to coordinate with the commission and other relevant state agencies to support site readiness, infrastructure development, and attracting investment within designated zones. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects that will provide for the payment of prevailing wages, the employment of apprentices from state-approved projects, and the use of a skilled and trained workforce.
Existing law designates the Department of Food and Agriculture as the lead department in noxious weed management and requires the department, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, to implement provisions relating to noxious weed management. Existing law prohibits a person from selling, distributing, or transporting into, or within, a weed-free area any seed of a noxious weed that the secretary has declared the area to be practically free from. This bill would prohibit an online marketplace, as defined, from facilitating the sale or shipment of a noxious weed for delivery to an address located in the state. The bill would authorize the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, if the secretary or a county agricultural commissioner identifies a shipment of a noxious weed and the secretary determines that the shipment originated from or occurred through a transaction conducted through an online marketplace in violation of this prohibition, to provide written notice, including specified information, to the online marketplace that it may be subject to an administrative penalty for violating this prohibition. The bill would authorize the secretary to levy a specified administrative penalty against an online marketplace for violating this prohibition if both the online marketplace received that written notice and, after any written notice, the secretary or a county agricultural commissioner identifies a shipment of a noxious weed and the secretary determines that the shipment originated from or occurred through a transaction conducted through an online marketplace in violation of this prohibition, unless the marketplace demonstrates to the secretary that it has implemented and maintains reasonable controls, as defined. The bill would also authorize the secretary to levy a separate administrative penalty against an online marketplace to recover all reasonable costs associated with remediating any damage caused by a violation of this prohibition in an amount equal to those reasonable costs. The bill would provide that review of the secretary's decision to impose an administrative penalty pursuant to these provisions may be sought by the online marketplace within 30 days of the date of the decision, as specified. The bill would require all moneys collected pursuant to these provisions to be deposited into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, cover costs related to the enforcement of provisions relating to plant quarantine and pest control. The bill would prohibit an online marketplace subject to an administrative penalty pursuant to these provisions from being subject to other fines or penalties for a violation of this prohibition. The bill would make its provisions operative on April 1, 2027.
Existing law prohibits juvenile products, textile articles, and food packaging that contain specified levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from being distributed, sold, or offered for sale in the state, as provided. Existing law establishes the Toxic Substances Control Account in the General Fund to be administered by the Director of Toxic Substances Control. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2029, the manufacturer of children's diapers sold, distributed, or manufactured in the state to display on a dedicated web page on the manufacturer's internet website, and would authorize display on the product details page where the children's diapers are sold, a list of all of the children's diaper's intentionally added ingredients, as defined, in order of chemical or raw material weight, including the chemical or raw material name, the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, and all specific functions or purposes for use in the children's diapers. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2029, all children's diapers distributed or manufactured in the state, and, on or before July 1, 2029, all children's diapers sold in the state, to include on the outermost package an internet website address for a dedicated web page on the manufacturer's internet website that provides all of that information and a list of all of the intentionally added ingredients in order of chemical or raw material weight in the children's diapers. The bill would authorize the Department of Toxic Substances Control to enforce these requirements. The bill would require a person who violates these requirements to be liable for an administrative penalty not to exceed $5,000 for the first violation and not to exceed $10,000 for each subsequent violation, as provided. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations to implement, enforce, interpret, or make specific these requirements. The bill would authorize, upon appropriation by the Legislature, funds in the Toxic Substances Control Account to be used by the department to implement these requirements. The bill would require penalties collected to be deposited in the Toxic Substances Control Account. The bill would prohibit the sale, distribution, or manufacture of children's diapers in the state that do not comply with these requirements. The bill would make these provisions severable.
Senate Resolution 98 designates the week of April 11 to April 17, 2026, as Heat Pump Week in California to raise awareness about electric heat pump technology. This resolution directly affects homeowners, businesses, and the general public by encouraging the adoption of heat pumps for space heating, cooling, and water heating. The text highlights that these systems are more energy-efficient than traditional gas equipment and can help lower utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By promoting this technology, the Senate aims to support the state's broader goals of achieving carbon neutrality and improving public health through cleaner air.
Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to prepare a statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden that includes an assessment and identification of those communities. Existing law requires the statewide strategy to be updated at least once every 5 years. Existing law requires the state board, based on the assessment and identification, to select locations around the state for preparation of community emissions reduction programs. Existing law requires the assessment and identification to prioritize disadvantaged communities, as defined. Existing law requires the regional air quality management district or the regional air pollution control district encompassing the location selected by the state board, within one year of selection, to adopt a community emissions reduction program to achieve emissions reductions for the location selected using cost-effective measures, as provided. Existing law requires the state board to provide grants to community-based organizations for technical assistance and to support community participation in the implementation of the statewide strategy. Under this existing regulatory authority, the state board provides grants to development and implement local community emissions reduction plans. This bill would revise the definition of "disadvantaged community" to include a disadvantaged unincorporated community. By expanding the definition of "disadvantaged community," the bill would expand the duties of districts in the preparation of community emissions reduction programs, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the local community emissions reduction plans to be submitted to the state board for review and approval and would require the state board or the relevant air district to enforce those plans, as provided. The bill would specify that a steering committee formed by an air district to assist it in the development and implementation of a community emissions reduction program remains active until the emissions objectives identified in the program are achieved as determined by the air district or 2 3 "?> a majority of the members of the committee vote to disband the committee. The bill would require members of the steering committee to meet certain requirements. The bill would specify eligible uses for the grants provided. This bill would require the state board, on or before June 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, to report to the appropriate subcommittees of the budget committee of the Legislature about the progress the state board has made to implement the statewide strategy and the community emissions reduction programs, as provided. The bill would require the Secretary for Environmental Protection to periodically convene representatives of agencies and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency with jurisdiction over pollution sources included in a community emissions reduction program to ensure coordination among those agencies and departments to address concerns raised about those pollution sources. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
This bill designates the week of May 3 to May 9, 2026, as Compost Awareness Week. It affects the general public and organizations by officially recognizing this specific time period for promoting composting. The measure is a commemorative resolution that does not create new laws or change existing regulations. Instead, it serves to raise awareness about composting through an official state declaration.
This measure would acknowledge and celebrate 50 years of coastal protection and affirm the state's longstanding commitment to protecting its coastal waters, as specified.
Existing law authorizes a person that owns or controls brush-covered land, forest lands, woodland, grassland, and shrubland within a state responsibility area to apply to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for permission to use prescribed burning for certain public purposes. Existing law authorizes the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to enter into an agreement for prescribed burning with a person to conduct the prescribed burning operations for certain purposes. Existing law requires the department to develop a training program for prescribed fire users to certify professionals as burn bosses. Existing law requires the department to conduct an experimental program of wildland resources management through prescribed burning and other methods in 2 areas of wildlands. This bill would require the department, on an annual basis, to allocate not less than 10% of funding appropriated to the department for local assistance and other grant programs where prescribed or beneficial fire is an eligible activity, consistent with the term of the appropriation, to expand training, organizational capacity, and support for community-led beneficial fire programs, including, but not limited to, those developed by California Native American tribes, nongovernmental organizations, universities and colleges, resources conservation districts, volunteer fire districts, and other local or special districts, as provided. The bill would require at least 25% of that allocation be awarded to California Native American tribes or tribally led or indigenous-led organizations, except as specified.
Existing law establishes the sovereignty of the state. This bill would require the state government to support California Native Americans to maintain cultural and linguistic traditions, practice ecosystem stewardship, and engage in good faith government-to-government consultations with all California Native American tribes regarding policies that may affect tribal communities. Existing law establishes various state water policies, including the policy that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and the human right to water. Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to act upon all applications for a permit to appropriate water. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state to recognize and address the inequities, as described, inflicted upon all California Native American tribes through financial assistance, protection of tribal beneficial uses, consultation on water projects, plans, and policies, and incorporation of indigenous knowledge to restore and protect ecosystems. The bill would require specified state agencies, including the State Water Resources Control Board, regional water quality control boards, and the Natural Resources Agency, to incorporate this policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, permits, or grant criteria to address identified inequities. The bill would require those state entities to identify and offer financial assistance to the tribes consistent with existing legal and policy requirements for financial assistance programs. If there is a dispute between a California Native American tribe and one of those state agencies over the implementation of that policy, the bill would require that matter to be brought before the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs for mediation before the state agency action is challenged in court and would specify procedures and timelines for mediation, as provided. Existing law authorizes the board to conduct investigations and to issue information orders in administering water rights, as provided. The bill would require the state board, in furtherance of an investigation and upon request, to consult with a tribe whose ancestral territory includes the water body or water bodies at issue for the claimed riparian or appropriative right.
Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state. Existing law requires moneys collected by the State Air Resources Board from the auction or sale of certain allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited into the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and continuously appropriates a portion of the moneys in the fund for various purposes, including a specified portion to the authority for certain purposes. Existing law prohibits the authority from entering into new funding commitments with those moneys for activities outside of the Merced to Bakersfield segment, until June 30, 2030, or when that segment is fully funded, whichever is sooner. Notwithstanding that prohibition, existing law authorizes the authority to enter into new funding commitments outside of the Merced to Bakersfield segment for certain purposes, including for additional activities, not to cumulatively exceed $500,000,000, that maximize the efficiency of delivering the project, as specified. This bill would revise and recast that authorization to instead authorize the authority to enter into new funding commitments with the above-described moneys outside of the Merced to Bakersfield segment in any amount for activities related to early works, as defined, and for projects developed through public partnership agreements or public-private partnership agreements, subject to the requirements that those funding commitments maximize the efficiency of delivering the project and do not delay the completion of the Merced to Bakersfield segment, as specified. By expanding the purposes for which continuously appropriated moneys may be used, the bill would make an appropriation.
