Topic: Environmental Protection

Improves statewide conservation by requiring cities and counties to consider the movement and habitats of local wildlife when making determinations about infrastructure and development projects.

Would have mandated that local groundwater enforcement agencies adhere to a 30-day exploratory window and data reporting requirements before approving a permit for the construction of a new large-diameter, high-capacity well.

Would have closed the loophole in 2014’s plastic bag legislation to formally ban the use of any plastic bags at grocery store checkouts.

Would transition retailers away from printing paper receipts unless it is directly requested by the consumer, and eliminates the use of toxic chemicals on receipt paper by 2025. Passed by the Assembly; held by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Would require that regional transportation agencies collaborate with the state board to approve their technical projects, and prioritizes active transportation by promoting projects that reduce greenhouse gases and the miles that need to be traveled by vehicle. Passed by the Assembly; in Senate Committees on Transportation and Environmental Quality.

Would require the state’s public retirement systems, CalPERS and CalSTRS, to divest of all fossil fuel investments by 2031. Passed by the Senate; held in the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement.

Would strengthen the authority of the State Water Resources Control Board to prevent illegal or wasteful uses of water, and increases penalties. Passed by the Assembly; held in Senate Committees on Natural Resources and Water and Judiciary.

Increases climate accountability by requiring corporations to annually report and verify their greenhouse gas emissions

Requires the public pension systems, CalPERS and CalSTRS, to divest of fossil fuels by 2030

Prohibits establishing new oil and gas wells, or updating existing wells, within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, nursing homes, or hospitals

Regulates Inland Empire emissions pollution near homes, schools, hospitals, and playgrounds by requiring that warehouse distribution centers adhere to local measures to reduce health and safety impacts

An act to add Section 9001.6 to the Public Resources Code, relating to resource conservation.

Author: Caballero Summary: 2018 saw the passage of SB100, an environmental law requiring California to get 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2045. The goal of the legislation was to catalyze the construction of new renewable sources – chiefly, wind turbines and solar farms. Powerful Central Valley agriculture – and their representative in … Continued

Lead Author: Jackson Summary: Under current law, the Department of Conservation regulates the operation and maintenance of oil and gas wells in the state. This bill would require the division to develop a mechanism to assess the cost of cleanup and remediation of infrastructure related to the oil and gas industry, including pipeline, pump and … Continued

Lead Authors: Allen, Skinner, Stern, Wiener Summary: The United States produces 30 million tons of plastics each year, and the recycling industry, often underfunded by local governments, does not seem equipped to stem this tide. Unused plastics that find their way to oceans and forests have awful effects on the wildlife and natural beauty of … Continued

Lead Author: Roth Summary: The Mojave Desert sustains legally-protected wildlife and untold acres of public land. The Trump Administration has imperiled the desert and its surrounding ecosystem by unrolling environmental protections, including those related to a potential pipeline which would drain 16 millions tons of water from the desert each year, courtesy of Cadiz, Inc. … Continued

Lead Authors: Atkins, Portantino, Stern Summary: In just three years, the Trump administration has gutted many federal environmental regulations and attempted to roll back dramatic environmental progress made in California. SB 1 would override Trump-era concessions made to corporations and Big Ag, in order to protect California’s environment. SB 1 cements any rolled back environmental … Continued

Lead Author: Rivas Summary: Despite progress being made toward renewable energy by California environmental groups, the state is still deeply invested in oil refining — and the dangers of a spill of highly toxic ‘non-floating’ crude oil are vast. Past spills, like the Santa Barbara spill in 1969, have the potential to devastate both natural … Continued

Lead Author: Kalra Summary: In 2017, Trump’s Interior Department issued memos saying it no longer interpreted accidental harm done to migratory birds as criminal — only intentional harm. This constitutes a rollback of statutes that have allowed the collection of damages from environmental tragedies like the Exxon Valdez oil spill. AB454 retains the old protections … Continued

Lead Author: Holden Summary: Over 30,000 abandoned or idle oil and gas wells are scattered across California, and in many cases, nearby highly residential areas. A recent Los Angeles County report found many wells capable of leaking toxic chemicals, putting people and wildlife at risk. AB1328 requires two state agencies to study defunct wells to … Continued

Authors: Jackson, Lara Co-authors: McGuire, Muratsuchi, Allen, Bloom, Stern, Wiener   The Trump administration has been actively attempting to increase offshore drilling efforts across the American coastline — including off California’s shores. SB 834 and AB 1775 would protect California’s coastline, environment, and economy by putting a stop to new offshore oil and gas drilling … Continued

Author: Muratsuchi, Limón Co-author: Jackson   The Trump administration has been actively attempting to increase offshore drilling efforts across the American coastline — including off California’s shores. AB 1775 and SB 834 would protect California’s coastline, environment, and economy by putting a stop to new offshore oil and gas drilling and production and making it … Continued

Author: De León Co-authors: Allen, Beall, Berman, Bonta, Carrillo, Chiu, Dodd, Friedman, Gabriel, Gloria, Gonzalez, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Lara, Levine, Limón, McCarty, Monning, Muratsuchi, Pan, Quirk, Reyes, Rivas, Santiago, Skinner, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wieckowski   As the world’s fifth-largest economy and a global leader in environmental protections, California has the ability to move toward … Continued

Authors: De León, Stern Co-authors: Beall, Chiu, Dababneh, Friedman, Levine, McCarty, Skinner   The Trump administration has targeted environmental protections across the country. For example, the administration lifted some restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants and eased drilling regulations in protected habitats across eleven western states. SB 49 would protect many federal environmental … Continued

author: Santiago Under current law, companies and individuals are responsible for the costs required to remove hazardous substances they create or improperly dispose of. AB 421 would extend this liability to include toxic emissions pumped in to the air, increasing environmental accountability and helping protect the California air we all breathe. (This bill died.)

authors: C. Garcia, E. Garcia, Holden co-authors: Bloom, Bonta, Eggman, Friedman, Gomez, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, McCarty, Reyes, Stone, Thurmond, Ting   California’s ‘cap and trade’ policy often leaves low-income communities particularly vulnerable to pollution and environmental deterioration. AB 378 would require the state’s Air Resources Board to grade individual plants and to set new limits on … Continued

author: Friedman co-authors: Hertzberg, Skinner, Allen, Wiener   California may be heading straight back into another drought after the previous one ravaged the state for years. AB 1668 would help California’s cities and towns better prepare for drought by providing them with the necessary support and resources they need to use water more efficiently. It … Continued

Floor: 44-21-15 authors: Pavley, E. Garcia co-authors: Allen, Atkins, Beall, Block, Bloom, Chau, Chiu, Chu, De León, C. Garcia, Hancock, Hill, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Leno, Liu, McCarty, McGuire, Mitchell, Monning, Quirk, Rendon, M. Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wieckowski, Williams, Wolk, Wood   California is home to six of the ten most polluted cities in the country. Reducing … Continued